I am new to this forum, I did a quick search but could not find this topic.
I am installing a 1600 watt solar array (8 - 200 watt panels), I will be using (6) 12 volt SoK 206 amp hour batteries. and will be changing out my old Xantrex inverter and going with 2 Victron Multiplus inverters.
Its my understanding that the 12volt MPPT can only handle 50 amps so I need to split into 2 arrays and only be using 100 amps combined which is theoretically less than my potential supply or go with 1) 250/85 24 volt controller and a 24 volt system.
Here is my question to see if my logic is correct that in this situation that 24 volt charges faster than 12?
I have (8) 200 watt solar panels = 1600 watts
I also have (6) 12v 200 amp hr batteries = 1200 amp hrs wired in parallel
12v system; 1600w solar /12v = 133amps
using (2) 50 amp controllers, I guess I could buy 3 but that seems excessive.
If I use a 12volt system I need to split the array into 2 and run (2) 50 amp Mppt charge controllers which means I am only sending at most 100 amps from my array to my batteries , 1200 amp hr / 100 amps = 12 hrs to theoretically charge them (worst case scenario)
If I go
24v system; 1600 watts/ 24v=67amps and 600 amp hrs I can easily get a 75-100 amp 24 volt charge controller so my 600 amp hr bat bank 600amp / 67 amps = 8.9 hrs to charge
another way to look at it
(6) 200 amp hr batteries = 15,000 watt hrs
15,000 watts @ 12v if I am only able to use 100 amps = 1200 watts through the Mppt 15,000/1200 = 12.5 hours charge time
15,000 watts @ 24 volts and can charge with the full 67 amps or 1600 watts 15,000/1600 = 9.375 hrs charge time.
I realize I am most likely never going to need to do a full charge but I just needed some constants to run this analysis.
Figuring that on average we capture about 4.5 hrs of good solar charging a day a 25% decrease in required charge time seems huge!
Am I correct in my thinking? Or am I missing something?
I am installing a 1600 watt solar array (8 - 200 watt panels), I will be using (6) 12 volt SoK 206 amp hour batteries. and will be changing out my old Xantrex inverter and going with 2 Victron Multiplus inverters.
Its my understanding that the 12volt MPPT can only handle 50 amps so I need to split into 2 arrays and only be using 100 amps combined which is theoretically less than my potential supply or go with 1) 250/85 24 volt controller and a 24 volt system.
Here is my question to see if my logic is correct that in this situation that 24 volt charges faster than 12?
I have (8) 200 watt solar panels = 1600 watts
I also have (6) 12v 200 amp hr batteries = 1200 amp hrs wired in parallel
12v system; 1600w solar /12v = 133amps
using (2) 50 amp controllers, I guess I could buy 3 but that seems excessive.
If I use a 12volt system I need to split the array into 2 and run (2) 50 amp Mppt charge controllers which means I am only sending at most 100 amps from my array to my batteries , 1200 amp hr / 100 amps = 12 hrs to theoretically charge them (worst case scenario)
If I go
24v system; 1600 watts/ 24v=67amps and 600 amp hrs I can easily get a 75-100 amp 24 volt charge controller so my 600 amp hr bat bank 600amp / 67 amps = 8.9 hrs to charge
another way to look at it
(6) 200 amp hr batteries = 15,000 watt hrs
15,000 watts @ 12v if I am only able to use 100 amps = 1200 watts through the Mppt 15,000/1200 = 12.5 hours charge time
15,000 watts @ 24 volts and can charge with the full 67 amps or 1600 watts 15,000/1600 = 9.375 hrs charge time.
I realize I am most likely never going to need to do a full charge but I just needed some constants to run this analysis.
Figuring that on average we capture about 4.5 hrs of good solar charging a day a 25% decrease in required charge time seems huge!
Am I correct in my thinking? Or am I missing something?
