Solar 4x4 cell grid wiring (is this logical?)

[CatNewBee]

I always would chose parallel wiring. If you want to have the advantages of both, chose higher voltage panels and leverage the smaller losses of wiring plus the mppt gains. Do not wire panels in series. Some even prefer a separate controller per panel, but I think, it is a little too much.

[DotDun]

If shading is not an issue, series is fine. Smaller wire, single controller, let mppt do it’s job.

[GTom]

Originally Posted by CatNewBee

I always would chose parallel wiring. If you want to have the advantages of both, chose higher voltage panels and leverage the smaller losses of wiring plus the mppt gains. Do not wire panels in series. Some even prefer a separate controller per panel, but I think, it is a little too much.

Higher voltage panel = I should hunt for 24V panels. The "default" ~17V Vmpp I am afraid won't exploit the full potential of MPPT.

Originally Posted by DotDun

If shading is not an issue, series is fine. Smaller wire, single controller, let mppt do it’s job.

The plan is series-parallel: a starboard and a port group connected in parallel. Within the group 2x100W (or anything between 80 and 150W) panels in series.

[seandepagnier]

Originally Posted by Paul Elliott

a good boost converter shouldn't be any less efficient that a good buck converter.

buck converters are slightly more efficient than boost converters. The difference is maybe a few percent.