Solar System Tutorials
Wiring solar panels: Series or parallel?
How you wire your panels impacts the performance of your system, and determines the choice of inverter and charge controller. First, let's remember that: W = V x A. The important difference between wiring panels in series or in parallel is that it affects the voltage and amperage of the resultant circuit. In a series circuit, you sum the voltage of each panel to get the overall voltage of the array. However, the amperage of the overall circuit stays the...
What DC Wire Sizes to use for your Solar PV System?
Choosing the right wire sizes in your Solar PV system is essential for both performance and safety reasons. If the wires are undersized, there will be a significant voltage drop in the wires resulting in substantial power loss. Also, if the wires are undersized, there is a risk that the wires may heat up to the point in which a fire may result.
Complete Van / Motorhome Solar Power Installation - Drawings
East & West is Best!? Solar Panel Orientation
The general notion is that North-facing solar panels (in the Southern Hemisphere) is the most effective way of mounting solar panels. Have you ever considered mounting your panels East & West? Source: solarquotes.com.au Roof orientation The direction of your panels in relation to the sun, also referred to as the Azimuth angle, is important for the amount of sunshine that your solar panels will receive over the course of the day. The best way to determine the direction...
How to size your MPPT Solar Charge Controller?
What is a charge controller? A solar charge controller is a regulator for your solar battery that prevents it from overcharging. Batteries are rated for a certain voltage, and exceeding that voltage can lead to permanent battery damage. Types of solar charge controllers There are two types of charge controllers to consider: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controllers and Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controllers. PWM controllers are generally less expensive and can only be used for smaller systems where the voltage of your solar...
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