Wiring RV Solar Panels: Parallel vs Series (Which is Better?)

When it comes to getting ready to wire your RV Solar Panels, you might have already read that you have two options: parallel & series.

There are pros and cons to each type of wiring and it pays to understand each before you make a decision.

But first, let’s define the two: series & parallel wiring.

What is Wiring In Series?

Wiring in series is when you connect each element in the circuit in a row. That is to say, each negative terminal of an element in a circuit is connected to the positive terminal of the next element.

This is the kind of wiring that you may be used to thinking about when you played with a battery and light bulb as a child.

What Is Wiring in Parallel?

Parallel wiring is when each element in a circuit is independently connected to both the positive and negative terminals. This means that you can have failure in one component without disrupting the next.

Parallel Wiring For Solar Panels

Because solar panels can be wired in either series or parallel, you need to understand the pros and cons of each. Let’s take a brief look at the pros of parallel wiring.

Pros of wiring in parallel:

• Increased amps with each additional panel (same voltage)
• Increases system reliability overall, as failure in the chain does not disrupt the next element
• Easy panel replacement: the wiring is easier to deal with

Cons of wiring in parallel:

• Voltage is fixed at one panel’s voltage (not combined)
• More & larger wiring is needed (the more amps, the thicker the wire)
• Increases complexity: additional branch connectors, combiners etc.

Wiring In Series For Solar Panels

Pros of wiring in series:

• Reduces the number of components compared to parallel wiring
• Easier to transfer higher voltage produced by panels in series (most MPTT accept various voltages)
• Better for smaller systems with MPTT controller

Cons of wiring in series:

• Decreases system reliability overall (one failure in the panel may disrupt the whole system)
• Cannot increase the amps, voltage always combines in series