SOLAR MODULE AND

BATTERY
CONFIGURATIONS
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
After the completion of the discussion, the students
are expected to:

 Explain the principle in series and parallel solar

panels
 Discuss the fundamental of battery configuration
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
A solar cell panel, solar electric panel, photo-voltaic
(PV) module or solar panel is an assembly of photo-
voltaic cells mounted in a framework for
installation. Solar panels use sunlight as a source
of energy to generate direct current electricity. A
collection of PV modules is called a PV panel, and a
system of PV panels is called an array. Arrays of
a photovoltaic system supply solar electricity to
electrical equipment.
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
From a solar cell to a PV system:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel#/media/File:From_a_solar_cell_to_a_PV_syste
m.svg
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
.

https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/solar-panel-components-construction
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
1. Solar photovoltaic cells or PV cells convert
sunlight directly into DC electrical energy.

2. The front glass sheet protects the PV cells from

the weather and impact from hail or airborne
debris. The glass is typically high strength
tempered glass which is 3.0 to 4.0mm thick and is
designed resist mechanical loads and extreme
temperature changes.
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
3. The aluminum frame plays a critical role by
both protecting the edge of the laminate section
housing the cells and providing a solid structure to
mount the solar panel in position

4. EVA stands for „ethylene vinyl acetate‟ which is

a specially designed polymer highly transparent
(plastic) layer used to encapsulate the cells and
hold them in position during manufacture.
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
5. The back-sheet is the rear most layer of
common solar panels which as acts as a moisture
barrier and final external skin to provide both
mechanical protection and electrical insulation.

6. The junction box is a small weatherproof

enclosure located on the rear side of the panel. It is
needed to securely attach the cables required to
interconnect the panels.
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
The junction box also houses the bypass diodes
which are needed to prevent back current which
occurs when cells are shaded or dirty. Diodes only
allow current to flow in one direction and a typical
60-cell panel is divided into 3 groups of 20 PV cells,
each with a bypass diode for preventing reverse
current.
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
Inside a junction box of a typical 60 cell solar panel
showing the 3 bypass diodes.

https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/solar-panel-components-construction
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
Modern panel with more advanced diodes mounted
to reduce heat and increase lifespan

https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/solar-panel-components-construction
 WHAT IS SOLAR PANEL?
A solar power panel is
made of photovoltaic
cells arranged in a
configuration that can
contain 32, 36, 48, 60,
72 and 96 cells. A solar
panel comprising 32
cells typically can
produce 14.72 volts
output (each cell
producing about 0.46
volt of electricity).
 BYPASS DIODE
A Bypass Diode is used in solar photovoltaic (PV)
arrays to protect partially shaded PV cells from
fully operating cells in full sun within the same
solar panel when used in high voltage series
arrays.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/photovoltaics/bypass-diode.html
 BYPASS DIODE
Scene 1: As the three PV cells are connected in
series, the generated output current (I) will be the
same (assuming the cells are evenly matched).

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/photovoltaics/bypass-diode.html
 BYPASS DIODE
Scene 2: The shaded cell stops producing electrical
energy and behaves more like a semiconductive
resistance.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/photovoltaics/bypass-diode.html
 BYPASS DIODE
Scene 3: Bypass diodes have been connected in
parallel across each of the three PV cells. These
externally connected bypass diodes are connected
in reverse bias mode across their respective cell.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/photovoltaics/bypass-diode.html
 BYPASS DIODE
Scene 4: Due to the shaded cell generating reverse
power, it forward biases the parallel connected
bypass diode (i.e. it turns it “ON”) diverting current
flow of the two good cells through itself as shown
by the green arrows above.
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATIONS
Solar photovoltaic panels can be electrically
connected together in series to increase the voltage
output, or they can be connected together in
parallel to increase the output amperage. Solar PV
panels can also be wired together in both series and
parallel combinations to increase both the output
voltage and current to produce a higher wattage
array.
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATION
Solar Panels in Series of Same
Characteristics: The total voltage output becomes
the sum of the voltage output of each panel.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/solar-power/connecting-solar-panels-
together.html
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATION
Solar Panels in Series of Different
Voltages: When they are connected together in
series, the array produces 21 volts at 3.0 amps, or
63 watts.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/solar-power/connecting-solar-panels-
together.html
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATION
Solar Panels in Series of Different Currents:
The individual panel voltages will add together as
before, but this time the amperage will be limited
to the value of the lowest panel in the series string,
in this case 1 Ampere.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/solar-power/connecting-solar-panels-
together.html
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATION
Solar Panels in Parallel of Same
Characteristics: Using the same three 6 Volt, 3.0
Amp panels as above, the total output of the
panels, when connected together in parallel, the
output voltage still remains at the same value of 6
volts, but the total amperage has now increased to
9.0 Amperes (3 + 3 + 3), producing 54 watts at full
sun.
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATION
.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/solar-power/connecting-solar-panels-
together.html
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATION
Solar Panels in Parallel with Different
Voltages and Currents: Here the parallel
currents add up as before but the voltage adjusts to
the lowest value, in this case 3 volts. Solar panels
must have the same output voltage to be useful in
parallel.

https://www.alternative-energy-tutorials.com/solar-power/connecting-solar-panels-
together.html
 SOLAR MODULE CONFIGURATION
Quick Review:

Series Solar Module:

Voltage – Increase
Current - Retains Value

Parallel Solar Module:

Voltage – Retains Value
Current - Increase
 BATTERY CONNECTION
Battery Connection in Series: In the series
connection of the batteries, the total voltage will
increase while the current capacity remains the
same.

https://www.etechnog.com/2021/05/battery-connection-diagram.html
 BATTERY CONNECTION
Battery Connection in Parallel: Here, you can
see three 12V, 100AH batteries are connected in
parallel. So the capacity of the output of the circuit
will be 12V, 300AH.

https://www.etechnog.com/2021/05/battery-connection-diagram.html
 BATTERY CONNECTION
Connection of Battery in Series and Parallel
Combination: Here, you can see a total of six
batteries are connected in series and parallel
combination.
 Row 1 consists of three batteries(12V, 100AH)
connected in series. So the output of Row 1 will
be 36V, 100AH.
 Row 2 also consists of three batteries(36V,
100AH) connected in series. So the output of Row
2 also is 36V, 100AH.
 Now both rows are connected in parallel. So, the
output of the total circuit will be 36V, 200AH.
 BATTERY CONNECTION
.

https://www.etechnog.com/2021/05/battery-connection-diagram.html
 BATTERY CONNECTION
Quick Review:

Series Solar Module:

Voltage – Increase
Current - Retains Value

Parallel Solar Module:

Voltage – Retains Value
Current - Increase
 LIFETIME TESTING OF PV MODULE
The typical lifetime of PV systems is about 25
years. In these as little maintenance as possible
should be re quired on the system components,
especially the PV modules are required to be
maintenance free. During the lifetime of 25 years
or more, PV modules are exposed to various
ex ternal stress from various sources:

 Temperature - physical quantity that expresses

hot and cold or a measure of the average kinetic
energy of the atoms or molecules in the system
 LIFETIME TESTING OF PV MODULE
 Mechanical stress - a measure of internal
resistance exhibited by a body or material when
an external force is applied to it (for example
from wind, snow and hail)
 Moisture originating from rain, dew and frost.

 Humidity originating from the atmosphere. It is

the amount of water vapor in the air.
 Irradiance - the radiant flux received by a
surface per unit area.
 REFERENCE LINKS
 https://www.etechnog.com/2021/05/battery-
connection-diagram.html
 https://www.alternative-energy-
tutorials.com/solar-power/connecting-solar-
panels-together.html
 https://www.alternative-energy-
tutorials.com/photovoltaics/bypass-diode.html
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_panel#/me
dia/File:From_a_solar_cell_to_a_PV_system.svg
 https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/solar
-panel-components-construction