Total output from 3 panels.

[acenip]

So?

SO!
The SunTax isn't relevant to me at all, why bother mentioning it. Just more pointless noise.

 

[acenip]

Proper informative answers always come out, patience is a virtue.

Just a royal PITA

 

[Barriesimpson]

SO!
The SunTax isn't relevant to me at all, why bother mentioning it. Just more pointless noise.

It was the answer to a post by another member, said in jest, about the government charging for solar power. So I related an ACTUAL FACT that happened in Spain as an informative anecdote. Call it a heads up if you like, most here appreciate this sort of information. You really need to lighten up a little, maybe have a beer or 2?

 

[Outdoors Dad]

So lots of people some who are professionals in MH electrics have provided lots of information and answers. People have suggested more information about IE specs etc.....have you got your answers?

 

[acenip]

So lots of people some who are professionals in MH electrics have provided lots of information and answers. People have suggested more information about IE specs etc.....have you got your answers?

Getting there.

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[Outdoors Dad]

Good I'm genuinely interested in your results as the problem and outcome helps everyone. It is very good that people on here help us out and considering some make a living by fitting solar etc.
However a bit of laughter is better than a dose of medicine sometimes.

 

[Just smiffy]

SO!
The SunTax isn't relevant to me at all, why bother mentioning it. Just more pointless noise.

Well this is your problem…

You need to move to Spain then you solar will produce more power, it’s relatively simple… I’m surprised you’ve not thought of that….

 

[acenip]

Well this is your problem…

You need to move to Spain then you solar will produce more power, it’s relatively simple… I’m surprised you’ve not thought of that….

Hilarious mate, just double down on the plethora or BS.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Again, it's only fun if you're not the one asking a genuine question.

Well that's a surprise, not really one for the "craic" then. I'll take the hint and refrain from future levity at you're posting expense.
Mike.

 

[Phill D]

Hilarious mate, just double down on the plethora or BS.

Despite what you might think there are members who are trying to help you.

Unfortunately no one however knowledgeable on the subject can answer your question any further unless you provide the information you have been asked for about your installation.

If you don’t have that info or are unable to provide it then give what information you have; there may be other ways to help.

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[Just smiffy]

Hilarious mate, just double down on the plethora or BS.

What’s more hilarious is it appears from your avatar that you have full control of the sun….

 

[RogerIvy]

Let’s assume that all three panels produce 20v. This is possible, but quite often >=200w run at closer to 40v. Hence why my question about the specs is importantly.

… but let’s assume all 3 are 20v.

What you’d do is to combine the two 100w panels in parallel using MC4 splitters.
You then effectively have two equal 200w panels running at the same voltage and same amperage. You could place those in series without any loss.

Here are the calcs:
Panel 1: 200w, 20v, 10A
Panels 2 and 3: 100w, 20v, 5A
Join panels 2 and 3 in parallel using MC4… stays at 20v, 5A + 5A = 10A, 100w + 100w =200 W 200w
Lets call the result panel 4
Join panels 1 and 4 in series …. 20v + 20v = 40v, stays at 10A, 200w + 200W =400 W 400w

 

[pappajohn]

Draw us a circuit diagram.

Maybe the solution will then jump out!

You can’t just parallel panel of totally different specs.

Tony

WHY?
All the panels add together to make the equivalent of one large panel in the same way batteries in parallel make the equivalent of one large battery

 

[RogerIvy]

WHY?
All the panels add together to make the equivalent of one large panel

If they all run at 20v that’s fine, the result will be 20A so the wire going down needs to be thick enough.

However, quite often panels that are >=200w run at a much higher voltage … hence why the specs are important to answer him

 

[DandG5515]

I've been running my new solar setup to it's full potential, trying to push it to the max and watching the SOC getting back to 100%.

I fitted a 200w panel to accompany my other 2no 100w panels. This seemed to work well but while doing the above test were I've pushed hard I have never noticed the watts from the solar go beyond 230/240 watts. My mttp controller is a Victron 100/30. Could this be a bit on the small side for panel combo?

I don't know if this is helpful, my system is 100w + 110w in series, the last couple of days in clear sky i am getting 150w max which is more than I need. However in July when the sun is higher this system does record 210w.

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[Jabstatt]

Thank you Roger.

Tony

 

[acenip]

Could I ask a hypothetical question, let's assume things are correct with my panels matching and the wiring installed correctly.

In perfect sun conditions what would the maximum combined watts look like from my 2no 100w+200w panels?

 

[acenip]

I don't know if this is helpful, my system is 100w + 110w in series, the last couple of days in clear sky i am getting 150w max which is more than I need. However in July when the sun is higher this system does record 210w.

Appreciate your input. I'm quite happy with the 240w that appeared on and off yesterday but I'm just trying to find out if I'm missing something from my diy installation that could give me another 100+watts, just for the effort of changing a couple of cables out.

 

[1967bowesj]

Appreciate your input. I'm quite happy with the 240w that appeared on and off yesterday but I'm just trying to find out if I'm missing something from my diy installation that could give me another 100+watts, just for the effort of changing a couple of cables out.

If you can answer post #2 the I’m sure RogerIvy will have the advice needed. At the moment you could have several permutations that would give differing outputs without starting to think of the relative global positioning that affects solar yields. Just for comparison my 350w twin panels are giving 120w at 09.30 in a sunny uk Durham area, probably comparable to your location.

 

[Jwats]

Yes your Victron reg is fine for that wattage. If they’re in Parallel then the 200 is pointless and will just be running as if it’s a 100 as the other 100’s will just be pulling it down. Cable gauge is unknown but I would of ran all panels into the van separately then joined on to 10mm down to the regulator

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[Lenny HB]

Could I ask a hypothetical question, let's assume things are correct with my panels matching and the wiring installed correctly.

In perfect sun conditions what would the maximum combined watts look like from my 2no 100w+200w panels?

In theory it would be 400 watts assuming all panels have the same on load voltage (which they won't) and wired in parallel and no cable losses.
Also you would probably need to be in Spain.
You will get close to the max in southern UK in mid June.

Easy to work out the max output if you give us the on load voltages of each panel.

As long as the cables are not a lot too small losses are not too much of a problem.
For example if you have a 5% loss in summer when the panels are producing say 20 amps a 1 amp loss is not going to worry you. In winter when you are only getting say 4 amps a 200ma loss is not worth worrying about.

 

[fishplug]

Yup - we're at the end of the 'theoretical' stage I think.

Need to know the panel specs at this stage for more specific advice.

As for how much wattage you should expect... well... lots of variables. Lots and lots of them. Not least of which is that your panels are mounted flat and therefore will never be tilted at the optimal angle to the sun (unless you're in a ditch ) and that makes more of a difference than people think.

240W from a possible 400W maximum isn't necessarily terrible IMO. Get us the specs and we'll see if there's something we can suggest that might tweak that number up a bit.

 

[Raul]

Let’s assume that all three panels produce 20v. This is possible, but quite often >=200w run at closer to 40v. Hence why my question about the specs is importantly.

… but let’s assume all 3 are 20v.

What you’d do is to combine the two 100w panels in parallel using MC4 splitters.
You then effectively have two equal 200w panels running at the same voltage and same amperage. You could place those in series without any loss.

Here are the calcs:
Panel 1: 200w, 20v, 10A
Panels 2 and 3: 100w, 20v, 5A
Join panels 2 and 3 in parallel using MC4… stays at 20v, 5A + 5A = 10A, 100w + 100w =200 W 200w
Lets call the result panel 4
Join panels 1 and 4 in series …. 20v + 20v = 40v, stays at 10A, 200w + 200W =400 W 400w

In short that's a 2S 2P configuration of 3 panels. Thats all good if the 200W panel is at double the voltage of the 100W panels.
I have seen leisure 200W panels at 20-24v close to the 18-20v 100W panels.
In this case the 200W will benefit in all parallel, 3P configuration.
But I agree, without panel data we are in the dark.

Also OP mentioned the cabling from controller is on the thin side. That would be the biggest factor as the amps are boosted past controller, to the battery that cable may have the limiting factor.

 

[acenip]

Yup - we're at the end of the 'theoretical' stage I think.

Need to know the panel specs at this stage for more specific advice.

As for how much wattage you should expect... well... lots of variables. Lots and lots of them. Not least of which is that your panels are mounted flat and therefore will never be tilted at the optimal angle to the sun (unless you're in a ditch ) and that makes more of a difference than people think.

240W from a possible 400W maximum isn't necessarily terrible IMO. Get us the specs and we'll see if there's something we can suggest that might tweak that number up a bit.

Here's the information I have on the 3 individual panels, the 200W has limited information, I'll try to find more details on it from the manufacturers website.

 

[acenip]

Yes your Victron reg is fine for that wattage. If they’re in Parallel then the 200 is pointless and will just be running as if it’s a 100 as the other 100’s will just be pulling it down. Cable gauge is unknown but I would of ran all panels into the van separately then joined on to 10mm down to the regulator

Could you possibly send me a link to a suitable cable, I've been looking on Amazon but there are too many choices.

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[Lenny HB]

Here's the information I have on the 3 individual panels, the 200W has limited information, I'll try to find more details on it from the manufacturers website.



View attachment 1054866

Those two panels in parallel will give a max of 194 watts as the output voltage will be restricted to 18v.

 

[fishplug]

Given the relative low cost of PV cable, I normally just put 6mm in. Rated to 50A so isn't going to be a problem.

You'll obviously need new MC4 connectors and the associated fitting tools if you don't already have them.

To be honest, that's probably overkill and 4mm would be fine for you as it's rated to 35A - again assumptions are being made here that the cable run isn't going to be 20 meters or anything silly...

Just search for "pv cable" and make sure it's copper and not aluminium....

 

[Lenny HB]

You'll obviously need new MC4 connectors and the associated fitting tools if you don't already have them.

As you normally only need the MC4 connectors on one end I buy a male to female extention lead twice the length I need.

 

[fishplug]

That's not a stupid idea

Saves a lot of faff, probably doesn't cost any more than buying connectors / tools separately and gurantees you a perfectly machined crimp every time....

I like that...

 

[acenip]

Here's the information I have on the 3 individual panels, the 200W has limited information, I'll try to find more details on it from the manufacturers website.



View attachment 1054866

Max Power at STC
200W
Open Circuit Voltage
23V
Short Circuit Current
11.05A
Optimum Operating Voltage
19.2V
Optimum Operating Current
10.42A
Operating Temperature
-40°F~194°F / -40℃~90℃
Maximum System Voltage
600 VDC UL
Maximum Series Fuse Rating
20A

This is all I can find for the 200W panel.

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