What Happens When You Connect Different Solar Panels In Parallel? Renogy – NewPowa – BougeRV
What happens when you connect different branded 100 watt solar panels together in parallel? In this video I tested that scenario using my 100w Renogy solar panel, my 100w NewPowa panel, and my BougeRV 100w panel.
Have an in depth solar or power station question? Get direct contact with me HERE:
https://asqme.com/@Jasonoid
Learn more about these panels below:
Renogy 100w: https://amzn.to/4a5eLJi
NewPowa 100w: https://amzn.to/49ML28m (updated design)
BougeRV 100w: https://amzn.to/43cBoct
*OTHER USEFUL SOLAR VIDEOS*
– Finding 400w panels for CHEAP: https://youtu.be/pLRKljjaqMA?si=g56cSkTSnO6SWD9P
– Solar Panels – Parallel Vs Series: https://youtu.be/OZvrTuhJhXs?si=Qshw7SdHyAVpvhH8
– Choosing the right solar panel for your power station: https://youtu.be/4JG8LvJznLY?si=2CR8AdfR-fQBfIpv
The use of affiliate links provide a small commission for me when you use them. Thanks for supporting my channel content and allowing me to do future comparison videos! More videos coming soon!
Video Timestamps:
Introduction: (0:00)
Testing Each Solar Panel: (1:18)
Connecting ALL Panels In Parallel: (2:16)
Removing The NewPowa 100w: (3:39)
Conclusion: (4:17)
#Jasonoid #renogy #newpowa #bougerv #solarpanel
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This makes sense. The voltage is 22.82+20.5v, (43.32/2=21.66), 21.66 + 17.9 = (39.56/2) = 19.78… Which is definitely within meter or margin of error for 19.68, given 4 measurements. The difference in wattage is lost to the vdiff of each connection, so 30W goes to heat in the connections, wire, and panels. I wonder how hot the connections get…?
Fun fact this voltage difference is 11.3% when you are showing the 22.82V and 20.5V. 11.3% difference is 31.64W of 280W. So. This actually helps my case of 383V and 360.24V. Showing 6.32% but thats still 737W of heat, for my theoretical 11680W array setup. Thats a ton of heat in connections. idk if i want to deal with that.
What happens if you were to connect the same 100W panels in series?
The can trick only works with a tall beer can.
Very simple. If you plot all 3 panels power curves you can sum them up to create a compound curve.
The MPPT (if it's a good one) will scan this and find the peak point. It is not surprising that the low voltage panel won't be contributing as much.
I would be more worried if a panel is matched a much lower voltage one such that the Vmpp of one is a lot higher than the Voc of the other. Then it may start backfeeding and the lower voltage panel may get really hot.
Very useful
I have never seen any brand solar panel giving output of his rated watt.. but renogy 100w panel giving 100w of output its outstanding.
Renogy panel is very good qlty..
The losses weren't too huge thanks to the fact that the VMP is simply the ideal voltage, As long as the lowest voltage panel's VOC is higher than the highest voltage panel's VMP, the panels will just shift around on their voltage/amperage curves. Nothing is producing at ideal levels, but everything is still within spec.
Basically, Great = Identical panels, Good = Very similar voltage, Okay = VOC of low panel greater than VMP of high panel
I was surprised that the parallel voltage kind of averaged out. The common "wisdom" is that the voltage always drops to that of the lowest voltage panel. That is encouraging, because i need to buy a third panel to add to my existing two. If i buy a panel that is a little higher in voltage than the existing ones, then i can simply pretend that I have purchased a lower power panel for that same price and just call that good.
Connecting all 3 with a diode on each would make a difference?
โค
What if you connect with panels of different wattage
AMERICANS IS EITHER STUPID OR GOT SCREWED.. SUCH BIG PANELS SHOUDL BE 250W+ NOT 100W. Americans uses some 20 y/o panels for some reason.
i have 4 hqst 100 Watt panels. 19.8 open circut voltage and 4 9bb hqst 100 watt. 24.1 open circuit voltage… how should i wire these ..victron 100/50. charge controller is what i have. ???
my two 100W Renogy panels mixed in parallel with another brand 200W panel, 22.76V at controller.
Informative!! Thanks! ๐
I would love to see bigger diffrence in A between panel to test. Here we got 5; 5,5 ; 6A. But I wonder what would happen if we get a 5A panel and 10A panel together, will the power be really limited to 5A on each? Or there will be some average balance set? And same what will happen if we. Get a 20v and 30v panels together :) theory says one, but that kind of practical tests sometime give more interesting results :)
Thank You folks for All that you are doing for our Planet Earth…. Peace.. Shalom.. Salam.. Namaste ๐๐ป ๐ ๐ โ โฎ โค
Interesting!
Thanks for your efforts and added moments of fun along the way!! ๐๐
Of course you let all panels get to the same temp. before doing these tests. So the Renogy's obvious superior output was not due to it's being the first one tested (at a cooler temp.) . . . . ?
I do enjoy your videos = Thanks ! take care, rh
would be also interesting if you connect them in series, what would be the result
as for connecting them in series solar sun panel with the lowest voltage serves as a load for other two allowing current flow due to difference of voltages ….
Cool test!๐
Can you also include a link for the โCut Green Beansโ, aka solar angle barometer?
Interesting need to learn what all the different numbers and letters mean not a geek just a old guy tryin to learn have relied on your videos over the years thanks much
This information is perfect as I've purchased two different sets of 100W panels, rigid and portable. The rigid ones will be semi-portable. With this info, I should be fine setting up 3 arrays of 400 watts each.
Great test Jason. Very interesting to see the theory in action!
I have 18, 100 watt panels on my ecoflow delta pro. 6S3P
10 renogy 24.3 VOC
2 renogy 21.8 VOC
4 HQST 20.4 VOC
2 HQST 21.8 VOC
I mixed in the lower voltage panels to bring the VOC down to keep the MPPT safer from cloud edge effect in which jasonoid described in one of his videos which was a phenomenon that I wasn't aware of when running 6S2P all renogy 24.3VOC on my delta pro which is a 150VOC max input and 15.9 amp input max. On cloudy days I would see the input drop to 0 then back up to about 1450 watts on a 1200 watt array… so now with the lower voltage panels mixed in I see up to 1610 watts and about 135VOC and 115 V under load. the delta pro pulls the 15.9 amps and with overpaneling I get great results in low light conditions like overcast. Thanks Jason!
I have the same NewPowa panel with the 9BB. The max I have seen using an inline wattmeter was 95 watts. Not bad for a $70/panel. I also noticed a world of difference with the panel tilt. Testing in the winter sun it dropped 40% lying the panel flat vs the optimal tilt of 45-50%. So in theory if you connected 3 NewPowa's you wouldn't have that much of a drop then.
Good luck with the consulting business! Priced right IMO.
I have 8 Newpowa 100W panels. I tested them on April 30, 2023 and saw 19.8 to 20.6 VOC in the Houston area.
This was interesting. Now I am going to try my solar saga 100 from Jackery and one of my lynx panels from Inergy Apex 100W too. Just need to figure out how to do some adapters as one has the 8mm plug and the other has the EC8 plug. As always, you have great contents in your videos.
What happens when you connect in series mismatched panels?
Interesting. I wonder where that power is going; perhaps heat from the diodes of the NewPowa panel?
Rule of thumb I was taught; multiple panels in parallel- shoot for similar voltage. Multiple in series- shoot for similar Amps.
Always learning something new from you. Thank you for all you do! ๐
I would like to see how they do in series.
Helpful video. It can be a bit frustrating to try and purchase an exactly matching panel, when even the same brand changes specifications.
What the heck just happened? Why was there some other guy in your video, randomly presenting one aspect of it? Yeah, mismatched panels will always be brought down by their "weakest link".