Sugarkryptonite
New Member
Hi guys
I am in the process of building out my Sprinter van. I started out with the intention of using 400W of solar (2x 200w panels, optimum operating voltage of 19.2v and short circuit current 11.05A each). I ran 10 AWG solar panel wire from the roof of my van through a roof gland and to the back of the van where my electrical system is. I would say the total length of wire is something like 15ft.
I then received another 200w panel, making my system 600w total. Looking up the DC current wire charts, it seems like my wire is now too small.
My 3 panels are wired in parallel with a 12v LiFePo4 battery bank.
1) Should I just wire my panels in series instead of parallel so I don't have to change the wire going into the roof and walls of my van (a bigger headache)?
2) If I do that, how do I wire the MC4 connectors? Does that mean I just get rid of my branch connectors and go positive from one panel to negative of the next, and so on?
3) I screwed up the sizing on my charge controller and will have to get a much larger one it seems. My current one is MPPT rated at 30A, but has a 12v/380W and 70v PV voltage limit.
I'm still a bit of a newb at this, but does that mean with an open circuit voltage of 69v (23v x3 in series = 69v), I need a controller with at least a PV voltage limit of 70v, and a 12v limit of at least 600w?
I am in the process of building out my Sprinter van. I started out with the intention of using 400W of solar (2x 200w panels, optimum operating voltage of 19.2v and short circuit current 11.05A each). I ran 10 AWG solar panel wire from the roof of my van through a roof gland and to the back of the van where my electrical system is. I would say the total length of wire is something like 15ft.
I then received another 200w panel, making my system 600w total. Looking up the DC current wire charts, it seems like my wire is now too small.
My 3 panels are wired in parallel with a 12v LiFePo4 battery bank.
1) Should I just wire my panels in series instead of parallel so I don't have to change the wire going into the roof and walls of my van (a bigger headache)?
2) If I do that, how do I wire the MC4 connectors? Does that mean I just get rid of my branch connectors and go positive from one panel to negative of the next, and so on?
3) I screwed up the sizing on my charge controller and will have to get a much larger one it seems. My current one is MPPT rated at 30A, but has a 12v/380W and 70v PV voltage limit.
I'm still a bit of a newb at this, but does that mean with an open circuit voltage of 69v (23v x3 in series = 69v), I need a controller with at least a PV voltage limit of 70v, and a 12v limit of at least 600w?
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