Advice needed on my solar setup.

[Ratel]

I'm finalising the solar plan for my new Catamaran and would like some advice from knowledable people here.

We have 6 Sunpower Maxeon panels that will be connected in 3 groups. SPR-MAX3-400.
We have a 48V battery bank

At the moment, the plan is to connect each group in parallel (to minimise shading problems) with one Victron 100/20 MPPT for each group.
Voc for each panel is 75.6 V / Vmpp 65.8
Isc 6.58 A / Impp 6.08

Is this the best way to do it, or rather connect each group in series (to raise the voltage) and use a Victron 150/35 for each group? We will mainly cruise in warm tropical areas.

Looking forward to your advice on how I can maximise solar on my boat.

 

[wpns]

That's not an awful design, while series gives higher voltages and lower current (cheaper wire), series also has more issues with shading, and on a boat that's going to vary a lot, so I'd stick with parallel.
Others will know if you need blocking diodes for 2P panels in different orientations or with variable shading.

 

[yabert]

Welcome Ratel.
I'm in the same boat and it's why I started this thread about relatively high voltage panels: https://diysolarforum.com/threads/high-voltage-solar-panel-60-70vmp.87106/
Thanks to show that Sunpower Maxeon panels can output over 60V.
I will probably end to use group of two split cells panels in series to reach over 60V. Split cells panel are less affect by shade.

About your plan, you don't have to put group in parallel. That way, the 3 MPPT will fight together to reach max power point and it's not good.
You simply have to connect 2 or 3 panels in parallel to one MPPT. This create a group and you can have 2 or 3 groups.
I wrote 2 or 3 groups as you plan 3 100/20 MPPT, but 2 100/20 MPPT can be enough.

 

[Ratel]

Thanks for the input!

Just to be clear, we will have 3 groups (2 panels per group)

Each group of two panels, parallel connection, will connect to it's own 100/20 MPPT. 3 groups connect to the MG Master LV to charge the bank.

 

[yabert]

Each group of two panels, parallel connection, will connect to it's own 100/20 MPPT. 3 groups connect to the MG Master LV to charge the bank.

Perfect!