Good afternoon Forum participants,
Given the consistent problems I’ve managed with nearly every previous phase of my RV solar system installation and upgrades over the past 3 years, I am herewith trying to avoid another self-inflicted headache, if not a wound.
Right now my system is running great, but I need more solar charging as winter sets in. The need for additional charging is a result of adding a small residential refrigerator last spring and the need for my inverter to run 24/7.
So, I am in the process of doubling my solar panel wattage on the roof of my RV from 600 watts to 1200 watts (that will be a total of 12 100-watt panels). My six existing panels are wired in series. My plan is to wire the six additional panels in parallel.
My thinking is that the two separate “systems” will be a reasonable test of whether the series-wired-panels set or the parallel-wired-panels set gives me better charging the way I use my RV. And, during the summer, I'll only need to use 1/2 of the panels.
To accommodate the additional panels, I am adding a new/additional 40-amp solar charge controller and an additional/separate breaker for the new incoming solar panel wiring.
Does my 600 watts series + 600 watts parallel of solar panels make sense?
What problems does this two-separate-side setup create? (I figure I can always rewire.)
What am I missing?
All thoughts, suggestions and/or especially danger warnings will be valued.
By the way, I spent several hours this afternoon searching the Forum And, again, got completely overwhelmed and lost with the way-beyond-my-knowledge discussions I was able to find.
Thanks in advance to everyone in this Forum.
jesfl
Given the consistent problems I’ve managed with nearly every previous phase of my RV solar system installation and upgrades over the past 3 years, I am herewith trying to avoid another self-inflicted headache, if not a wound.
Right now my system is running great, but I need more solar charging as winter sets in. The need for additional charging is a result of adding a small residential refrigerator last spring and the need for my inverter to run 24/7.
So, I am in the process of doubling my solar panel wattage on the roof of my RV from 600 watts to 1200 watts (that will be a total of 12 100-watt panels). My six existing panels are wired in series. My plan is to wire the six additional panels in parallel.
My thinking is that the two separate “systems” will be a reasonable test of whether the series-wired-panels set or the parallel-wired-panels set gives me better charging the way I use my RV. And, during the summer, I'll only need to use 1/2 of the panels.
To accommodate the additional panels, I am adding a new/additional 40-amp solar charge controller and an additional/separate breaker for the new incoming solar panel wiring.
Does my 600 watts series + 600 watts parallel of solar panels make sense?
What problems does this two-separate-side setup create? (I figure I can always rewire.)
What am I missing?
All thoughts, suggestions and/or especially danger warnings will be valued.
By the way, I spent several hours this afternoon searching the Forum And, again, got completely overwhelmed and lost with the way-beyond-my-knowledge discussions I was able to find.
Thanks in advance to everyone in this Forum.
jesfl