In this article, I explain the difference between wiring solar panels in series and wiring them in parallel.
You’ll learn about voltage, current, and power in both configurations, and you’ll also learn how series, parallel, and series-parallel connections are achieved.
Solar panel series vs parallel: What is the difference?
When you wire solar panels in series or in parallel, you control the voltage (Volts) and current (Amps) of your solar array.
By connecting solar panels in series, you increase the voltage of the system without increasing the current. When you connect solar panels in parallel, you increase the current without increasing the voltage.
In other words, while series-connected solar panels mean higher PV system voltage, parallel-connected solar panels mean higher PV system current.
To understand this better, we’ll use the example of 4 identical solar panels wired in series, parallel, and series-parallel.
Series connection:
If you connect 4 identical solar panels in series, the total voltage of the string becomes the sum of the voltages of these solar panels, and the current from the string is equal to the current of a single solar panel.
Total Voltage (Volts) = Voltage 1 + Voltage 2 + Voltage 3 + Voltage 4
Total Voc (Open-Circuit Voltage) = Voc 1 + Voc 2 + Voc 3 + Voc 4
Total Vmp (Optimum Operating Voltage) = Vmp 1 + Vmp 2 + Vmp 3 + Vmp 4
since all of these voltages are identical, the total voltage is:
Total Voltage (Volts) = 4 x Single Solar Panel Voltage
And the total current is:
Total Current (Amps) = Current 1 = Current 2 = Current 3 = Current 4
Total Isc (Short-Circuit Current) = Isc 1 = Isc 2 = Isc 3 = Isc 4
Total Imp (Optimum Operating Current) = Imp 1 = Imp 2 = Imp 3 = Imp 4
Parallel connection:
If you connect 4 identical solar panels in parallel, the total voltage is equal to the voltage of a single solar panel, while the total current is the sum of currents from all 4 panels.
Total Voltage (Volts) = Voltage 1 = Voltage 2 = Voltage 3 = Voltage 4
Total Voc (Open-Circuit Voltage) = Voc 1 = Voc 2 = Voc 3 = Voc 4
Total Vmp (Optimum Operating Voltage) = Vmp 1 = Vmp 2 = Vmp 3 = Vmp 4
And the total current is:
Total Current (Amps) = Current 1 + Current 2 + Current 3 + Current 4
Total Isc (Short-Circuit Current) = Isc 1 + Isc 2 + Isc 3 + Isc 4
Total Imp (Optimum Operating Current) = Imp 1 + Imp 2 + Imp 3 + Imp 4
since all of these voltages are identical, the total current is:
Total Voltage (Volts) = 4 x Single Solar Panel Current
Series/Parallel connection:
This is a type of configuration that has both Parallel and Series connections. Every 2 solar panels are connected in series with each other, forming 2 strings, and the 2 strings are then connected in parallel.
In such a setup, the total voltage of the solar array will be equal to the voltage of a single string, and the total current of the solar array will be equal to the sum of the currents of both strings.
Since each string consists of 2 solar panels in series, the voltage of each string is equal to the sum of the voltages of the 2 solar panels:
Total Voltage (Volts) = Voltage of one string = Voltage 1 + Voltage 2 = Voltage 3 + Voltage 4
Total Voc (Open-Circuit Voltage) = Voc 1 + Voc 2 = Voc 3 + Voc 4
Total Vmp (Optimum Operating Voltage) = Vmp 1 + Vmp 2 = Vmp 3 + Vmp 4
The current of each string will be equal to the current of one solar panel, therefore, the total current of the solar array is equal to the sum of the currents of 2 solar panels:
Total Current (Amps) = Current of string 1 + Current of string 2 = Current 1 + Current 3 = Current 2 + Current 4
Total Isc (Short-Circuit Current) = Isc 1 + Isc 3 = Isc 2 + Isc 4
Total Imp (Optimum Operating Current) = Imp 1 + Imp 3 = Imp 2 + Imp 4
Does connecting solar panels in series increase wattage? or does solar wattage increase in parallel?
When you connect solar panels in series or in parallel the total wattage of the system increases. However, neither of these connections results in a higher system wattage than the other.
For example, if you have 4 identical 100W solar panels and you connect them together. it does not matter if you connect them in series, parallel, or series AND parallel. The result is going to be the same, a 400W solar array.
Wattage or Electrical Power (in Watts), is the product of current and voltage:
Wattage (Watts) = Voltage (Volts) x Current (Amps)
If you have 4 identical solar panels connected in series, the current stays the same as that of a single panel, while the voltage is quadrupled. So the wattage of the solar array becomes:
Wattage (Watts) = Voltage of the solar array (Volts) x Current of the solar array (Amps)
Wattage (Watts) = (4 x Voltage of one solar panel (Volts)) x Current of one solar panel (Amps)
Wattage (Watts) = 4 x Voltage of one solar panel (Volts) x Current of one solar panel (Amps)
If you have 4 identical solar panels connected in parallel, the voltage stays the same as that of a single panel, while the current is quadrupled. So the wattage of the solar array becomes:
Wattage (Watts) = Voltage of the solar array (Volts) x Current of the solar array (Amps)
Wattage (Watts) = Voltage of one solar panel (Volts) x (4 x Current of one solar panel (Amps))
Wattage (Watts) = 4 x Voltage of one solar panel (Volts) x Current of one solar panel (Amps)
If you have 4 identical solar panels in a series/parallel configuration, the current doubles and the voltage also doubles. The wattage of the solar array becomes:
Wattage (Watts) = Voltage of the solar array (Volts) x Current of the solar array (Amps)
Wattage (Watts) = (2 x Voltage of one solar panel (Volts) x (2 x Current of one solar panel (Amps))
Wattage (Watts) = 2 x 2 x Voltage of one solar panel (Volts) x Current of one solar panel (Amps)
Wattage (Watts) = 4 x Voltage of one solar panel (Volts) x Current of one solar panel (Amps)
So, no matter how you connect these solar panels, in terms of wattage, the end result is going to be the same.
Let’s see how each of these connections is achieved.
Connecting solar panels in series vs parallel: how is it done?
Solar panels have a special type of connector at their terminals, which is referred to as an MC4 connector:
Each solar panel will have a female and a male MC4 connector. Generally, the female MC4 connector represents the negative terminal of the solar panel, and the male MC4 connector represents the positive terminal of the solar panel. However, this isn’t always the case.
In any case, before you make any connections, you’ll need to identify which MC4 connector is the positive and which is the negative.
There are also MC4 branch connectors, which you’ll need if you’re going to have parallel connections in your setup:
The ones in the image above are 2 to 1, but if you have more than 2 solar panels (or more than 2 strings) that’ll be connected in parallel, there are also 3 to 1 or 4 to 1 MC4 branch connectors.
Now let’s see how each type of connection is achieved.
How to wire solar panels in series?
To wire solar panels in series, connect the positive MC4 connector (male connector for example) of the first solar panel, to the negative MC4 connector of the next solar panel, and so on. When you’re done, you should have 2 unconnected terminals at each end of your string, a positive and a negative.
Here’s an example of 4 solar panels wired in series:
The unconnected positive and negative terminals of the string can then be connected to extension cables which will connect the string to the solar charge controller.
Related: What size solar charge controller do I need?
These extension cables will each have an MC4 connector on one end to connect to the solar panels, and stripped on the other end to connect to the solar charge controller.
How to wire solar panels in parallel
To wire solar panels in parallel, you’ll need to connect all the positive terminals of the solar panels together to form the positive terminal of the solar array, and all the negative terminals of the solar panels together to form the negative terminal of the solar array. This can be done using MC4 branch connectors.
Here’s an example of 4 solar panels connected in parallel using 4-1 MC4 branch connectors:
The output of each branch connector can then be connected to the extension cables that lead to the solar charge controller.
How to wire solar panels in series and parallel (series-parallel)
To wire solar panels in series and parallel, wire each string of solar panels in series (positive to negative). Then, using MC4 branch connectors, wire all the positive terminals of the solar strings together, and the negative terminals of the strings together.
For example, how to wire 4 solar panels in series-parallel?
To wire 4 solar panels in a series-parallel configuration, wire every 2 solar panels in series by connecting the positive of one solar panel to the negative of the other solar panel, forming 2 strings. You’ll then need to wire these 2 strings in parallel by connecting their positive terminals together and their negative terminals together.
Here’s an image that illustrates this:
Related Topics:
What size fuse between solar panels and solar charge controller?
