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Portable Solar Setup for 48 Volt System. Need voltage boost.

bellevent

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Apr 7, 2024
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Los Angeles
We are building a portable 48 volt system (6000 watt output). We need 120 volts from the panels to charge the batteries. We want a small solar panel setup that travels well. Is there a booster that will boost a small panel setup (2 or 3 110 watt panels) up to the voltage we need? We have not purchase panels as of yet. Trickle charge is fine for our application. Pardon our ignorance. We are now to this.
 
330W is like 20/25% of what you need, right? Just guessing re: the 6000W output statement.

Two 300W panels in series will be somewhere around 90V which will charge 48V just fine and be ~3000Wh a day in good sun.
 
The manual says the input of an EG4 6000XP needs to see a minimum of 120 volts PV to wake up the charger when charging a 48 volt battery. That's around 1200 watts. Is there a booster that will raise voltage on panels?
 
The manual says the input of an EG4 6000XP needs to see a minimum of 120 volts PV to wake up the charger when charging a 48 volt battery.
Larger panels will have more voltage but what ever you use, you will still need to string them in series. I would also figure on running more that the minimum to find a sweet spot on the MPPT charge controller. Voltage of panels drops as temperature increases so you should allow for that as well.
 
I have a similar situation - my hesitation on buying a 6000xp is that 120v voltage minimum for the MPPT. I would like to be able to have a single portable panel (meaning, easily moved by one person) to recharge, even if it takes several days at a slower rate. Here are the options I've found:

  1. Rich Solar makes 200 watt rigid "24v" panels - with a Voc of ~45 volts. 3 of those in series will get you solidly over the 120v minimum MPPT voltage. They panels are reasonably portable (~26 lbs), but you'll still need to set up 3 of them. I have built little PVC kick-back frames for them, and they can be deployed very quickly.

  2. There are various flexible panels that have ~35 Voc. You could get 4 of those, pair up two each with some hinged frames (PVC or similar), and then be at ~140 Voc, with 2 deployable frames under 25lbs each.

  3. Get a separate MPPT wired to your battery bank - Victron units only need 5 volts above your battery/system voltage (so, a 48v system would need 53v Voc). This could let you use just 2 of those panels (or just 1 if you are on a 12/24v system). This is likely what I'll do - with an Anderson SB50 cable from the battery, so I don't have to bring the MPPT if I'm not planning to be charging (keeps the whole system more portable)

  4. Renogy makes a voltage booster MPPT - that is more akin to option 2, but would allow even smaller panels / lower Voc.
 
If the OP is going to go with a separate MPPT controller, is there any advantage of spending the money on an All In One inverter unless he has already purchased it.
 
I’d never touch those with a 9-1/2 pole
…nor that brand
input of an EG4 6000XP needs to see a minimum of 120 volts PV to wake up the charger
I’d just get an MPP or go to Victron or something. I’d still want more panels, too, but if you’re set on using so few watts that finding something better isn’t attractive I’d just change brands; lucky strike, chesterfield, benson&hedges….
 
If the OP is going to go with a separate MPPT controller, is there any advantage of spending the money on an All In One inverter unless he has already purchased it.
This is my debate - but in the end, a 6000xp along with a smaller Victron MPPT (I already own a few) is still a cheaper option than many other stand-alone inverter options that will get you 6,000 watts split-phase (if that's what you need). Sure, there are other factors to consider and balance too.
 
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