[john-nicoletti@cogeco.ca]

I have two panels(PV) and I am ready to connect them together in parellel. As there is current flowing through them at most times, is it safe to connect positive to positive and neg to neg. There no "off" switch lol. Do I cover them to make the connections. Yes I am new at this.

John

[Raptor235]

hmm not sure John, try searching the main site for articles on solar installation there might be some resources there..

[peachy]

I have no idea. But congrats on getting them!! I hope they work out for you. And what will you be using them for?

[freeranger]

John. You're right with a parellel connection to go positive to positive and negative to negative. I usually cover the panels when I'm working with them.
The term parallel refers to the way the panel is wired to another panel. When they are wired this way, the voltage stays the same. However, the amperage is increased to be the total number of amps between the two panels. You get a different result if you wire them in series.

[renic]

Originally Posted by john-nicoletti@cogeco.ca

I have two panels(PV) and I am ready to connect them together in parellel. As there is current flowing through them at most times, is it safe to connect positive to positive and neg to neg. There no "off" switch lol. Do I cover them to make the connections. Yes I am new at this.

John

Please be very careful when working with your solar panels. Electricity can be extremely dangerous. 600-1,000 people die in the U.S. each year from electrocution.

• Make sure you keep the AC and DC portions of you systems physically separated. This will help prevent a nasty shock if a wire comes loose
• Make sure you secure all wiring (for the same reason)
• Be sure to properly ground your solar panels.
• Get a copy of the NEC electrical handbook. Section 690 deals specifically with solar power and covers all the basics you'll need to know. I have the 2005 version, with illustrations, and it is invaluable. In Canada, you would want to have a copy of the Canadian Electrical Code, but I am unsure of which version would be most helpful.
• Don't work in wet conditions
• Be sure to keep your hands dry or wear gloves (sweaty hands and solar panels don't play well together). If you only have a 12v system, this may not be a major issue, but solar panels wired in series can have voltages up to 600VDC. high voltage DC can kill you.
• If you need help, talk to a local electrician.
• Do not risk your own personal safety to save a few dollars. If you are unsure of what you are doing, consider hiring a local electrician to help you.

Any time the solar cells are exposed to light, electricity is trying to travel back to the cell (a closed circuit) or to the earth - so the answer to your first question is yes. Covering the panel will reduce the amount of electricity being generated, but it will be very difficult to stop all light from hitting the panel.

A parallel connection is safe, provided you do the work safely. Be sure that any equipment the panels are wired to can handle the combination of voltage and amperage being generated by the array of solar panels.