Can I wire these in series??
- Thread starter Schweg2
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gnubie
Solar Wizard
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- Sep 20, 2019
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Yes, the losses won't be too bad. They will all be reduced to theoretical 5.29A peak. The higher amp panels will effectively be reduced to 95W panels.
Actual current through the string will be limited to the maximum current any single panel produces should that panel happen to become heavily shaded etc.
Actual current through the string will be limited to the maximum current any single panel produces should that panel happen to become heavily shaded etc.
Thanks gnubie for clarifying that.
Does my math look correct for fuse sizing below...?
My charge controller has 2 inputs, I was planning on putting the 4-100w panels to one input with a MC4 inline fuse
and I have 6-400watt panels I was going to wire 2S3P and breaker at a combiner box to the other input.
Should I go with 15 or 20 amp breakers?
My charge controller is 48volt 5kw , I have a lead acid 450wh battery bank. With the panels I should have 2800 watts??
Does all this look ok?
Thanks,
My charge controller...
Does my math look correct for fuse sizing below...?
My charge controller has 2 inputs, I was planning on putting the 4-100w panels to one input with a MC4 inline fuse
and I have 6-400watt panels I was going to wire 2S3P and breaker at a combiner box to the other input.
Should I go with 15 or 20 amp breakers?
My charge controller is 48volt 5kw , I have a lead acid 450wh battery bank. With the panels I should have 2800 watts??
Does all this look ok?
Thanks,
My charge controller...
gnubie
Solar Wizard
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2019
- Messages
- 3,847
For the 4 x 100W in series, from an electronics perspective you don't actually need a fuse there as the inverter can handle up to 80A (? check specs) on it's PV input. The panels and attached wiring can also handle the full output continuously leaving only your own wiring as a weakness and it too should be rated to carry the full array current. A 10A fuse would be OK in this location if you want to use one. MC4 fuses come in standard values so 10A is probably the best match. The panel's specs label will advise the maximum series fuse rating. The breaker / isolation switch will need to be rated to carry at least 10A too and at least 110VDC.
For the 6 x 400 as 2s3p, 15A fuses on each string at the combiner box is good. The maximum series fuse as detail on the panel's specs label is probably 20A. You want a fuse on each string to protect against faults in one string allowing high current from the remaining two to flow into the faulting set causing problems. The output breaker / fuse in the combiner box will need to be rated for 40A and will never trip because the array can't actually produce that sort of current but you do need a point of disconnection that can handle at least 30A continuous and at least 120VDC.
Is the 450Wh battery correct or should this be 450Ah? 450Wh would be pretty small. I'll assume 450Ah for these following figures. If your array gets to 2.8kW of production that's about 60A at 48V or a charge rate of about 0.13C. That's fine in terms of lead acid charge rate. Check your battery's recommended charging rates but that's not going to be a problem IMO.
It's 2:30AM here as I type so you should really have all this checked by another forum member in case my brain isn't working properly at this time of the morning.
For the 6 x 400 as 2s3p, 15A fuses on each string at the combiner box is good. The maximum series fuse as detail on the panel's specs label is probably 20A. You want a fuse on each string to protect against faults in one string allowing high current from the remaining two to flow into the faulting set causing problems. The output breaker / fuse in the combiner box will need to be rated for 40A and will never trip because the array can't actually produce that sort of current but you do need a point of disconnection that can handle at least 30A continuous and at least 120VDC.
Is the 450Wh battery correct or should this be 450Ah? 450Wh would be pretty small. I'll assume 450Ah for these following figures. If your array gets to 2.8kW of production that's about 60A at 48V or a charge rate of about 0.13C. That's fine in terms of lead acid charge rate. Check your battery's recommended charging rates but that's not going to be a problem IMO.
It's 2:30AM here as I type so you should really have all this checked by another forum member in case my brain isn't working properly at this time of the morning.
