I have an existing panel and am planning to add two panels and a new MPPT. Not sure how to connect them and what MPPT to use for most efficiency.
All three panels will be fitted on the deck of my sailing boat and will get partially shaded (no way to avoid this. Two of the panels will be fitted under the boom, one on the deck under the boom and the other on the spray hood. The third will be fitted in front of the mast and will get partially shaded from the sails.
- How should I connect these panels (serial of parallel)?
- What is the best suited MPPT for these panels (depending on if they are serial or parallel connected?
- Would it be better to replace the existing 55W solar panel with two new 18W solar panels?
New solar panel on spray hood (Sunbeam Tough T70F):
Pmax: 70 W
Voc: 22.1 V
Isc: 4.26 A
Vmp: 17.6 V
Imp: 3.98 A
New solar panel in front of mast (Sunbeam Tough+ TP56F2):
P max: 56 W
Voc: 23.6 V
Isc: 3.3 A
Vmp: 17.6 V
Imp: 3.18 A
Existing solar panel under boom (M-Series 55W S220P43):
Rated output (Pmpp) Wp: 55 W
Short-circuit current (Isc): 2.54 A
Open-circuit voltage (Uoc): 27.13 V
Voltage (Umpp): 22.88 V
Current (Impp) 2.40 A
System voltage: 24 V
Reverse current carrying capacity IR: 12 A
Optional 2 new 18W panels instead of existing 55W panel (Sunbeam Tough 18w L):
Pmax: 18 W
Voc: 23.7 V
Isc: 0.99 A
Vmp: 19.4 V
Imp: 0.92 A
Sunbeam and Solara are using a bit different terminology for the data, hope this is ok.
