Can You Run Mismatched Solar Panels In Series 

TRUTH

Basic point to ponder in mismatch panels.

Which ever way you connect, the end result is the watts. Watts will be same.

I'm too late to respond to your intelligent enquiry, one year to be exact ! it will also exhibit the similar result. The volt meter does not know the PV cell compositions, right? It will, definitely work.

I have 4 batteries of 200AH @ 12V each. I have 5 different panels to power the batteries. What connection will work better to power my home?

I have 4 panels of 250 (28.4V & 8.14a) and 3 Panels of 340W (38V and 8.72a). I didn't try them yet but what do you think about how much % or Watts I will lose?

Lol it's still a step up from living in New Jersey.

With a charge controller, yes.

More preferably Victron CC. But why the overkill? I can understand if yours is an experiment. But practically a 200W PV cell output would be quite sufficient. (depending on Geographical location) in any case a CC is a must in any PV Cell System, preferably with BT and other paraphernalia like Circuit breakers, battery monitor, etc etc.

i think it needs to check the string1 and string2 open circuit voltage . different voltage cannot be parallel.

Anees Ali Saheb, Salam. Of course you may combine different wattage PV cells for charging your batteries. The thing is you need to combine similar PV Cells together and have them in Parallel configuration before entering into GOOD Charge Controller. Remember connect all your similar PV cells in any series parallel combination and if the power is more than the Charge controller, use 2 Charge controllers and parallel the output (12VDC or 24VDC or even 48VDC) The subject is very large to explain due to time and space constraints. Cheers. Khuda hafiz.

You have two things to consider: panels and controllers. What the the panels put out, and what the controller can take in. I don't know about different watts though, I'm new too, ( some answer, huh?) Panels: you add up the open circuit voltage of each of the 12v panels, say 4 x 12v panels is 84v (21voc each) Controller: might say it can handle 10-22v, 10-90v or 18-60, 29-150.(picking numbers at random here) ) the first two are for 12v panels, and the second two are for 24v panels. The numbers can be wildly different between each controller. So people plan their systems. i.e.: Series higher voltages can handle a smaller wire and the length is cheaper and can go farther. And you shouldn't get to close to the upper conroller volt number, and amps is just as important. MPPT is in this video, I don't know how this applies to PWM. The rule of thimb is you get what you pay for in solar. Quality costs, and forgives tolerances. The controller with the lower first number(10v) is for 12v panel, for clouds etc. The lower first number 18v controller will not produce electricity when the panel dips below 18v, so a lot of volts from the 12v panel are wasted. So use that controller for 24v panels instead.

Im trying fimd out the same mabey this only works for 2 pannels, 3 pannels he probably get loss

The output will be limited to the panel with the lowest amperage. Based on the watts and voltage, the panels is not that much mismatched if they are set up in one string.

Do you mean series?

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Yes you can connect different panels in series but the reality of this is that the maximum current will be limited to the maximum current of the smaller panel.

Ray, did you mean either Parallel or Series or Series parallel combination? You may wire the PV panel which ever way you prefer. but remember to incorporate Circuit breakers in your system. Remember if you series the 25W (12VDC)=48V@25W if you Parallel = 12VDC@100W. In this instance you may parallel both=12VDC@200W. It's quite complicated and as such there are several other physics involved. time and space restrict me to elaborate. Try, test. you'll learn this way. Stay safe.

Explorist life covers this topic well. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-jejro4zkl8I.html

Most likely because pwm is only a 12v charger. You need a mppt to handle the difference.

Also parallel is like 2 separate pannels so whatever pannel is weaker its going to drop the other to its level just like 2 batteries.the stronger will only charge to the voltage of the lesser battery. Series you are basically turning the two panels from 2 individual in a string into one giant pannel. That being said if one gets shaded they both suffer

@@sykotic1976 i have had my mppt controller working now for nearly a month. i wired the panels in series but never get more than about 250 watts on a sunny day and about 4 amps.... Ive noticed that when in parallel, the panels arent so sensitive in low light levels so this is why i wired them in series. I think i need to rewire them back to parallel and see if that gets better results during the day.

Can be combined. But , the question is why, when you can buy both PV panels of the same type? There are contravercial comments on Poly-crystalline PV cells, being inferior to Mono-Crystalline cells. Mono_crystalline PV cells are preferred along with a good Charge controller and LiFePo4 batteries. Flooded batteries and even AGMs are, these days, considered inferior due to excessive maintenance and weight, besides shorter life span. At the advent of better chemistry Lithium Ferric Phosphate (LiFePo4) batteries are preferred , though expensive, their life expectancy is about 10 years as opposed to Flooded batteries being 3~4 years. Cheers.

@@sreekumarUSA ok thanks. To answer your question why... because i hv already mono and poly pv here

Those bypass diodes are normally built into the back of the panel access cover.

The built in Diodes are not bypass diodes. It's called Blocking Schottky Diodes and that is to prevent battery drain when PV ceases to generate power to battery. The other diode,( Brian's image), will do nothing to enhance absorption process. That circuit is used in Voltage regulators. A 30~40 Degree angle PV facing North/(South) depending on geographical location is considered good position.Cheers

The two panels he demonstrates are a nominal 200 & 100 watt. Charging a battery through separate, 12V charge controllers, would they not have a 300 watt potential?

@@kelhawk1 you need another controller just, it will be more productive