Another Solar Panel Question???

[Moto GBR]

I have recently taken delivery of a 300w panel that I am hoping to fit to the MH this weekend. My question is, The MH all ready has a 100w panel fitted to it, Do I link the 300w to the 100w or disable the 100w and only use the 300w? I have very little experience of these as you might of guessed.

TA Steve

 

[Doobray]

You can mix them, if wired in parallel the amps will be added but the voltage will be the voltage of the lowest panel. If wired in series the opposite, so 300 +100 does not equal 400

 

[Bobby-gg]

Have you enough room to fit a 300w panel along with the existing 100w panel?
If so, I'd buy another controller, preferably a mppt, and parallel there outputs up to your battery

 

[Moto GBR]

I have fitted a Victron MPPT 100/30

TA Steve

 

[Moto GBR]

You can mix them, if wired in parallel the amps will be added but the voltage will be the voltage of the lowest panel. If wired in series the opposite, so 300 +100 does not equal 400

What would be the best option? I do not understand, what is best volts or amps Doh?

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[Bobby-gg]

Read something like this for mixing different voltages & currents

Mixing solar panels – Dos and Don’ts • SOLAR POWER SECRETS

Mixing Solar Panels: Discover Now Dos and Dont's of Mixing the Same Types or Different Types of Solar Panels. Act Now to Save Your Money!

solarpanelsvenue.com

 

[SeanF1]

It is very likely that you will get lower performance from mixing them than from just using the 300w. Would need to know the max voltage and max power of each panel to be certain.

 

[Stealaway]

That's a big panel.
What voltage does it provide - is the same as your existing panel?

 

[Moto GBR]

It is very likely that you will get lower performance from mixing them than from just using the 300w. Would need to know the max voltage and max power of each panel to be certain.

Max power PMAX300w, max VMP27.9

 

[Moto GBR]

That's a big panel.
What voltage does it provide - is the same as your existing panel?

No, the vol
tage VMP 27.9

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[Bobby-gg]

Use your existing victron mppt on the new panel, and buy another smaller one for the 100w panel

 

[Doobray]

What would be the best option? I do not understand, what is best volts or amps Doh?

Wattage is volts x amps. You would need to know the voltage of the panels. The smallest panel will drag the other one down. Without knowing I would just fit the 300w

 

[Bobby-gg]

But, you still haven't said if this will fit on your roof, 300w panels are quite a size

 

[Moto GBR]

But, you still haven't said if this will fit on your roof, 300w panels are quite a size

Yes It will fit , thanks

 

[Bobby-gg]

Yes It will fit , thanks

Good

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[autorouter]

I'd go with what Bobby-gg says in post #3 and #11. The voltage of the 300W panel is 27.9V, and the voltage of the 100W panel is probably about 20V. If you connect them in parallel the MPPT controller will probably settle at about 21V, which will give very poor output from the 300W panel. Connecting them in series would be even worse. Separate controllers is the way forward, I think.

 

[Moto GBR]

Thanks for the input

 

[headlight]

I would connect the new 300 watt panel to the existing Victron 100-30 MPPT, and fit a Victron 75-15 or 75-10 to connect the 100 watt panel to.
That way you will get the best out of both panels.

 

[Moto GBR]

I would connect the new 300 watt panel to the existing Victron 100-30 MPPT, and fit a Victron 75-15 or 75-10 to connect the 100 watt panel to.
That way you will get the best out of both panels.

Thank you