phoenixmoon
New Member
I have 11x100W panels on my roof but my charge controller says I’m only getting 65W and granted it’s not midday sun but the sun is high in the sky in Arizona. Any suggestions about why I’m not getting much in terms of wattage?
Solar Panels Undercharging
- Thread starter phoenixmoon
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cs1234
Solar Wizard
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Are your batteries full? The solar charge controller only takes what it needs from the panels for your load/charging.
phoenixmoon
New Member
My SOC was reading at 89 percent when I noticed this. It’s now at 70 percent. I have considered charge controller programming is the issue but that doesn’t tell me how to fix it.
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
What SCC? What batteries? Tell us a little about your set up. 12? 24v ? 48v? Inverter?
How are you calculating state of charge
How are you calculating state of charge
phoenixmoon
New Member
4x200AH Ampere Time Lithium Ions
12V
3000W inverter
I don’t know what SCC is
I calculate SOC by reading it off the charge controller
phoenixmoon
New Member
My SCC is a Renogy Rover 100A. My inverter is a Rich Solar 3000W
phoenixmoon
New Member
Just talked to a solar guy I know and he said my voltage is ridiculously low. Is this a wiring issue on my roof?
phoenixmoon
New Member
One string. The voltage was like 12 and change. Should be over 100.
cs1234
Solar Wizard
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Sounds like the voltage you might get after a long cable run, lots of splices, bad connectors if only one panel were hooked up. Like if you had them all in parallel instead of series. How long of a cable run? All 11 panels in parallel might put out something as pitiful as 12v after a long cable run.
12 and change would also be the voltage the charge controller might be putting out, or the battery voltages.
Also, not having seen the specs on your 11, 100 watt panels.. 11 normal 100 watt panels, wired in series would blow the 150vdc limit on the renogy rover and destroy it.
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Solar Guppy
Red Cobra Guppy
Your Renogy Rover 100A has a maximum of 150V for solar input. 11 panels in a single string, the voltage could damage the controller as it would be ~200V.
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phoenixmoon
New Member
Any recommendations on how to wire them to get more juice?
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
Can you post the specs of your panels? The VOC, ISC, etc.
Also what is the lowest recorded temp for where u are located.
Solar Guppy
Red Cobra Guppy
Assuming the 100 watt panels are ~ 20 Volts VOC, two strings of 5 panels in series, these two strings in parallel. Yes you will have an odd one left over.
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
This ^^
And 2 "Y" connectors to parallel the 2 strings
Series Strings are + to - to + to - etc x 5 panels . This increased voltage
Parallel is + to + and - to -. This increases amperage. Fuse and wire accordingly. To handle the amps
You'll end up with a 5s2p array
Just don't exceed about 120v dc in VOC spec series connections and you'll be OK.
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
Also, 11x20=220. Hopefully you didn't smokify your SCC already if you series connected all 11.
phoenixmoon
New Member
this is now a concern because my SCC keeps randomly going out. I don’t mean shutting off, I mean it randomly stops reading any charge at all, voltage, amps, watts all zero
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
What are the specs of the panels?
Were all 11 series connected in a single string?
phoenixmoon
New Member
Yes, in parallel
MichaelK
Solar Wizard
I think it would be very helpful if you started posting pictures of your setup. Please post pics of the charge controller, the specifications datasheet pasted on the back of your panels, and some clear pics of your wiring and where it is going.
Do you understand the difference between wiring your panels in series and wiring them in parallel?
Do you understand the difference between wiring your panels in series and wiring them in parallel?
MrM1
I'm Here, But I'm Not All There
Sorry, I do not understand this.
I asked are they in series, you confirm, yes they are in parallel ???
If in SERIES your DC input voltage on your charger probably got too high and smoked the charger. But no way to know for sure from here without knowing the specs of the panels.
If you connected all 11 panels in PARALLEL, you probably do NOT have enough dc voltage going to the charger to keep it powered on. But you may also have smoked the charger because the amps were too high (not likely though). But again no way of knowing without knowing ...
1. The panel specs
2. charger specs
3. how it's all wired up.
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cs1234
Solar Wizard
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His panels can identify as series or parallel depending on their mood!!!
I fear some good learning opportunities are in store for the OP ?
phoenixmoon
New Member
I was wrong they’re not in series I called the guy who wired this for me.
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