Solar Panels Query

[Nix]

Problem with this sort of voltage is that it will be there during daylight hours when you can see but disappear when it's night time when you can't. I really don't want to encourage anyone who isn't familiar with electricity to start messing around with 400v. That's how people can die.

The series connections will most likely be under the panels but on top of the roof using MC4 connectors and adaptors. Trying to reach these connections from the loft will be extremely awkward and you have the added problem of making good the roof again.

If you did get to them and parallel the connections, you'd certainly get your 24v but you'd also get a potential 125 amps! This will melt most controllers on the market, let alone anything else on your circuit. We're talking serious fire risk here.

Each one of these solar panels will be most likely be rated at 250W so each one will be adding nearly 11 amps to the circuit if connected in parallel. If you're only using two 12v batteries in series (as they'd have to be), then even one panel would do a reasonable job but two obviously better depending on your loads/usage. Three panels and you have to start being careful about your wiring (I'd personally use at least 4mm cables with three panels) and the rating of any switches etc.

Now you can see why I'm scratching my head on this one for someone who isn't familiar with electrics and it's risks!