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Post by playersz28 on Nov 11, 2018 16:13:29 GMT
Yes he has..... I wish there had been more info out there when I bought my first system, if there had been I would have bought a larger system..... Like he has..... But I have way to much money in mine now to change it..... I started out with 4x 6v 224 AH FullRiver AGM's and a 2000w PSW inverter and the first winter it was charged with a 2000w portable genny. For the next winter I added 320w of solar to it and used the genny only if we had clouds for >2 days (that was once), then next year I didn't use the genny at all. I've now added 2 more panels for 640w (all the same panel, HES 160-36's @ 250$CDN/ea) and will leave the genny at home. I think any system can be expanded and modified as the needs grow. If Li batteries come down just a bit more then I'd swap to those (weight is a BIG issue in a trailer). I could go to a Tesla battery system and convert to 24V but that would add the expense of a new inverter and a 24/12v buck converter. Every time I make a major change I live with it over the winter and see what I need to change over the summer. |
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Post by tattoo on Nov 11, 2018 16:44:09 GMT
I think any system can be expanded and modified as the needs grow. If Li batteries come down just a bit more then I'd swap to those (weight is a BIG issue in a trailer). I could go to a Tesla battery system and convert to 24V but that would add the expense of a new inverter and a 24/12v buck converter. Every time I make a major change I live with it over the winter and see what I need to change over the summer. Yes sir, I agree you can expand.... My system is twice what I started with, and I really don't have any more room for any more panels.... Sure I could up the wattage but then I'd need a larger CC so there you go back to what I have now....
Battery size and weight really isn't a problem with my set up but I can understand why it would be nice if you could get lighter batteries.... You are right Li batteries are crazy expensive...
My system fits my needs, My batteries are at 12.7 by 11am rain or shine.... So it's for sure I'm not putting a strain on it...
Like you said, Everyone has different needs and pocket books for that matter.... Not everyone can afford to build three systems when they only need one...
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Post by swampmonster on Nov 11, 2018 23:48:07 GMT
Friend, I agree that SunPower, LG and a few others make panels MUCH more efficient than the Eclipse....BUT none them fit my 100 watt 12V requirements, and none of them even came close to my size requirements. You keep saying what fits your requirements is the best for all... They are not... If you like something use it but don't try and keep selling it here.... Do you have your first solar system up and running yet?  I want to see how great it really is... Nope I never said best for ALL, I KEEP sayin that what I have selected are the best for ME, just little ole me...ME. Kinda like this guy here: youtu.be/HxUuDPNbkJk |
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Post by swampmonster on Nov 11, 2018 23:51:56 GMT
Friend, I do not care to understand why folks go with '12v' panels for larger systems. I know they already have them and space limitations. There is no need for mppt $ with parallel '12v' panels, mppt is for series '12v' panels or 60-72 cell panels. let me point you once again to Ralph of bogart enginnering the makers of the trimetric You can read Ralph's thinking about pwm/mppt and why his controller is pwm @ the FAQ you must select 'C' and then question C1 www.bogartengineering.com/support/faq.htmllet's remember that mppt is only mppt during bulk and pwm during abs and float, and a look at an IV/power curve with temp effs that pwm can and will exceed mppt at times, Ralph is the only honest explanation i've seen. let's us agree that there are choices and various ways to configure solar battery charging, ones choice of one component can affect choices. If the eclispe made 200w then it would be worth twice a 100w panel. but it does not! Fact is in normal operating temperaters it makes less power than other renogys 100w panels! Much of the design of a solar pwr gen system is dependent on the environment in which it will be used. One persons design might be totally wrong for another persons application For my system it's installed on the roof of a fifth wheel trailer. In this situation the large ~300w panels wouldn't easily fit. The 100w panels were too small and wasted space. The 160w panels provided the best roof coverage and W/$. This meant using MPPT. A similar sized PWM controller isn't that much cheaper than the MPPT one and when you factor in the lower cost of the larger panels then the cost for panels+CC in a medium system is similar for MPPT & PWM. More panels also mean more wiring connections and more installation hardware and in my case more holes in the roof and more work to tilt them. That Sir, is a very well stated justification of why you selected the particular components of your system. |
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Post by Solar professor on Jan 8, 2020 17:33:49 GMT
Not really wanting to derail this thread, but want to comment on MPPT vs PWN controllers. What most people fail to fully consider when selecting a MPPT controller for 12 Volt applications (12 V panels & 12 V bank) is the effect of panel temperature on the its output, specifically Vmp.
Most silicon panels lose 0.4% for every deg C the panel is above the reference temp of 25C (77F) at which the panels are rated. And, solar panels get quite hot even when the ambient is not too warm. The cells can be as high as 40C above the ambient. 40*.4 = 16% loss in Vmp (& Power). A panel with a 18 V Vmp spec now has a Vmp of 15.2V, barely 2 V above a bank's voltage during charging. Add to this loss, the loss due to the DC-DC conversion process. There's a reason why a 30 Amp PWM controller has a very small heatsink, while a 30 Amp MPPT has a much larger heatsink (3-4x area). So, the combined loss due to panel temperature & conversion makes PWM a better choice for smaller installations.
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Post by mediadogg on Jan 30, 2020 1:50:13 GMT
For me the best feature of MPPT is that you get so much more power out of your panel strings, especially in dusk / dawn and shady conditions. This could result in needing fewer panels and less physical space for a given overall power requirement.
My two favorite panels are:
(1) SKU: RNG-100D-SS-BC, 100W mono compact design. Nearly identical to Eclipse in size, weight and specs and a lot cheaper. A string of 4 of these into a Rover 20A works a treat.
(2) SKU: RNG-160DB-H-BC, 160W mono flexible. So easy to manipulate. Mine are laid on a short roof appendage with one edge anchored by the roof gutter, and the other edge trapped underneath the supports for the heavier panels above it. Two in series into a Rover Elite yields massive wattage even in low afternoon winter sun. Can't wait to see what the summer brings. I will be mindful of the comments I read in this thread about heat and adjust my installation if necessary.
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I want to see how great it really is...
