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Question:

Solar Panel Wiring in SERIES?

I have a home made 24 volt electric cart. It is powered by two 2Volt deep cycle batteries. Since the motor runs on 24 volts the batteries are wired in series to produce the 24 volts. I only have a 2 volt battery charger, but I also have two 2 volt solar panels. It is a pain having to unhook wires, rewire it, or charge them one at the time.HERE IS THE QUESTION REALLY... Can I wire the two 2 volt solar panels together in series (ie: negative to positive) then connect it to the existing 24 volt system and have it charge the batteries fine. I know basic wiring, but I know nearly nothing about solar panels, will it work fine? will it cause them to break? or short out?(additional info, the solar panels are only rated at 5 amps so it will not overcharge the batteries or anything)

Answer:

You should be fine with the series as long as you use a multimeter and verify configuration Get a charge controller. Will be worth the small cost and prevent many issues.
Wiring the panels in series should be ok as long as they are exactly the same. Different impedance's could damage the panels. Remember that Voltages and Amperage's are indirectly proportional meaning that if you series your panels your voltage will rise but the amperage will be reduced.
Stephen is sweet in you should adventure the enter criteria of your inverter. so that you'll want to cord a minimum of a few cells in series. probable you should custom-go with a blend of series and parallel for the cells. operating example, if maximum of your fragments grant a million amp, then you actual ought to objective a million amp for the array. If there's a fragment that's 0.7 amp, and yet another that's 0.3 amp, you should parallel those, and count number them as one cellular, that you'll then series with the others. I observed this performed on one individual's panel years and years in the past. It gave the impression of an poor mess, and extremely some artwork, because the cells couldn't be in neat rows, anymore. also, if plausible, you should want the utmost equipment voltage you should use, because meaning decrease amperage for an same potential, and to that end smaller cord. 8 amps, after derating, skill #2 or #4 cord, an same variety that must be used to cord your position. 5 amps skill #0 or #8, and one hundred amps skill a fat cord like the jumper cables for a vehicle. in basic terms so that you comprehend, i trust that's typically unlawful contained in the U. S. to connect a selfmade array to a grid-tied equipment, or to apply a grid-tied inverter that plugs into the wall socket, in case you care.
Although I'm not experienced with solar panels, I would say no. if you wire them in series you'll actually be putting voltage through one of the panels. Can't believe this would be good. My suggestion would be to wire one panel to one battery and one panel to the other battery. I really don't believe there's a need to disconnect the batteries from each other. However if you would disconnect the one wire between the two batteries you would be guaranteed safe and I know that would work.
If the panels are the same, there is no problem in putting them in series. If you examine the panels, they will be made up of about 36 identical cells in series. Ok, now you have 72 cells in series, fine if they are the same. You need (at a minimum) a diode in the line so that when it is dark, the panels do not draw current out the batteries (it wont be much but you might as well block it). You say the panels are rated 5 amps? Those are pretty good sized panels! Unless you have a charging regulator, I guarantee that they Will overcharge the batteries (unless the batteries are huge, like the size of a refrigerator). Did you maybe mean 5 watts? About a foot square? If so, the output is about 300mA (0.3 amps) which will not overcharge a battery as long as it is at least as large as a garden tractor battery. At a 300mA charge rate, it will take a longgg time to recharge.

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