I'm developing a device that runs off 24V DC. I'll be installing it at a client's site who has arrays of solar panel, with 24 panels in series, making it a 1000V system. Can I tap one panel from the series to get around 40 volts, so that i can give it to the charge controller and then to the load?
Would that affect the complete series? A sample series is shown in the figure.
simulate this circuit – Schematic created using CircuitLab
Best Answer
Tapping power off just one panel will reduce the power that the whole string can produce.
Where panels are connected in series, the current is limited to whatever the lowest generating panel is producing. By stealing some current from one panel, you reduce the amount it can supply to the rest of the string.