Solar Controller Automatic Series/Parallel switching

[zboss]

Is there a solar controller that will do automatic series/parallel switching? It makes sense that there should be a controller that will test a combination of situations in order to find the best charging solution.

Maybe series works better during the morning when the sun is low, the batteries are discharged, and there is no shading on the panels but putting the same panels into parallel works better in the day when there might be shading on one of the panels.

[djmarchand]

Although what you say makes sense for a boat, I doubt if it is available. The vast majority of solar controllers are used in fixed installations where shading is not an issue. There isn't enough of a boater's market to make it worthwhile developing something specific for our needs.

Having said that, someone will prove me wrong ;-).

David

[Ex-Calif]

I wonder what would happen if you wired two controllers into one bank of panels.

Let me know...

[h the boat]

It simply wont work, it will act as a parallel system, providing the controlers themselves dont blow. The one that is in parallel will control the total output, the one that is series connected will not have sufficient voltage to operate. h the boat.