Final answer:
No, you should not always keep your panel lights as bright as possible. Partial shading of a single cell can limit the current delivered by the whole panel, and bypass diodes can only isolate problem sections in chunks of cells. Connecting panels in series can also make them vulnerable to partial shadowing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The brightness of panel lights should not always be kept as bright as possible. This is because panels are wired in series, and partial shading of a single cell can limit the current the whole panel delivers to that of the weakest link in the chain. For example, if one cell is shaded and its current is reduced to 10% of its full value, the entire chain of cells would also be limited to 10% of its capacity. Connecting panels in series also makes them vulnerable to partial shadowing. Bypass diodes can help to isolate problem sections, but they can only do so in chunks of 18-24 cells.