solar panel wiring

[1611]

I have installed 3 solar panels on my boat . 2 X 30 watt and a 60 watt. they feed into a 8amp rectifier. It was sugested that I may have them wired wrong. They are connected in parrallel before they go into the rectifier. It has been sugested that they should be wired in series.
can anyone enlighten me.
Can any members enlighten me as to the

 

[fluffc]

Assuming they are 12V panels, and you have a 12V on-board system, then wiring in parallel is correct. (Likewise 24V panels with 24V system)

 

[Parsonsheath]

Powercut?

 

[ccscott49]

In paralel for a 12 volt system, as has been said.

 

[andy01842]

So since when has solar panels produced AC and needed a rectifier? A single diode is all that is needed to prevent the battery discharging back through the panel at night. With 10amps a regulator might be a good idea. Parallel is correct if all is 12 volt.

 

[Guest]

Parallel. All blacks to blacks and reds to reds. Then the diode pointing to the battery side.

By the sound of it they are the unregulated type so they need to get up to a voltage of the batteries plus the diode drop. I suggest you use your batteries down to 50% before testing. What are the models of the panels?

The other problem might be location. It was 3 days before I was able to check my original 30W panel worked. It was February! On the other hand we now have 1/3KW.

 

[tangofour]

I'd be tempted to put a diode in line with each of the panels rather than short all the panels together first. One duff or shaded panel could drag down the others.

 

[Guest]

tangofour:

That is why I asked: "What are the models of the panels?"

Should they even have diodes? Should they be regulated? Have they already got the diode inside?