Tigo Energy optimizer questions

Hello again guys!
So I have some questions about optimizers. I’ve seen in a thread people talk about them and how they can enhance energy collection.

I would be theoretically adding 4x TS4-A-O
1x Tigo TAP
1x Tigo CCA

The system would be attached to 4x 450w panels on a bus conversion. Would it be worth it? Would it actually optimize a mobile system to a point of spending $400 for the Tigo setup? That’s essentially the cost of a 5th 450w panel.

The panels would be connected to a 150v/100A Victron MPPT. Of course a 12v lithium bank as well. The major power users would be a mini split running on 120v, 12v fridge, 12v fan, 12v led lighting, etc.
thanks for the help!

I have no experience with the Tigo product. If you configure the wiring of your solar panels the right way, I can't see the Tigo doing good enough to justify the cost.

HRTKD said:

I have no experience with the Tigo product. If you configure the wiring of your solar panels the right way, I can't see the Tigo doing good enough to justify the cost.

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Thanks for the reply! That’s what I was thinking but wanted to make sure. Anybody else have an opinion on them?

For the most part, I believe in bypass diodes, not optimizers.
Maybe optimizers help with some shading and multiple orientation issues.
All panels in a given string should be of a single orientation. Shading on one string ought to be handled just fine by diodes (avoid hard shadow when others are in full sun.)
Multiple strings in parallel, even if some panels have shading (no more than maybe 15% of string), yield is still pretty good. With one of the paralleled strings having 50% shading, there would be significant excess loss.

Panels might differ by 10% in output, but cost of optimizer likely as much or more than 10% of panel. If you cared, maybe measuring and sorting panels by Isc would let you put panels of similar current in a given string.

But how much more does optimizer cost vs. "-F" modules for rapid shutdown? Maybe the extra cost is small enough to consider. Or, does algorithm of optimizer confuse algorithm of MPPT?

I think optimizers can only adjust a limited percentage. Microinverters would be better in that regard, are popular especially for random orientations.

I'm using multiple strings with only built-in bypass diodes so far. Have bought RSD modules for future rooftop install. No plans for optimizers.

On the topic of handling shade, I went with the assumption that if one of my rooftop panels was shaded, then the other one would also be shaded. To handle that type of situation, I use another set of two panels deployed on the ground. I can put those two panels up to 50' from my RV to get them out of the shade.