Can Harbor Freight 100W Solar Panels Be Wired in Series? | Thunderbolt Solar

[@usascottwright]

I wish someone would show start-to-end solar panels including plugging in appliances and computers and lights

[@RandyZimmerman-pp5wj]

Smart the more I know the better I can make decisions

[@Bodhranarama]

Thanks for that Tony. Feels like you should mention to curious tinkerers like me that dc gets spicy beyond 50v!

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I really should have. That is the problem with me making so many videos. I talked about voltage danger in another video, so in mind I have already said it. I should have noted it in this video too!

[@buildingalegacypa]

Great explanation, it is good to know that you can run that configuration with those panels. Thanks for the video.

[@fookingsog]

Good Vidya!!! I purchased two of the HFT Folding Suitcase style solar panels--100 watts each & just more recently acquired an EcoFlow River 2 Max. Panels used the SAE Connectors so I've pretty much been building my connection inventory. I just crimped and sealed with 3:1 shrink ratio adhesive lined heat-shrink tubing at the crimp connectors a daisy-chain series connector--I also fused the daisy-chain adapter. Max voltage is 50 volt input for the EcoFlow--two panels in series should do max of 40-44 volts. This is kind of a test/travel setup to see how everything works together. Only bad thing about the SAE connectors is that you can accidentally reverse voltage if you don't pay careful attention!!! Interestingly I found on Amazon a pop-in panel digital Volt/Ammeter display that can go inline at the voltage output of the solar panel(s)...it just runs off the line voltage already present and will meter up to 100 volts at 10 amps. Only thing I had to do was 3D print a case for it and seal it up with some thinned out and paintable silicone caulk. Silicone from a tube can be thinned with some VM&P (Varnish Makers & Painters) Naphtha to make it paintable!!! Absolute cheapest way to make paintable electrical tape or you can use it to coat and "rubberize" the handles of your metal tools!!!

[@Electronzap]

Good test.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you.

[@Tapthatsugershack]

Awesome stuff as always

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Thank you very much.

[@davida.p.9911]

Awesome tips and information, Tony! 👍😎

[@ricardofranco4114]

I get 133 watts out of 1 solar pannel can't wait to get more.

[@BruceForster-k9n]

20 Volts open circuit for those Panels is actually VERY GOOD, especially at these higher latitudes. I have heard MANY good reports about the Harbor Freight Panels.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I installed 1200 watts of Harbor Freight Solar Panels about 2 years ago. They have worked perfect to this point.

[@cowpen]

I like how you randomly mix high-dollar components (trackers) with bargain-basement components (Harbor Freight & Sungold Power). Looking forward to the troubleshooting and improvement videos.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Very sanctimonious. Great job keyboard warrior.

[@cowpen]

@@TonysTractorAdventure ??? Bro, you completely misunderstood my post. I like your videos, including this one.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I apologize if I took it wrong. I get beat up quite a bit on social media which makes me sometimes a little less forgiving than I should be. Okay! A lot less for giving than I should be! I am definitely flawed and need Christ.

[@tyrecefrater9256]

We all do. Amen!​@@TonysTractorAdventure

[@gregoetker1389]

You need to show all 3 in series (60 volt) and then get a piece of cardboard and put it on top of 1 panel to show partial shade and you will be surprised about the output voting series. This is why it's important to make sure all panels are in direct sunlight without any shade on them.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

I would guess it is self evident that they needed to be in the sun. LOL! Maybe I will make that video. I appreciate the idea.

[@KevinNguyen-oz6vz]

So you replaced both the cable and connecter or just the mc4?

[@SnR80574]

Hello I’m trying to connect two same thunderbolt panels together and then connect to generator. I already spliced open the wires.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

It can be done

[@serialtravelers-wb5zb]

Bonjour merci pour votre vidéo très intéressante ou avez vous acheter vos panneaux solaires cordialement

[@bgarr99]

I'd be curious how the higher voltage affects the rated current thru each panel. At some point, daisy chaining would have to fry them.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

It's actually the opposite of what you would think. Higher voltage creates less resistance thereby flowing easier through the same wire. There's nothing really special about the Harbor Freight solar panels. They are built like every other one. An example would be this. You have one sewing needle to push 100 amps through. If you try to push 100 amps through with 12 volts, the sewing needle will turn red, hot and melt. If you run the same 100 amps through the needle but using 10,000 volts, the needle would be cool to the touch. Obviously, if you touch it, it would kill you but you understand what I mean.

[@bgarr99]

@@TonysTractorAdventure After thinking about this awhile, with watts equal to voltage times current, a 100 watt panel at 20 volts would push a max of 5 amps. Three panels limited to 300 watts at 60v must have the same max current of 5 amps (5x60). Stringing them together in series will increase wattage and voltage but the max current can't change.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Right on. Higher voltage is like thinner liquid. The thinner the liquid, more volume can be passed through the same size pipe without increasing friction.

[@lenndeloney6955]

@@TonysTractorAdventure I’m

[@ysBooksTheAuthor]

Is the 16 gauge wires on the panels enough to handle 75volts?

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

The higher the voltage the smaller the wires can be.

[@ysBooksTheAuthor]

@@TonysTractorAdventure Thanks. I was scared to try, but I did it and went from 70 watts to around 150 watts.

[@trainmaster0217]

How am I getting 23 volts from my small dashboard solar panel that plugs into the cigarette lighter where these big ones only get 20 volts?

[@4207Points]

So my question is even though you increased the voltage didn't the ampers stay the same about 5amps for those panels what is the end game? Pretty much what would be the benefit I always thought more amperage is better

[@dmcd7333]

The benefit is you can use smaller wire gauge to wire up the system and I believe the no load loss at a higher voltage is less on the charge controller- efficient use of power and less wire gauge.

[@BillZad]

Nice informative video... I have 4 of these panels with 10 amp fuses on all the pos+ wires. It says on the back of the panel ( Do Not wire panels in series)...Amps current is more powerful than volts on a 12V system, I'm doing mine in parallel, but considered series/parallel.....I got SAE/MC4 wire adapters and 4 to 1 MC4 connectors for the parallel setup (4 pos+ & 4 neg-) to one pos+ & 1 neg- MC4 /SAE connectors, that plug into a the SAE 10 AWG wire to the 30 amp controller. Also I rewired the panels with 10 AWG wire. If you look at the wire that is attached on the back of the panel, there is no writing that says AWG or voltage on the wire?? Is this legal ? GLTA

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

We are on our second year with the system cranking out power. To this point I have had no problems.

[@NecessaryJerry]

I wonder why on the back on the panel it says not to wire them in series?

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

They worry about people not understanding how to do it. Mine have been up and running for two years without fail.

[@BruceForster-k9n]

Wiring the three panels in series, you will still have just 100 Watts, and the voltage output will be around 54 Volts in ideal conditions. Now if you wire them in Parallel, you will have 300 Watts, and 12-18 volts.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

You are correct however when using low voltage you have considerable voltage drop requiring you to buy more expensive cables. Higher voltage DC is just more efficient.

[@BruceForster-k9n]

@@TonysTractorAdventure That is absolutely true. However, in my situation, Everything I learned on was 12 Volt. I have the knowledge now to do a 24 or 48 Volt, but lack the funds at this time to make those changes. So, what I'm doing at least for the present is to run the Heaviest wire I can to make up for the resistance.

[@darylw792]

I got 6 Thunderbolt Harbor Freight panels to tie in to my house. I got two grid tie in micro inverters (each rated at 350W), but when I hook up the solar panels to the inverters I get no AC out. The LED light on every inverter glows a steady red. There are 6 meanings listed for a red lite LED: a. Island protection; b. Over-temp protection; c. Over/low AC voltage; d.Over/low DC voltage; e. Over/low frequency protection; f. fault. I got another inverter thinking that maybe the first two inverters were defective, and this one was rated at 600W. But I got the same result. I hooked up two panel per inverter in series. DC voltage was around 39V. So the panels were set up fine and producing voltage to the inverters. What am I doing wrong?

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

There is just not enough information here to make an educated guess.

[@darylw792]

@@TonysTractorAdventure I finally figured it out. It was in Island Protection mode. I could have swore I plugged this inverter into an outlet. Anyway it is working now. The question I have is when the panels are hooked up and working when I check the amps at the Breaker Panel to see if less power is being used the amp usage goes up not down. How do I tell if power is being generated from the solar panels?

[@tinyhomeincred-i-box]

Wood County,TX Math?

[@robertwinton2649]

❤

[@berthongo8531]

Poor Gizmo. Seems he doesn't much care about series/parallel wiring.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

He really doesn't. He sure liked the chicken strips on the ride over!

[@Mack_Dingo]

@@TonysTractorAdventure Better of dipped them in Ranch, But ya open circuit Voltage tho...🤔

[@firecloud77]

Should have measured watts while you were at it. Sigh.

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

There is nothing gained by measuring watts. It changes based on the time of year, time of day, clouds, shade, etc. Each panel is rated for 100 watts in perfect conditions. The panels have on occasion went to 105 watts during a sunny winter day.

[@firecloud77]

@@TonysTractorAdventure Nothing to be gained... except to confirm that they do indeed produce the rated 100 watts under next-to-ideal conditions.

[@drewfleming7065]

GEZZ give us positive and negative not male female connectors.....

[@TonysTractorAdventure]

Male Female

[@thepiromaster3901]

They are male and female connectors. Positive and negative would refer to the polarity of the current. Get over yourself.

[@drewfleming7065]

@@thepiromaster3901 My point is which is negative male or female?? The video was VERY unclear to which plug male or female was neg or pos...