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Issue with Growatt SPF 5000 ES

What does the spec mean by PV Array MPPT Voltage Range = 120Vdc~430Vdc
View attachment 72707

It means to get the MPPT function (where the charge controller varies the output until it finds the highest power the array can produce), the panels need to be operating at 120-430VDC.

Maximum Power Point Tracking


You will likely still get charging outside that range, but the MPPT function may not work optimally.
 
1637263597589.png

I just noticed something... The new v4.0 manual upped the max Amp input to 22A!

Software change? I dunno, but if that's the case, then a 6S2P configuration should work perfectly for you with your setup.
 
View attachment 72713

I just noticed something... The new v4.0 manual upped the max Amp input to 22A!

Software change? I dunno, but if that's the case, then a 6S2P configuration should work perfectly for you with your setup.
ooh ok. thats good to know. I have 4 panels of one brand (38.86Voc) and 8 panels of a different brand (42.15Voc). Can I still do 6S2P?
 
ooh ok. thats good to know. I have 4 panels of one brand (38.86Voc) and 8 panels of a different brand (42.15Voc). Can I still do 6S2P?

Whoh.... You didn't say anything about different panels.

Personally I would do 8s with the higher wattage panels.
What are the full specs of the other 4 panels? You running a battery system I would suspect? Separate MPPT for those 4?
 
ooh ok. thats good to know. I have 4 panels of one brand (38.86Voc) and 8 panels of a different brand (42.15Voc). Can I still do 6S2P?

That's only good to know if you have that version of the inverter. If you don't, you only have 18A.

It's extremely frustrating when you spend time trying to help someone when they just feed you small parts of the problem.

I can not connect all 12 panels in parallels. If I do so I would go over the voltage limit. Find below the spec sheet for the panel. It is a 375w panel. I think I can only connect 10 of the panels in parallel.
View attachment 72681

This post STRONGLY implies that you have 12X of the 375W panels.

I'm with @Struc, you're limited to 8S of the one type of panel.

Good luck.

Waffle-boy out.
 
Whoh.... You didn't say anything about different panels.

Personally I would do 8s with the higher wattage panels.
What are the full specs of the other 4 panels? You running a battery system I would suspect? Separate MPPT for those 4?
yes I am running a battery system. No they are all connected to the growatt from the combiner box.
below are the specs for the other 4 panels
1637307808988.png
 
Your best bet is to do 8s into the Growatt, and 4s into a separate charge controller for charging your batteries.

From my understanding, if you combine the different panels, you are going to be essentially turning your 375w panels into 350w panels, but I am by no means up to speed on the implications of mixing panels. Normally, you never mix panels. They are pretty close, but at any given moment will be producing different voltages and amperages. Might want to do some research here on that subject.
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Edit... Came across this link in another thread here.

Based on that video, I'd say if you want to wire them all into the Growatt, I'd do 4 375w panels, + 2 350w Panels on each string and do your 6S2P configuration, *IF* you can confirm the Growatt will take 22A input. Otherwise, you can do 10S with 8+2.
 
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Your best bet is to do 8s into the Growatt, and 4s into a separate charge controller for charging your batteries.

From my understanding, if you combine the different panels, you are going to be essentially turning your 375w panels into 350w panels, but I am by no means up to speed on the implications of mixing panels. Normally, you never mix panels. They are pretty close, but at any given moment will be producing different voltages and amperages. Might want to do some research here on that subject.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Edit... Came across this link in another thread here.

Based on that video, I'd say if you want to wire them all into the Growatt, I'd do 4 375w panels, + 2 350w Panels on each string and do your 6S2P configuration, *IF* you can confirm the Growatt will take 22A input. Otherwise, you can do 10S with 8+2.
Thanks for your additional advice. Since I do not have any additional CC I would stick with the 8S configuration. Seems to be giving me all the power I need to fully charge the batteries each day.
 
Ok so here is an update on my setup.

I have been running 8S for about 2 days now. I noticed the following:
  1. Previously the panels were registering voltage as early as 6am, but now they register voltage as early as 5am
  2. The inverter has stopped shutting down in the afternoon
  3. @sunshine_eggo was right. I seem to be either getting averagely the same power with the 8S setup. So I am sure I would definitely have gotten more with the 10S.
  4. The panels total voltage registered by the inverter averages between 180vDC and 280vDC
Thanks for all your patience and advice.
 
Those panels will actually work pretty well in series. The 10.90A panels (375W) will be limited by the 10.68A panels (350W), but that's only a 2% loss.

8 * 375 * .02 = 60W loss

So adding another 2S of the 350W for 700W in to the 8S for 10S will still produce:

8*375*.98 + 700 = 3640W

The 10S Voc will be around 400.
 
I have been using the Growatt SPF 5000 ES since September of this month. I recently noticed that solar generation goes off for an hr to 3 hrs each day. When this happens the inverter is able to read voltage from the panels but no current. I have 12 panels connected to the inverter in 3 strings of 4 panels each.

Total voltage of my PV setup ranges from 120vDC to 150vDC. Total current also ranges from 10amps - 35amps. I just went over the manual again and noticed that it is written on page 39 that the Max. PV input current is 18amps. Am I over heating the inverter with my 35amp panel configuration?

Thanks for reading and your contribution


Your amps are way to0 high and the unit is probably cutting the PV off. How come you did not take advantage of the voltage and wire it up to much higher voltages?
It is designed to run on high volts low amps.
 
I meant how do I read the results of the capacity test on the inverter. the readings on the inverter are quite confusing
 
I dunno.... They say you can put 6000w of PV into it, but also say 450v max and 18a max, which is 8100w,
I suspect that’s an either or option. Like 320V at 18A
Or I 450v at 13Amps.

so it seems there is some ability to overpanel a bit if you can work out the panels to hit close to those max values.

In this case, a 12S config should be around 450v, 11.5A based on what we know. I'm sure the open circuit voltage is going to be way too high once we see the actual panel specs.
 
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