Is It Possible To Add Another Solar Panel Wire In An Existing Solar System?

Unlike other electrical installations, you cannot just hook additional solar panel cables to an existing PV installation. This makes is vital to consider future expansion when designing solar system. This is also the reason why installers recommend going with full installation. It is important to carefully evaluate your power needs to determine the number of panels to use in your system. Likewise, your budget should also be considered. However, if you face budgetary limitations or have overgrown the estimated power needs, you could consider hooking additional panels to your existing system.

Unfortunately, most existing PV systems are not capable of taking in new solar panels. Usually, solar systems are equipped with inverters designed to accommodate the estimated load.  But in case the power inverter is oversized, then you can possibly hook additional panels. The only caveat is that you may need to upgrade the solar wire and other components to comply with the current NEC standards.

You'd also consider whether the new panels will match with the old ones. If the existing circuit is wired in series, it might not allow additional panels. Typically, the maximum circuit voltage restricts the type of panels that can be wired to it. For example, older models would come with 12V, 800W capacity, while newer solar panels now come with comparatively higher capacity ranging from 30V-60V and up to 200W. If you need to add a panel with the same amps and voltage, it might be best to just install a separate array.

Using micro-inverters or optimizers in the PV circuit allows you to expand one panel at a time. Micro-inverters prevent limitations related to string inverters. This gadget allows you to add new solar panels in an existing string inverter even if they are maxed out. However, the additional panels must be hooked to its AC.