usernameinvalid
New Member
Even if you're on the right track if you stand still you'll get run over.
Posts: 16 
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Post by usernameinvalid on Jan 9, 2017 20:52:39 GMT
Hi Everyone
Looking for some advice on connecting panels together.
I have 2 Coleman 40 watt 2.3Amp solar panels I use for my RV. The thing is most of the places my wife and camp have power so I was thinking of
using them to power my Greenhouse. Not using them for heat I found a DYI solar water heater I'm going to try for heating.
A friend upgraded his RV solar panels and gave me a panel that has never been use.
It's a Coleman 20 watt 1.3 Amp solar panels. I have a connector that will connect 4 of these Coleman panels together.
I also have 2 charge controllers that came with the 40 watt panels(both controllers are 7 Amp)
Would it be alright to hook all 3 panels 2-40w and 1-20w to one controller? Will this give me 100w @ 5.9amps or would
it be better to hook the two 40w panels to one charge controller and the 20w to the other?
I read some where your panels should match or they will drop down to the lowest panel. This would drop everything
down to 60w @ 3.9amps. So I'd be farther ahead to just use the 2-40w panels
I'm going to be hooking them to 2-6v Golf Cart batteries connected for 12 volts. All three panels are rated for 12 volts
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Post by dennis461 on Jan 10, 2017 14:13:18 GMT
I think a parallell connection, all 3 panels together is what you need to do.
Let's see other replies...
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Post by sl dl on Jan 12, 2017 22:32:57 GMT
hi,
Wow-Just back and shocked at the changes.
Along these lines-i have a HF 45 watt set up in my cabin hooked to two 125 AH AGM batteries. I have 2 sets of batteries and I switch them out periodically when the panels are not keeping up so I can take two home and charge them on the bigger array while I still have two "fresh" batteries at the cabin. i want to increase the array at the cabin because I am spending more time there, long weekends etc. Because it is in the woods and sometimes shaded I am thinking of getting 100 watts of solar panel and another pwm charge controller and hook it to the same batteries. I would place the new panels in a different area so that when the originals are shaded the new would not be shaded. In other words I am contemplating a whole new set up to to the same 2 batteries to which the HF set is currently attached, while leaving the HF kit also attached to these same two batteries. HF set up has an external back feed diode. A newer charge controller should have same diode internal. both have under/over charge protection.
I am pretty sure I can't hook dissimilar panels to the same charge controller, hence my question.
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usernameinvalid
New Member
Even if you're on the right track if you stand still you'll get run over.
Posts: 16
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Post by usernameinvalid on Jan 13, 2017 15:51:54 GMT
Thanks for the replies.
Johann, I never though about a breaker. I think I'll pick up a copy of the local building codes for solar panels. Better to do it right the first time. Is there a correct way to hook up two charge controllers to one set of batteries.
I think the info would help both sldl and myself. There is so much conflicting info on the internet.
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Post by sl dl on Jan 14, 2017 1:29:29 GMT
If you are going to use a breaker use a breaker rated for DC. I use a Square D QO breaker box with 2 breakers. One on the pos side and one on the neg. Probably not required to do it that way. The QO series is rated for DC . I have not run across another which is available from the local supply shop Probably solar shops have others. thanks for the back up. Hopefully someone knows the answer to our other question. |
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usernameinvalid
New Member
Even if you're on the right track if you stand still you'll get run over.
Posts: 16
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Post by usernameinvalid on Jan 16, 2017 5:22:31 GMT
If I'm running a 12 volt system at 6 amps could I use the same fuzes used in a car?
Also is there a good website to find wiring diagrams to properly wire everthing together.
I've found reliable info on proper wire size for the least power lose over the distance
I have to run and the proper size to conect the batteries together and to the inverter.
As for the wiring it's self everyone seen to do what they think is best. I'd like to do
it right.
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usernameinvalid
New Member
Even if you're on the right track if you stand still you'll get run over.
Posts: 16
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Post by usernameinvalid on Jan 18, 2017 18:36:21 GMT
Thanks for the reply Johann.
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usernameinvalid
New Member
Even if you're on the right track if you stand still you'll get run over.
Posts: 16
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Post by usernameinvalid on Jan 21, 2017 18:50:50 GMT
Thanks again Johann. I've learnt a lot from your replies and have a better understanding of what
I have to do to get everthing up and running.
It's finally starting to warm up here so I'll be getting things started in the next few weeks.
Hoping to get all the bugs out before March.
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Post by sl dl on Jan 29, 2017 16:54:50 GMT
i have 2 24 volt 175 watt panels making 42 watts each. Both battery banks are 2 @ 125AH each about 2 years apart in age which have never been combined together but used as separate banks with about the same usage time on them. I think I want to put both panels singly on 2 batteries and run 2 separate systems due to the age difference. I will run a resistance test to see how far apart they are but that seems to be most prudent.
Question is, how to size a controller whether i use 1 panel (175w, 42v) for 2 batteries or 4 panels (350w 42v)for 2 batteries and continue to rotate them. Do i size the controller by the max amperage for the panels, 175 w divided by 24 v = 7.29A MAX. Do I size the controller by the 12V batteries 175 divided by 12 = 14.58A Max.
Is there an MPPT controller which is cost effective to do this, i.e. around $100.00 if I use one or around $50.00 if I use two.
Should I go the whole route and make the panels 48V to charge the battteries?
If I have to set the batts up a 24 v it will start to add too much cost for a dc-dc converter since everything i have is 6v or 12.
Max load i would ever run is less than 10 amps. normally around 4, 2 lights, charge a phone or small 6v battery.
thank you .
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Post by Admin on Feb 2, 2017 15:20:52 GMT
Hi Everyone Looking for some advice on connecting panels together. I have 2 Coleman 40 watt 2.3Amp solar panels I use for my RV. The thing is most of the places my wife and camp have power so I was thinking of using them to power my Greenhouse. Not using them for heat I found a DYI solar water heater I'm going to try for heating. A friend upgraded his RV solar panels and gave me a panel that has never been use. It's a Coleman 20 watt 1.3 Amp solar panels. I have a connector that will connect 4 of these Coleman panels together. I also have 2 charge controllers that came with the 40 watt panels(both controllers are 7 Amp) Would it be alright to hook all 3 panels 2-40w and 1-20w to one controller? Will this give me 100w @ 5.9amps or would it be better to hook the two 40w panels to one charge controller and the 20w to the other? I read some where your panels should match or they will drop down to the lowest panel. This would drop everything down to 60w @ 3.9amps. So I'd be farther ahead to just use the 2-40w panels I'm going to be hooking them to 2-6v Golf Cart batteries connected for 12 volts. All three panels are rated for 12 volts I personally would not include the 20 watt panel in the mix. Stick to the two 40's together and find another entirely different purpose for the 20 watt panel. RR |
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Post by ameliar5 on Feb 6, 2017 9:45:34 GMT
I think a parallell connection, all 3 panels together is what you need to do. Let's see other replies... +1 to this comment. |
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