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All-In-One vs Components for Separate Strings

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evilknot

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2021
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5
Location
Houston, Tx
First of all wanted to say how thankful I am to those that are willing to give their time.
I have a question/or wanted to confirm some design considerations on buying an All-in-one system vs components .
I'm planning a 7Kw system using 13 550w panels.
I have a 48v battery I'll be using for storage.
So because of placement I have to spread out my panels in 3 areas with very different shade/sun/position characteristics.
Does that pretty much relegate me to buying a separate charger/inverter and solar charge controllers to accommodate the different characteristics of my strings?
FYI I have built a few solar batteries for myself/friends/family so I'm comfortable with the tech and I've been in computers for 30y. That said, the AIOs do hold some attraction for me. :)
I have an electrician helping me with stuff on back side of the inverter.

I see this question gets asked a lot and I understand it's an "it depends" answer but I haven't found my exact situation posed; or my Google fu is failing me.
Thanks!
Cam
 
I believe several of the newer AIOs have three trackers (mppt), allowing for three seperate strings of different orientations.
 
I originally was all about an AIO, the Sol-Ark 15, and since then I have changed my mind totally.

Being able to start smaller and add on verse replacing things. You can stack AIO to get more capacity but then there are likely parts going unused. If a section failes instead of replacing a part you either get a board from the vendor or more likely junk it.

My 2 cents is that I am headed down the path with UL listed Victron equipment.
 
robbob2112 said:
I originally was all about an AIO, the Sol-Ark 15, and since then I have changed my mind totally.

Being able to start smaller and add on verse replacing things. You can stack AIO to get more capacity but then there are likely parts going unused. If a section failes instead of replacing a part you either get a board from the vendor or more likely junk it.

My 2 cents is that I am headed down the path with UL listed Victron equipment.
Click to expand...
A more modular Victron system is exactly where I was headed :)
I have to start with a split phase 240 to handle an A/C , which ups the cost a bit .
 
If you are not grid tied selling electricity back to the grid, Victron is the way to go.

I have Victron for the RV and I found it very easy to learn and easy to expand.

You mention three sets of panels. AIO MPPTs tend to be built for high voltage with low amp inputs, which limits you if you have gabled roofs or shade. With Victron, I just add another MPPT. The RV has three MPPTs to deal with the shading and ground mounts.
 
Brucey said:
I believe several of the newer AIOs have three trackers (mppt), allowing for three seperate strings of different orientations.
Click to expand...
Some have four as well. Amensolar N3H-10K-US, and the new Ruixu have four, maybe others.

You need to be careful that you stay in the MPPT operating range pre the inverter spec, usually about 150 to 500 volts. Also, for many models, an ideal MPPT voltage is about 360-380 volts. This provides the highest efficiency conversion from the solar voltage to the AC output. Operating substantially off the operating point lowers efficiency.

Mike C.
 
A ding against separated is that they convert to old school 48V before converting to 120/240. Compared to AIO which have internal rail around the 370Vdc level that is shared between the inverter and the MPPT. This is a couple % efficiency hit for grid tie and continuous daytime loads

mciholas said:
Also, for many models, an ideal MPPT voltage is about 360-380 volts.
Click to expand...
I suspect a discrete SCC stepping down to 48V will be worse efficiency wise than an outside nominal voltage range MPPT.

Now, for an off grid application the power is most likely saved in battery rather than sent to grid, and since most people here use 48V batteries vs 400V batteries the efficiency difference is not meaningful.
 
chrisski said:
You mention three sets of panels. AIO MPPTs tend to be built for high voltage with low amp inputs
Click to expand...
I agree, if OP is building off grid separate MPPTs is much preferred for such small sized arrays.

RSD may be a challenge with small arrays.

If AFCI is needed need to read spec sheets carefully, there aren’t that many SCC that support it. Dunno why SCCs have fallen behind NEC so much… I suspect it’s because the bulk of the market that needs full NEC compliance has moved on.
 
evilknot said:
First of all wanted to say how thankful I am to those that are willing to give their time.
I have a question/or wanted to confirm some design considerations on buying an All-in-one system vs components .
I'm planning a 7Kw system using 13 550w panels.
I have a 48v battery I'll be using for storage.
So because of placement I have to spread out my panels in 3 areas with very different shade/sun/position characteristics.
Does that pretty much relegate me to buying a separate charger/inverter and solar charge controllers to accommodate the different characteristics of my strings?
FYI I have built a few solar batteries for myself/friends/family so I'm comfortable with the tech and I've been in computers for 30y. That said, the AIOs do hold some attraction for me. :)
I have an electrician helping me with stuff on back side of the inverter.

I see this question gets asked a lot and I understand it's an "it depends" answer but I haven't found my exact situation posed; or my Google fu is failing me.
Thanks!
Cam
Click to expand...
So long as you do not need battery communication and can just set charge voltage nothing stops you from having 1 AIO and several SCC's. Although it may be helpful if they all could communicate it really is not a requirement.

I run 3 arrays from 2 AIO's and a stand alone SCC to my batteries and it works just fine.
 
And as yet another idea, multiple somewhat smaller AIOs (EG4 6000XP is a current example) can be used to enable multiple strings if each string has sufficient voltage (a bit over 100V is common). At their price point, it's not a bad way to add both additional AC output and ability to have multiple strings, if you have the room for mounting.
 
mciholas said:
Some have four as well. Amensolar N3H-10K-US, and the new Ruixu have four, maybe others.

You need to be careful that you stay in the MPPT operating range pre the inverter spec, usually about 150 to 500 volts. Also, for many models, an ideal MPPT voltage is about 360-380 volts. This provides the highest efficiency conversion from the solar voltage to the AC output. Operating substantially off the operating point lowers efficiency.

Mike C.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the rec. Essentially that's another vote for more, smaller SSCs.
 
Mattb4 said:
So long as you do not need battery communication and can just set charge voltage nothing stops you from having 1 AIO and several SCC's. Although it may be helpful if they all could communicate it really is not a requirement.

I run 3 arrays from 2 AIO's and a stand alone SCC to my batteries and it works just fine.
Click to expand...
Thanks, Ya I have thought about that. I know ELECTRICALLY it would work, Like you said, I just was interested in the data that comes from them communicating.
 
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