Brucey
Solar Wizard
It's alive! It was nice being able to series 10 panels versus three with my 150/35s.
Victron is Over-priced Eurotrash. Why would anybody buy Victron over an AiO?
- Thread starter sunshine_eggo
- Start date
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
MPPT is one area I didn’t do adequate planning when designing my system.
I did the calculations, purchased a SmartSolar 250/70 with canbus, thinking that when I added more panels later, I would get a second controller.
I didn’t realize how over-paneled I was, until autumn weather last year showed I was pegged at full output for over 3 hours.
And that thing was cooking, had to put a fan on it.
I hated the idea of leaving available solar power on the table.
So I went out and got a 250/100 to replace the 250/70. It still pegs at full output, but only for an hour or so.
Now I’m thinking I should have gone higher voltage from the beginning with the 450/100 or 200.
@Brucey Let us know how the higher voltage works out for you, thanks.
I would have to upgrade the breakers and combiner box to go 500/600V rating.
I did the calculations, purchased a SmartSolar 250/70 with canbus, thinking that when I added more panels later, I would get a second controller.
I didn’t realize how over-paneled I was, until autumn weather last year showed I was pegged at full output for over 3 hours.
And that thing was cooking, had to put a fan on it.
I hated the idea of leaving available solar power on the table.
So I went out and got a 250/100 to replace the 250/70. It still pegs at full output, but only for an hour or so.
Now I’m thinking I should have gone higher voltage from the beginning with the 450/100 or 200.
@Brucey Let us know how the higher voltage works out for you, thanks.
I would have to upgrade the breakers and combiner box to go 500/600V rating.
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Brucey
Solar Wizard
So my initial plan was to eventually run three 150/35s to get 105A of charging and still have flexibility of three seperate strings of 2kW, plus able to fit them where the bigger ones can't, plus redundancy. Also my initial budget for an SCC was $200 so the $1200+ of a 450/100 was just a far off fantasy. That's before I got hit hard by the Blue 
What I didn't realize is how quickly the costs of combiners/breakers/additional PV cables adds up (Midnite mnpv6, midnite pv breakers etc).
Now I'm just running a single string back to house, thru an IMO type disconnect for maintenance shutoff and then straight into the 450/100. Potentially I could do a midnite box with some 600V fuse holders for protection but seems like most are just running IMO disconnects and no fuses on the PV. I went with the 450/100 for redundancy with another 450/100 in the future, not a big price delta from two 100s to a single 200.
I will still be keeping the 150/35s I can put them to use on some other small arrays in the future. I just accept that they are designed to get hot all over and cool from all sides and not just the heatsinks in the back, basically the whole unit is a heatsink.
What I didn't realize is how quickly the costs of combiners/breakers/additional PV cables adds up (Midnite mnpv6, midnite pv breakers etc).
Now I'm just running a single string back to house, thru an IMO type disconnect for maintenance shutoff and then straight into the 450/100. Potentially I could do a midnite box with some 600V fuse holders for protection but seems like most are just running IMO disconnects and no fuses on the PV. I went with the 450/100 for redundancy with another 450/100 in the future, not a big price delta from two 100s to a single 200.
I will still be keeping the 150/35s I can put them to use on some other small arrays in the future. I just accept that they are designed to get hot all over and cool from all sides and not just the heatsinks in the back, basically the whole unit is a heatsink.
Brucey
Solar Wizard
If you are pegging a 250/100 that will still peg a 450/100. I guess fundamentally if you are aiming for max winter production then there's a high likelihood that you'll be maxed out at times during the summer, or you have a bunch of SCCs to handle the summer max output but they'll be barely idling in the winter.
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
Good point, it really is the output current that is limited.
Now I need more batteries!
I really need to just let it go that the system will not always be running as efficiently as possible as the seasons change.
Do you have the right amount of panels to rewire in both the 250/100 and the 250/70?
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
That’s a really good idea!
I did run two sets of 220’ cables from the ground mount to the house (planning ahead), so I could put 4 of the panels on the “B” circuit,
and leave 8 panels on the 250/100 “A” circuit. This could be done inside the combiner box pretty quickly.
The 250/100 and the 250/70 are both on CAN, I could probably do this today!
So it will be 4s2p for the 250/100, and 4s1p for the 250/70. Neither one should peg.
I’ll need to raise my DVCC current limit (which should be fine).
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Brucey
Solar Wizard
How much battery do you have?
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
3x EG4-LL v1 = 15 kWh
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
Brucey
Solar Wizard
Nice nearly 2.2kW additional harvest!
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
Yeah, I feel like an idiot for not doing that sooner!
Now I really need more battery.
Also, because I put the 4 panels on a separate SCC, I would expect some shading improvements by using two MPPTs in the late afternoon..
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just wait until I finally get to updating my thread. You can return the favor and likely, quickly point out many idiosyncrasies I have
ricardocello
Watching and Learning
I like this forum for our idiosyncrasies, it's very entertaining!
Brucey
Solar Wizard
Happy Hump Day. Had my youngest mount the precious.
wiseacre
Solar Addict
Things are turning Blue after taking the Red Pill
Smart 100/50, Smart 150/70. Lynx Power-In and soon to be, Lynx Distributor
Smart 100/50, Smart 150/70. Lynx Power-In and soon to be, Lynx Distributor
If you want to unload one of those 150/35 I’d make you a very decent offer.
Hit me up via direct message.
Brucey
Solar Wizard
Seems like a smartshunt is almost inevitable at this point (can "save" $50 versus getting a bmv 712 with better Bluetooth range by paying $200+ more for a Cerbo-s)Things are turning Blue after taking the Red Pill
Smart 100/50, Smart 150/70. Lynx Power-In and soon to be, Lynx Distributor
View attachment 208463
. You do lose an available relay without a 712 though if that matters.
Brucey
Solar Wizard
Thanks for the offer but I will definitely be using them in my master plan
will have some arrays close to house in various directions where they'll be a good fit.Testing one Victron 450/200, first time using a product from them.
Pros:
1. The setup could not have been easier with large ports and access is very simple.
2. A firmware update was prompted from the start and was fast.
3. I like the front readout and data displayed.
4. The Android App is very fast and responsive.
5. Something every manufacturer should allow is using the hundreds for voltage adjustments.
6. Large connections for battery, and 6 AWG fit the inputs.
7. Quite, the fans were not running when it was at 4500w.
Cons:
1. None so far.
Setting up the cerbo gx is next.
Pros:
1. The setup could not have been easier with large ports and access is very simple.
2. A firmware update was prompted from the start and was fast.
3. I like the front readout and data displayed.
4. The Android App is very fast and responsive.
5. Something every manufacturer should allow is using the hundreds for voltage adjustments.
6. Large connections for battery, and 6 AWG fit the inputs.
7. Quite, the fans were not running when it was at 4500w.
Cons:
1. None so far.
Setting up the cerbo gx is next.
Brucey
Solar Wizard
Totally understand your thought process but difficult to part with my first SCC...
Meanwhile addiction is ramping up...
robot_zombie
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2022
- Messages
- 77
I just setup a victron system (for my parents, off grid), after setting up an AIO (mine, grid hybrid, goodwe). Must say... I am kinda converted... everything works so well... no terrible software or bad manuals... remote monitoring is ace... yeah it cost a bit more, but so modular... so easy to expand... hmmmm. Cost has been getting pretty decent recently in aus too, with MP2 5kva going for ~1700AUD. anyway nothing the victron connoisseurs didnt know already aha but not bad not bad :D lets see how it goes over time, environment is a little rough ... (space on the board for another MP2... and yeah the freaking roof is falling down from termites but dad reckons its fine for another few years?? lol)
Attachments
Brucey
Solar Wizard
Look great. Any issues with higher ambient temps in the summer (battery?) Assuming that's not air conditioned.
robot_zombie
New Member
- Joined
- Sep 22, 2022
- Messages
- 77
Cheers it's a bit rough but just had two days to get the old lead acid 24v out and this in as well as a some work on the roof. We shall see, it does occasionally get to 40c or a little above but pretty rare. Yeah no a/c ... May set up a fan or something if required....
it's a bit rough but just had two days to get the old lead acid 24v out and this in as well as a some work on the roof. We shall see, it does occasionally get to 40c or a little above but pretty rare. Yeah no a/c ... May set up a fan or something if required....