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Wiring (4) 200 watt panels in 4s (series) or 2s2p (series-parallel) on camper van?

boneyjones

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Aug 10, 2021
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Hello and thanks in advance for your time! Our Ford Transit has 4x200W "12v" Rich Solar Panels mounted on the roof. They are currently wired in 4s (series). Would it be advantageous to switch the wiring to 2s2p (series-parallel) configuration?

Concerns of partial shading come from the MaxxAir fan being near the front panel which could shade with sun coming from the front of the van, as well as it being a campervan and may not always be easiest to avoid partial shading positioning.

A.) Specs for the (4) 200 watt RICH solar panels are:
  • Maximum Power Voltage(Vmp): 20.4V
  • Maximum Power Current(Imp): 9.80A
  • Open Circuit Voltage(Voc): 24.3V
  • Short Circuit Current(Isc): 10.2A
B.) (2) 12V 206ah SOK LiFePO4 batteries. (Planning to wire in parallel)

Charge Voltage:14.6V

C.) 60A Solar Charge Controller

Max. PV Input Voltage: 150 VDC (25°C), 140VDC (-25°C)



Wired in 2s2p, then the panels are at 40.8V max, and 19.6A.
Wired in 4s, 81.6V max, and 9.8A.

Thanks for any help/comments on the setup.

Also, we are installing a 12v 2000W Samlex PSW inverter as well, and the 12 circuit Blue Sea Fuse Block as the rest of our electrical components.
 

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What results have you been getting with them in 4S? Are you having shading issues from the fan? You are only going to have problems from the fan either early in the morning or late in the evening when parked facing mostly east or west. If you park facing mostly north or south there shouldn't be any shading issues. And if you do have any early or late day shading it's during a time you won't be getting much power anyway.

Going 2S2P might be more advantageous if you are ever parked near trees or other things that might cast shadows on the roof at different times of the day.

You just might want to stick with 4S and see how it goes. It would be fairly easy to reconnect the panels into 2S2P with a pair of Y-connectors and try that out for a while and compare.
 
What results have you been getting with them in 4S? Are you having shading issues from the fan? You are only going to have problems from the fan either early in the morning or late in the evening when parked facing mostly east or west. If you park facing mostly north or south there shouldn't be any shading issues. And if you do have any early or late day shading it's during a time you won't be getting much power anyway.

Going 2S2P might be more advantageous if you are ever parked near trees or other things that might cast shadows on the roof at different times of the day.

You just might want to stick with 4S and see how it goes. It would be fairly easy to reconnect the panels into 2S2P with a pair of Y-connectors and try that out for a while and compare.
Try both wirings and see the real world result.
Thanks for the reply, rmaddy and Bud! I should have clarified, we have just installed them, and haven't trialed the system with them in 4s yet. I was just wondering if people have gotten better results with one or the other in a similar scenario, or had a specific recommendation based on the setup listed. Sounds like 2 votes for try both and compare. :)
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