Gone with the Wynnsvideo
Sailboat Solar Power - Series vs. Parallel & Shading
5 July 2016 · 12 min · 196K views
What this video covers
To determine the optimal solar configuration for a sailboat, a test compares series and parallel wiring using two 160-watt Go Power panels and two Kyocera panels.0:37 The test measures amperage output under varying shading conditions, including simulated boom shadows and partial cell coverage.3:11 In parallel, shading a single cell or a portion of a panel causes a significant drop in output, but the system maintains partial functionality.2:33 In series, shading a single cell or a small area often results in a near-total loss of power across the entire array.6:19 The results demonstrate that while series wiring may be efficient for RVs with tiltable panels and no obstructions, it is unsuitable for sailboats due to frequent shading from the boom and rigging.12:18 Parallel wiring provides more consistent power production when partial shading occurs.12:06 The test concludes that parallel configuration is the superior choice for marine solar installations to mitigate power loss from intermittent shadows.12:06
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