Connecting broken panel in series

When you connect solar panels in series... The Imp (maximum current rating under standard test conditions) need to match within 10% of their rated Imp (i.e., 5.0 amp and 5.5 amp maximum between high and low series panels).

For charging your battery bank, you should look at 5% to 13% rate of charge... For a 24 volt @ 225 amp battery bank (2x12 volt 225 AH batteries in series):

• 29.0 volts charging * 225 AH * 1/0.77 panel+controller losses * 0.05 rate of charge = 424 Watt array minimum
  
• 29.0 volts charging * 225 AH * 1/0.77 panel+controller losses * 0.10 rate of charge = 847 Watt array nominal
  
• 29.0 volts charging * 225 AH * 1/0.77 panel+controller losses * 0.13 rate of charge = 1,102 Watt array "typical cost effective" maximum
  

Then there is the question of what your loads are like... For example, 1-3 days of stored energy and 50% maximum discharge (for longer battery life). We use 2 days of storage as a typical "optimum" battery sizing (for lead acid batteries):

• 24 volts * 225 AH * 0.85 AC inverter eff * 1/2 days storage * 0.50 max discharge = 1,148 Watt*Hours per night (2 nights)
  

Note--A 2kWatt 24 volt AC inverter would drain your "daily battery" storage in about 30 minutes...

As always, we like to start with your loads (average Watt*Hours per day, peak watts--such as starting a pump/refrigerator motor, where the system will be used--hours of sun per day, load variation by season) and such... Designing a system without knowledge of the loads is usually a money losing situation.

-Bill