SquirrellCook
Forum Member
It’s never wise to ground or common solar panels in separate arrays. Without knowing the solar controller circuitry you could have undesirable affects.
Solar project anyone?
- Thread starter Nabsim
- Start date
trevskoda
Forum Member
Cannot see why.
SquirrellCook
Forum Member
I for one would consider it bad practice Trev. Once you combine -ve you'll probably need to increase the wire gauge for the extra current the combined wire is carrying. Then split the wire to each controller. If your putting another hole in the roof, you might as well make two as you are there. Just Messy. Not considering the electronics.
wildebus
Forum Member
My take on this is ....
I would always run a +ve and a -ve cable from a solar array to the controller.
However, something that is worth knowing as could be important when maintaining or trouble-shooting is that the great majority of Solar Controllers are non-isolated and so have a common ground for the -ve PV Input and the -ve Battery Output. So when two arrays have separate controllers, the -ve of each array is actually connected together whenever the controllers are wired to the battery.
Just something to bear in mind (this means that if you are doing some work on a panel, you do need to disconnect the -ve feed as well as isolating the +ve otherwise you can complete a circuit even when you think it is safe. low risk, but still potential risk)
I would always run a +ve and a -ve cable from a solar array to the controller.
However, something that is worth knowing as could be important when maintaining or trouble-shooting is that the great majority of Solar Controllers are non-isolated and so have a common ground for the -ve PV Input and the -ve Battery Output. So when two arrays have separate controllers, the -ve of each array is actually connected together whenever the controllers are wired to the battery.
Just something to bear in mind (this means that if you are doing some work on a panel, you do need to disconnect the -ve feed as well as isolating the +ve otherwise you can complete a circuit even when you think it is safe. low risk, but still potential risk)