grumpy
Solar Newcomer
Posts: 40
|
Post by grumpy on Jul 26, 2018 19:42:43 GMT
Hello Board, Converting a Kaufman 7X16 Utility Trailer to overnighter so I added a 40 Amp Commander and two 100 Watt 12 volt slimline Monocrystalline panels, can I add two 160 Watt Polycristalline panels for a total of 520 Watts at 12 volts the max rating of the commander however my main concern is combining the Mono and Polycrystalline to the same charge controller.
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Jul 26, 2018 19:47:55 GMT
Mixing poly and mono isn't a problem at all........ Now adding mixed voltage panels I don't think it's recommended....
|
|
grumpy
Solar Newcomer
Posts: 40
|
Post by grumpy on Jul 26, 2018 23:04:34 GMT
Thanks, don't believe I will ever max out on 520 watts. The 100 watt panels will be mobile so I can position them as needed and connect with a bulkhead fitting.
|
|
v10
Solar Advocate
Posts: 81
|
Post by v10 on Jul 28, 2018 2:23:01 GMT
would you need to add a new controller if you wanted to add panels of different wattage?
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Jul 28, 2018 13:58:18 GMT
would you need to add a new controller if you wanted to add panels of different wattage? Yes sir a CC has a limit to what it can handle... How many panels are you wanting to add??? 2,5,8?
|
|
|
Post by jsb2000 on Jul 28, 2018 14:05:37 GMT
would you need to add a new controller if you wanted to add panels of different wattage? No. You can have panels of different "wattages" connected in parallel to the same controller. As long as the voltages on the panels are equivalent, all is good. For example: I currently run two 12V, 100 watt panels. If I wanted to throw a 12V, 50 watt panel into the mix, that wouldn't present a problem. As long as the controller can handle the TOTAL current/power output of the panels, you don't need additional controllers.
|
|
|
Post by Guest on Jul 28, 2018 14:18:28 GMT
would you need to add a new controller if you wanted to add panels of different wattage? alt e has a series of youtube videos of using mismatched panels, measuring different setups series/parallel to show which might work better. www.youtube.com/results?search_query=alt+e+mismatch
|
|
grumpy
Solar Newcomer
Posts: 40
|
Post by grumpy on Jul 28, 2018 23:37:38 GMT
Sorry folks but I called Renogy Support and was advised not mix panels of different wattage, although the controller can handle up to maximum wattage it cant differentiate between the different wattage output. So I added three additional 100 watt panels. The other option would be to have a separate controller for each type of panel wattage.
|
|
|
Post by Guest on Jul 29, 2018 14:45:29 GMT
The other option would be to ignore Renogy.
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Jul 29, 2018 14:54:18 GMT
I really don't understand why you can't mix and match panel wattage.... The CC doesn't know how many panels you have all it knows that it has power coming in to it....
|
|
|
Post by jsb2000 on Jul 29, 2018 20:09:09 GMT
I really don't understand why you can't mix and match panel wattage.... The CC doesn't know how many panels you have all it knows that it has power coming in to it.... Personally, I'm betting because purchasing two 160 Watt panels costs less than purchasing three 100 Watt panels. Savvy? Related: Many years ago, I worked at a place with a service department and a sales department (I worked in the service side). Talk to someone in my department, and repairing your broken item would probably cost you a fraction of what a new one would cost. Talk to someone in the sales department, and your broken item "probably isn't worth it to repair, but hey, we've got new and improved shiny ones right over here!"
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Jul 29, 2018 21:46:39 GMT
^^^^^^ Yes sir jsb you are right...^^^^^^ They always want to sell more rather than less.... LOL
I still can't believe Renogy started a new forum and they abandon it two weeks later, they are never here to answer questions just like the other one..... It's beyond me.....
But really after reading there answers they are usually wrong or vague at best....
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Jul 31, 2018 0:23:09 GMT
Hello Board, Converting a Kaufman 7X16 Utility Trailer to overnighter so I added a 40 Amp Commander and two 100 Watt 12 volt slimline Monocrystalline panels, can I add two 160 Watt Polycristalline panels for a total of 520 Watts at 12 volts the max rating of the commander however my main concern is combining the Mono and Polycrystalline to the same charge controller. There is no issue with mixing monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. Caution should be set forth for mixing panels of different wattages. Because you're mixing 100W and 160W panels, you might experience some power loss from your 160W panels.
|
|
|
Post by tattoo on Jul 31, 2018 0:45:25 GMT
Hello Board, Converting a Kaufman 7X16 Utility Trailer to overnighter so I added a 40 Amp Commander and two 100 Watt 12 volt slimline Monocrystalline panels, can I add two 160 Watt Polycristalline panels for a total of 520 Watts at 12 volts the max rating of the commander however my main concern is combining the Mono and Polycrystalline to the same charge controller. There is no issue with mixing monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. Caution should be set forth for mixing panels of different wattages. Because you're mixing 100W and 160W panels, you might experience some power loss from your 160W panels. Power loss but it won't hurt the CC right?? How much power loss?? 5%, 25%, 50%?? Just saying it might experience a power loss isn't really an answer....
|
|
|
Post by Guest on Jul 31, 2018 1:44:21 GMT
in series a 160w panel with 100w and your yield would be limited to the lowest amp panel, in short the 160w would be knocked down to 100w. if 160w = 8.8A and 100w = 5.5 they would combine in series to 5.5A @ 36v = 200w vs 260w. 100/160 X 100 = 62.5%
in parallel there would be little to no power loss.
"In a series circuit, the current through each of the components is the same, and the voltage across the circuit is the sum of the voltages across each component. In a parallel circuit, the voltage across each of the components is the same, and the total current is the sum of the currents through each component."
this is why shading of series panels can be an issue (without bypass diodes).
|
|