Racer's Lounge - Help with solar panel wiring, and electricity guys?

I got 12 panels to play with, and they are rated "over" 300ma @ "over 6v" each under full direct sun. So, lets say they put out 300ma @ 6v for fun, how much current could they produce if i hooked them half and half in parallel and then hooked each bank in series?

Is my drawing correct?

Also, any input is appreciated!

Those all look like they're in parallel to me. At least
this is how I would read it as a schematic.

Yep Jimmys right it looks like you've got each panel wired in parallel which is correct for adding the currents. Problem is you need to then wire the two banks in series to obtain the 12Vs you are looking for. You now have them in parallel as well which would give you 6V and 3600ma....at least thats the way Im reading your drawing....

I know something was fishy. How i should tie one banks negitive to one banks positive, and then tie the free neg and pos from each to the regulator, right?

Thanks!


(Edit: New image)

You've got the right Idea.
See if this helps. Sorry for such a crude drawing, but hope it helps.

Gotcha!

Thanks for your help!

Note that you may maximize the power taken off each cell,
by running some lower voltage and getting more current out.
You'll have to determine by experiment (and by reading the
controller specs) what the peak-power-output load point is.
A cell with its output shorted or well below the open-circuit
voltage is basically a constant current device but near open
circuit potential much of the photocurrent is being internally
shunted by the diode junctions. You also will be less subject
to current hogging, a lower-forward-voltage or warmer cell
taking current from its buddies in parallel, if you keep the
cell voltage lower (more cells making the same output volts
like direct-charging a 12V battery, means less per).

Point being you might see more performance by stacking
three parallel gangs of lesser number (3x4 rather than 2x2),
if the controller is a dumb regulator. But if it's a switcher
that will run buck/boost then it may maximize output for
you across a broader input voltage range. I'd just try out
the two configurations on a full-sun and a cloudy day, and
see which gives you the best result (most amps to the
battery, delivered).