CAN YOU MIX DIFFERENT WATTAGE SOLAR PANELS?

In today's blog, we'll discuss the topic of combining solar panels with different wattages in the same solar system. This is a commonly asked question when it comes to setting up solar systems. We’ll cover why people sometimes go this route as well as why we advise them not to. We’ll then dive into how mixing different wattage panels can hurt your system. Lastly, you’ll learn how to plan properly for setting up your solar system.

Mixing different wattage panels is a cost-effective way to achieve a “higher-watt” solar setup. Yet, when mixing panels with varying wattages, various challenges may arise. For starters, you will see a reduction in efficiency and power output since these different wattage panels operate under different amps and voltage outputs. In this case, the lower voltage/amperage panel will be chosen first, making your high-wattage panel useless.

Now, let's delve into the wiring aspect. When it comes to figuring out how to wire your panels together, you have two types of wiring choices: series and parallel. While both are suitable for systems with similar panel wattages, when mixing wattages, the wiring approach becomes less relevant due to efficiency and power output losses.

Before venturing into solar energy, the first crucial step is to determine your needs, requirements, and available space, as well as how much space you have to work with. By doing so, you understand what is needed given what you need to work with, and whether it will fit or not. Try to future-proof your solar setup, it will save you in the long run.

In conclusion, although we advise against mixing panels with different wattages, we acknowledge that power requirements and sizing may change over time, and the ultimate decision rests with you. We realize that power requirement and sizing change over time, even to the point you might not have foreseen. We recommend that since you will be losing out on a lot of power and efficiency for your overall system, mixing different wattage panels isn’t a smart choice. However, the ultimate choice is yours. We hope this blog helped answer the question “Can You Mix Different Wattage Solar Panels?”.