How to Wire Solar Panels in Series for your DIY Camper Solar Install

Can you leave a contact number so persons call to ask you questions

What is the best way to run my 1300 ecoflow Delta portable power bank in series or parallel?

I wanted to wire my 24 solar panels into four strings of 6. I installed them in two rows on a ground mount with a junction box in the middle of each row. I mounted them side by side. When I went to connect them in series I ended up 20 ft from my junction box. Now I have to run a jumper wire all the way back to the junction box. I should have mounted them end to end, reversing the top row so the connectors were next to each other.

What is a ... multimeteor?... :-)

Is this okay to charge a 12v lithium battery or can too much voltage damage the battery.?

Hey Nate, I am wondering what the difference between solar cable and regular (like Ancor) stranded copper marine wire is. I have a fair amount of 10 AWG solar cable left over from the kit I bought from you and I am wondering if I would be able to use it to wire other things in my van like USB outlets. Thanks!

I have a Ecoflow Delta Pro. I want to connect (16) 100watt panels, so to get the 1600 watts of power (in ideal conditions), would I connect a set of 8 panels in series, then connect them in parallel, with each other, using 2 branch connectors?🤔 Thanks a lot!

Great info. Thank you

Thank you

Great! You are the only person on YT who clearly states how to wire multiple solar panels together. This is sorely needed information happily received! thank you!!

Do you need a charge controller if you have a bluetti, jackery or similar thing?

I recently discovered( due to a mistake) that camper wiring is more commonly black positive and white negative. Why is it opposite everywhere else?!🤣

Get an MPPT people and make sure your setups match voltages as best you can from solar panel to charge controller to battery setup to minimize complications.

PWM controllers suck, just invest for MPPT

Hi Nate. I have purchased your “30 Amp OEM Camper Electrical Upgrade Wiring Diagram” and am getting ready to install all the equipment in that plan. I have a travel trailer with a TPO roof. Should I use a separate copper wire to ground the frames of my solar panels to the trailer’s chassis ground since my roof is not metal (assuming a metal roof would, eventually, be linked to the chassis)? I don’t see you mention whether or not to ground solar panel frames in any of your videos but thought it best to ask. Thanks!

When mixing panel sizes , in my case ( 190w +50+50+50) and they are all different manufacturers, do you receommend a series or parallel connection to a 30amp charge controller with 2 Battleborn 100AH batteries?

thank you for these videos. Once they're connected in series which cable to use to connect to dc input on portable battery and guage.

Does the control charger have to have a certain level of volts. to handle the solar panel. I have a solar panel with max volts of 28. My controller chargers has a max volts of 25. Or is there a cut off ?? I’m use to the amps must be higher to handle the amp from panel. Just wasn’t sure if was the same for volts

Thanks for the Video! If I wire 5 panels in Series and the negative side of the panels is the farthest away from the charge controller. Do both wires to the controller have to be the same length? If they don't have to be the same length, is there an advantage to having the Positive side closer to the controller?

nothing about voltage, amps or watts! this is bullshit

does shading affect panels wired in series or does the bypass diodes negate just the shaded panels in a similar way a shaded panel in parallel drops out?

solar in series = same 12v but higher watts/amps output

Have a question...have a 300w solar generator (Wattfun) portable power station 300w regulated voltage LiFePO4 with MTTP charger limited to charging by solar to 130w (etc) I have 320w panels if I connect the panels to the power station will it only accept for charging purposes the 130w limit or not work at all because its too much wattage or worse damage the generator? Thanks

Fantastic video and I have subscribed! I am considering buying a couple 330 watt panels for my RV but they have rated volts: VMP and VOC. Which do I use to determine the volts for wiring in series? Thanks!

I've bought a converted van that has a solar panel already fitted, how can I find the spec of the solar panel? Do I need to get on the roof to find some info on the panel or can I find it via the solar control monitor. I was told it is a 240w panel but it turns out the last owner told some lies about other items so I'm not so sure if I can trust this info...

My father is an electrician, and he gave me an hour long spiel about cutting the connectors off the wires and having to solder them together crimping them with screw connectors and heatshrink and silicone, but you explained how to do it in 3 minutes with a quarter the amount of work.

two questions. first you didnt use the shrink wrap with the heat gun would it complete the installation?
second, why is the inter connection wire red and not black?

If wired in series and say 2 of the 4 panels are in the shade of a tree does that mean all 4 are useless?

So if I have 5 12 volt 100 watt panels and I connect them together in series the volts would be 60 right? Now the actual voltage they make is around 18 volts each. So my question is does it still count as a 60 volt set up? Or does it count as a 95 volt system?

Hi Nate, Thank for the informative video. I'm wiring up 4 panels in series, but they are not mounted beside each other. Two are in front of the other 2, do I need the expansion wire to do that? its still positive to negative? then the last 2 wires would go to the growatt all-in-one solar input? I'm mounting the panels on the flat roof of a cabin I built last year.

Hi Nate,
Question...I have 6 - 1oo watt solar panels wired in Parallel on my RV roof I've decided to add 2 more 100 watt panels that will be located the furthest from my combiner box. Can I wire the last 2 panels in series without hurting my system? The voltage boost would be desirable. All examples of series/parallel setups are always shown 2 and 2, or 4 and 4 etc for the series/parallel setup....not 6 and 2 (parallel/series in this case).
Thanks.

You're a genius in explaining 101 for dummies. The quality of your content is amazing the visuals, the audio and video 10/10. YES indeed helpful ❤

👍 Danke fürs Hochladen!
👍 Thanks for uploading!

Thanks, found the answer in video 7

Great video question please. I have 4 100 watt panels of same make, but with different voltage and amperage. Do you see any problems hooking them up in series. Any suggestion.
2 Renony rng 100d and
2 Renogy rng 100d-ss
Thanks, Tom

Really appreciate all your tutorials, many thanks. In many of your videos you show Viktron mmpt charge controllers, inverter chargers etc. I'm interested in your opinion of the Viktron EasySolar unit versus getting individual components.

I still dont see an advantage

Hello, friend, I have a 100w foldable solar panel want to send you free, hope you can take my product a video, could you pls leave an email for further talk?

Where are Victron products manufactured, I understand they are based in the Netherlands but no made in claims?

I've seen many videos demonstrating series wiring. A few questions that no-one seems to cover ... What does this do to the Volts, Watts and Amps totals? Why would someone wire in series/parallel? And what does wiring in series/parallel do to Volt, Watt and Amp totals? Thx -Love your channel!

Why doesn’t the blog post link work?

Another great video guys.

Maybe a stupid question but here it goes... would you recommend using a Tesla Powerwall for a van/bus/rv set-up? Any benefits?

I have a question about combining multiple arrays to a single combiner box. I have (2 150w in series) (2 150w in series) and want to add (3 200w panels) I have in either series or paralell whichever is optimal. Each array will be running through a breaker in the CB and out in 2ga wire to a 100Amp Epever controller. I am trying to understand the effects of this on the panels and the controller by doing this combination at the combiner box. I'm having a hard time finding a answer. 150w specs are VOC 22.92 IMP 8.20 200w specs are VOC 24.29 IMP 9.52

Hey Nate, love your videos. Got a question: I'm looking to place two 375w solar panels on my van's roof. However I will have to have one slide over the other when driving as there isn't enough space for both on the roof. So I want to wire them both in parallel and series to get the most efficiency when one is covered up as I drive and when they are both extended side by side when I'm camped. I believe I can wire them up to make it work, but I'll need a three way switch that allows 1) two wire inputs for the series connection, 2) an off position in the middle, and 3) 4 inputs for the parallel connection (maybe two if i can establish a good connection (one for the negatives coming off the panels and one for the positives coming off the panels)). My question is where I could find such a device (could such a device exist to use mc4 connections? my trina panels and victron bluetooth 150/70 mppt both use mc4 connections. Also looking to remove as much wiring redundancy as possible while maintaining safety. Sorry for the lengthy question :)

Your videos help me feel less like an idiot and capable of doing this project, haha! Thank you for taking the time to make this!

Good video. Would be nice to share why you did series or parallel in each video then a separate my one depth. You may already have but I have not looked. Nice work!

I have three 12v 160w panels. Should it be in series or parallel. Going on a boat with no shade issues. Batteries are 3 110amp/hr

That is it, kiss is best for beginners

This video and the article referenced below are spot on. However, you must have an MPPT charge controller since it will lower the voltage coming from the solar panel and increase the current going to the battery. If you are using a PWM controller, I believe the voltage will also be stepped down but the current will not be increased.