Hooking up batteries to solar generator.

When hooking up a solar generator. Is it best to run batteries in series or parallel to get the longest runtime out of them?

David Palmer wrote:

When hooking up a solar generator. Is it best to run batteries in series or parallel to get the longest runtime out of them?

I’m not sure I understand the question. Are you asking about a solar charger? If so, what voltage does the regulator allow the solar panel to generate? Most solar panel regulators will output 12 volts, therefore you would hook up your batteries in parallel to charge them. (Assuming you are talking about 12 volt batteries)

If your not talking about a solar panel, please explain.

Per Huntindave, one results in 12v and twice the amount of amp hours and the other results in 24v.

P.S. – when charging 2 batteries, I put the positive lead from the charging source on the + post of battery #1 and the negative lead from the charging source to the – post of battery #2. Use short jumpers between battery #1 & #2 to tie them together. This provides a more even charge to both batteries.

But which one will allow me to have the longest run time between charges?

David Palmer wrote:

But which one will allow me to have the longest run time between charges?

If you are running 12v devices, connect negative to negative and positive to positive between the 2 batteries.

I have 2 solar panels @ 150watts each,I have 2 12v batteries @ 175amp hours each, my solar generator has an inverter that is 5,000watts peak and 2,500watts continuous. I am powering a small cabin. Refrigerator, lights,TV,small appliances, computer,etc. What way would be the best way to hook up the batteries to give me the maximum run time with what I have?

I want to know which way is the best way to hook up my batteries so that I can get the longest run time out of my solar generator. I have 2 solar panels @ 150watts each,2 batteries @ 175 amp hours each. My solar generator is 5,000 peak watts 2,500 watts continuous.

Batteries are simply a storage device for electrical energy. The total storage capacity remains the same regardless of how they are hooked up. How you hook them up depends on what voltage you wish to produce.

Two 12 volt batteries hooked up in series will output 24 volts.

Two 12 volt batteries hooked up parallel will out put 12 volts.

I assume the output voltage spec. of your inverter is 120 volts therefore the only question is; Is your inverter designed for 12 volts or 24 volts on the input side?

I am running a 5000 watt inverter from there 110v a freezer,refrigerator, TV,blueray DVD,lights,computer,etc. I have 2-150w solar panels and 2 175amphour 12v batteries. My inverter can run both 12v or 24v. I want to thank you for your time And response on this topic.

Parallel will get you double the amp hours (longer run time). Series will give you 24 volts, but give you the run time of the amp hour rating of your batteries.

Watts are Watts (voltage x current) whether they are 12 volts or 24 volts the higher the voltage the lower the current. In a perfect world you have 12hrs of high quality daylight and you generate 300 watts of power per hour. All that power is stored in your batteries. You have collected and stored approx 144 amp hours per panel (( 150w / 12v ) * 12 hrs) per panel. When the sun goes down you now have 12 hrs to use up the power that you saved. That can be 2000 watts for for an hour and a half or 300 watts for 12 hours. Be aware that these are perfect world numbers, the reality is something a lot less. There are losses on both ends of the storage and usage functions. I would expect on a good day you will have 100 watt to use. Hope this helps.

Thank you very much. That’s what I was looking for.

Thank you all folks for your time and effort to reply to me. Take care folks.