accidental cross wiring two panels

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  • jdfnnl
    Junior Member
    • Jul 2020
    • 2
    #1

    accidental cross wiring two panels

    My current goal is to configure a dual panel 200w system in either series or parallel for a vehicle's auxiliary battery with an mppt between. In my efforts at checking the difference in current between the two schemes, at a certain point I noticed in quiet horror that I accidentally connected the two panels together negative-positive/positive-negative for a few minutes. What I saw searching for this mishap is nothing on the matter, clearly because it is something no one would like to admit, much less intend to do.

    I would like to know if this circular arrangement would do any appreciable damage to the internal circuitry of the panels, or given their identical specs, perhaps the potential of each would simply cancel that of the other for the time specified?
    Tags: None
    • bcroe
      Solar Fanatic
      • Jan 2012
      • 5203
      #2
      I believe it is highly unlikely you did any damage. With 2 identical panels, that amounts to shorting
      each one, except there are 2 in the loop. Shorting a solar panel will do no damage. If one panel
      was putting out a lot more power, the others bypass diodes might activate, still not a problem. I
      have fed power up to 3 times a panels output rating (in a failed attempt to melt snow) with no
      damage. Bruce Roe

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        • jdfnnl
          Junior Member
          • Jul 2020
          • 2
          #3
          I found this thread on stackexchange addressing the same concern: https://electronics.stackexchange.co...-short-circuit

          Panels are rated for their closed circuit current, but with the resistance of a load applied, polarity exists and with it a somewhat reduced current ..

          Intuitively though I am still trying to make sense of how the current is dissipated -- is there an unwanted amount of heat generated in the panel?

            Comment

            • bcroe
              Solar Fanatic
              • Jan 2012
              • 5203
              #4
              Originally posted by jdfnnl
              Panels are rated for their closed circuit current, but with the resistance of a load applied, polarity exists and with it a somewhat reduced current ..

              Intuitively though I am still trying to make sense of how the current is dissipated -- is there an unwanted amount of heat generated in the panel?
              When a panel operates as intended, 80% of the sun energy is dissipated as heat. If open or
              short circuited, it rises to 100%. Bruce Roe

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