Hi, sorry I am very new to this and building a 12v 3 panel solar array in parallel. My problem is I can only mount the panels at the bottom of my garden and the house is 75 feet away. I've not bought any gear yet as I am planning it all out first. My problem is that at 75 feet with 3 x 100w panels I've worked out I should need a 2awg wire to carry 20amps (rounded up). Will this fit into a standard charge controller? Am I working it all out wrong as it seems very thick wire? This is the only confusing part for me, especially since the wire is not cheap, so I need to get this right first time. The charge controller I am looking at is the EPEver Triron 4210N (40amp) and the panels (I already have) are Renogy 100w RNG-100D-SS. I am in the UK, Thanks.
Wire size
- Thread starter Scotty79
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John Frum
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No need to be sorry.
We are here to help.
75 feet means 150 feet round trip.
Very wise.
Are those 3 panels in series or or parallel.
Since 3 is a prime number those are your only configuration options.
Please post the panel specs for the panel you have in mind.
Better yet post a product link.
Charge controllers are not one size fits all.
Can tell until we know the panel specs.
I'm going to wait for product links for both solar charge controller and panels.
Hi, thanks for the speedy reply.
Panels: https://uk.renogy.com/renogy-100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-compact-design/
Controller: https://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/Ite...NJp2o99zapBa0uXlR85AdneC4seXCaxgaAjHdEALw_wcB
The panels will be in parallel.
Thank you.
Panels: https://uk.renogy.com/renogy-100-watt-12-volt-monocrystalline-solar-panel-compact-design/
Controller: https://www.sunshinesolar.co.uk/Ite...NJp2o99zapBa0uXlR85AdneC4seXCaxgaAjHdEALw_wcB
The panels will be in parallel.
Thank you.
Scotty have you seen this ?
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Also there's a couple of fellas on eBay that sell good used condition 250w PV panels taken off of houses , great nick, years of service left in them , and they'll ship them to you on a pallet .. as low as £65 a panel. I'll find a link if you're interested?
Thanks, but not what I'm looking for. I will build my set up onto a small wheeled trolly to move room to room as needed once charged. It's a first project that I hope to learn from and build bigger.Scotty have you seen this ?
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Interesting idea! What are you planning on battery wise?
if it's all self contained why do you need a long cable run?
Speaking about cables , like Chris said you could look at linking the panels in series rather than parallel, so you increase the voltages rather than the amperage. that way you can use a lot thinner cable , and safe a fortune!
Big solar set ups on house roofs often run at plus 500v, but relatively low amps , it's amps that heat up the cables
4kw of solar panels at 500 volts is only 8 amps (W÷V=Amps) .
If you did 4kw of solar at 12v it's 333amps (so HUGE cables)
also a lot less volt drop with high Volt DC power
Interesting idea! What are you planning on battery wise? 1 x LiFePo4 100Ah for testing
if it's all self contained why do you need a long cable run? The solar array has to be at the back of the garden and I will keep the rest of it in the house where it is warm.
I am now thinking of running the 3 x 100w panels in series with the one battery until Feb and then adding another 3 in series with an additional battery in parallel with the first and a separate charge controller but both charge controllers charging the same batteries. As I start to lose a lot of sun on the first three panels the position of the 2nd array of 3 will get the sun full on for a further 3 hours at least. This way, from what I understand, as I lose a lot of light on the first three it will not affect the output of the second array. The position of my house in the UK means if I added the additional array now it would not see the sun as it is too low at this time of the year to benefit.
if it's all self contained why do you need a long cable run? The solar array has to be at the back of the garden and I will keep the rest of it in the house where it is warm.
I am now thinking of running the 3 x 100w panels in series with the one battery until Feb and then adding another 3 in series with an additional battery in parallel with the first and a separate charge controller but both charge controllers charging the same batteries. As I start to lose a lot of sun on the first three panels the position of the 2nd array of 3 will get the sun full on for a further 3 hours at least. This way, from what I understand, as I lose a lot of light on the first three it will not affect the output of the second array. The position of my house in the UK means if I added the additional array now it would not see the sun as it is too low at this time of the year to benefit.
Yes you're right, shade on one panel effects the output of all panels in the series so keeping the two banks separate you'll get more power. Good luck with your project mate, hello from sunny south Wales ?
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