Whitch panels

[PeteMallorca]

Hi, I'm very limited for space on the roof and I've just upgraded to a Victron MPPT 150 l 60 Tr and a 300AH underseat LiFePO4 battery. Now I need to fill the battery with power.

What is your opinion on the panels in the PDF? I'm quite limited with suppliers here in Mallorca. The Victron will handle 860w of solar so 2 of these are under that. We have a good amount of sun here so I doubt that it would take very long for these to charge the battery. They are asking €197 each, for these panels.

I'm very new to solar, so please be gentle.

 

[tonyidle]

Look good to me. Price looks OK too. If you have room for them your roof space isn't all that limited.

 

[PeteMallorca]

Look good to me. Price looks OK too. If you have room for them your roof space isn't all that limited.

Thanks Tony, I was referring to not having room for 4 x 200w panels.

 

[Lenny HB]

Spec looks good on them but I've never heard of them.
They are a hell of a big panel and very heavy they are domestic house panels.

 

[PeteMallorca]

Spec looks good on them but I've never heard of them.
They are a hell of a big panel and very heavy they are domestic house panels.

Thanks Lenny, stupidly I was looking at the power ratings, not the weight. I've been trying to find the least amount of panels for somewhere near the Victron's limits. I must look a the weight of alternatives, thanks for pointing that out.

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[tonyidle]

Spec looks good on them but I've never heard of them.
They are a hell of a big panel and very heavy they are domestic house panels.

They're only heavy 'cos they're big. I'm using two of them.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Big panels,are you sure you have the space?

 

[PeteMallorca]

Big panels,are you sure you have the space?

Thanks jimbo, I'm looking at moving things to make them fit but the alternative is 4 x 200w and they are about 1290 x 760 each.

 

[PeteMallorca]

I'm going to remove the TV aerial and the mushroom vent from the bathroom, I'm re locating the aerial with a new one and fitting a side exhaust extractor for the bathroom. If it comes to it, the air con will go also. I can't use it on batteries so it's a waste of roof space. Maybe I can find a mini split air con, that will work from the inverter / battery, in the future.

 

[Raul]

JA Solar, top 5 in the world. Very good panels and Iike them. I got 18 on a ground mount.
Similar size but better output will be Trina vertex. You can get 500w on one panel. You can also overpanel the controller by 20-30% without issue. The mpp tracker will limit the power in, but better for the full winter.

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[Lenny HB]

Living in Spain do you need that much solar. I would have thought 300 Watts would be more than enough unless you are planning to spend winters off grid in the UK.

 

[PeteMallorca]

JA Solar, top 5 in the world. Very good panels and Iike them. I got 18 on a ground mount.
Similar size but better output will be Trina vertex. You can get 500w on one panel. You can also overpanel the controller by 20-30% without issue. The mpp tracker will limit the power in, but better for the full winter.

Thanks Raul, so I would get away with 2 x 500w? Do you have any links to suppliers of these?

 

[PeteMallorca]

Living in Spain do you need that much solar. I would have thought 300 Watts would be more than enough unless you are planning to spend winters off grid in the UK.

I live full time in the camper.

 

[Tombola]

bit of a faff moving your aerial and vent. I see you already have 2 x 100w can you not add another matching panel along the back, and then if needs be add a suitcase one now and then, could be plenty enough if you are in Mallorca ,,,,especially if you have a b2b.
or if you really have to shift the mushroom and add another 100 there too

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

I live full time in the camper.

Are you based on one site or move around?

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[PeteMallorca]

bit of a faff moving your aerial and vent. I see you already have 2 x 100w can you not add another matching panel along the back, and then if needs be add a suitcase one now and then, could be plenty enough if you are in Mallorca ,,,,especially if you have a b2b.
or if you really have to shift the mushroom and add another 100 there too
View attachment 645492

Thanks Tombola, that's food for thought.

 

[PeteMallorca]

Are you based on one site or move around?

Hi Jimbo, for the last 7 weeks, since returning from Barcelona, after a double lung transplant in april this year, I've been on the same free parking area but there is no power. I do intend to move around when my health improves but I need more power now because of electrical equipment for medication.

 

[Tombola]

give them ones a quick scrub if you can..... one corner is dragging your power down Pete

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

Good to hear your up and about after your transplant ,wow.
I was just wondering if a portable setup would suit but not if you intend to move around.
Do you think you will be fitting the panels yourself after your op.?

 

[PeteMallorca]

give them ones a quick scrub if you can..... one corner is dragging your power down Pete

I must have read your mind. I just stuck my head out of the skylight, wit a bowel if water and a broom and cleaned them both. And a bit of roof too. Before and after photos don't make me feel great.

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[PeteMallorca]

Good to hear your up and about after your transplant ,wow.
I was just wondering if a portable setup would suit but not if you intend to move around.
Do you think you will be fitting the panels yourself after your op.?

Thanks Jimbo, its been an interesting roller coaster. I'm not fit enough to do it alone, not yet but I can do as much prep as possible and ask for help, if I must

 

[Lenny HB]

Thats not much charge in bulk mode but it is 7:30 in the evening over there but unless its cloudy I would expect more.

 

[Raul]

Thanks Raul, so I would get away with 2 x 500w? Do you have any links to suppliers of these?

Unfortunately I don’t know any in Spain, but, back in UK CCL Components (1st class) stock them, Middsumer solar as well, I think ITS technologies. Also look at panasonic HIT 330w. It’s a high voltage hibrid, best solar cells on earth.
Forgot to mention, yes you can have 1000w on that controller no worries, just stay below 150vdc.

 

[PeteMallorca]

Unfortunately I don’t know any in Spain, but, back in UK CCL Components (1st class) stock them, Middsumer solar as well, I think ITS technologies. Also look at panasonic HIT 330w. It’s a high voltage hibrid, best solar cells on earth.
Forgot to mention, yes you can have 1000w on that controller no worries, just stay below 150vdc.

Thanks Raul, I'll have a look and see what their shipping would be, if they would ship to Spain.

 

[PeteMallorca]

Has anyone heard of "MasterPower". For
2 x MasterPower, MP-MF8613M (HV)-460W MÓDULO MONOCRISTALINO.
(920W)

Placa Solar alta eficiencia MP-MF8613M 460W-9BB

Subtotal: 508,20 €
Shipping:100,04 €

Total: 608,24 €

I've found a supplirr for these and I can get them between the 2 sky lights. Spec sheet attached.

Thanks.

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[Jimbohorlicks]

These are 1.9 x1.1 m and weigh 24 kgs each ,so you would need to remove your Aircon unit also.Is this what you intended to do?

 

[PeteMallorca]

These are 1.9 x1.1 m and weigh 24 kgs each ,so you would need to remove your Aircon unit also.Is this what you intended to do?

Morning Jimbo,

I don't think I have a lot of choice, if I'm going to get enough solar to keep the batteries full. Most of my time will be off grid and not having access to AC, so that air conditioner will never be used. I do need some form of air conditioning but I'm searching for an alternative that I could use with 12v or through thev3000 inverter.

 

[PeteMallorca]

Maybe a mini split.

 

[PeteMallorca]

Thanks Raul, so I would get away with 2 x 500w? Do you have any links to suppliers of these?

Hi Raul,

Do you think this is a good price for the Trima Vertex? They are 5kg heavier than the first ones I was looking at but they are 510W. I've now got 3 x 200AH Lifepo4 batteries so I'm guessing that these panels will give a higher voltage than the 12v batteries and they will start charging sooner and continue later in the day. Also better for low sun days.

By removing the roof air con, I can get 2.2m x 2.2m, free space.

Am I thinking along the right lines?

 

[Raul]

Delivered yes

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