Help with panel configuration

[Too damn old]

I have a Growatt SPF 5000 with 37 used Sanyo HIP-195BA5 panels. What would be the optimal panel configuration?

 

[DThames]

What is the max PV input on the Growatt? 68Voc x 3 series would be just under 210v. If the max is 250v (a guess), then 3 in series is all you can do. Then you make parallel groups that are also 3 in series. You will need fuses if you have several parallel groups.

 

[OffGridInTheCity]

The Growatt SPF 5000 specs here - https://diysolarforum.com/threads/help-with-panel-configuration.45470/ - show 6000w as the Maximum PV Array power. 6000w / 195w panels = 30.8 panels total. 31 panels max are likely OK but 37 panels might be too much for this single unit.

Maximum PV Array Open Circuit Voltage = 450vdc. At 68.1Voc (listed in pic above) that would be 450v/68.1v = 6.6 maximum panels in a single string. Of course you don't want to go right up to 450v as cold temps can push 681v/panel higher in winter. 6panels in series x 68.1v = 408.6v is likely OK. So let's say 6 in series is the max and at 150v minimum then let's say 3 panels is the minimum.

Maximum Solar Charge Current = 100a. Not sure but this sounds like the max current you can feed in from the panels. That would be ~100a / 3.6a = 27.8 panels in parallel - so not a problem given the 3 panels in series minimum and 31 panels total.

Therefore you could do....
30 panels = 6s5p (strings of 6 in series and 5 of these strings combined in parallel). 408.6Voc @ 17.65a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
30 panels = 5s6p (strings of 5 in series and 6 of these strings combined in parallel). 340.5Voc @ 21.18a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
30 panels = 3s10p (strings of 3 panels and 10 of these strings combined in parallel). 204.3Voc @ 35.3a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
----
32 panels = 4s8p = 6,240w = greater than max spec (called overpaneling) but panels don't produce 100% so it's possible. 272.4Voc @ 28.24a (Ipmax) -> Growatt

I'd think about 6s5p or 5s6p or 3s10p and stay within the 6000w spec. 3s is likely better than 5s and 5s is likley better than 6s if you have shade traversing over the array during the day. 6s5p means you only have to combine 5 strings at a combiner box - so maybe only 1 combiner box and only need wire for 18a For 3s you have to combine 10 strings - so maybe 2 x combiner boxes and you're up to 8awg wire due to the 35.3a.

NOTE: This discussion is to help you start thinking about things and not ment to be applied literally in your situation as I don't have actual experience with GroWatts and you didn't provide any details as to your location, weather / temps, shading, etc.

 

[Too damn old]

The Growatt SPF 5000 specs here - https://diysolarforum.com/threads/help-with-panel-configuration.45470/ - show 6000w as the Maximum PV Array power. 6000w / 195w panels = 30.8 panels total. 31 panels max are likely OK but 37 panels might be too much for this single unit.

Maximum PV Array Open Circuit Voltage = 450vdc. At 68.1Voc (listed in pic above) that would be 450v/68.1v = 6.6 maximum panels in a single string. Of course you don't want to go right up to 450v as cold temps can push 681v/panel higher in winter. 6panels in series x 68.1v = 408.6v is likely OK. So let's say 6 in series is the max and at 150v minimum then let's say 3 panels is the minimum.

Maximum Solar Charge Current = 100a. Not sure but this sounds like the max current you can feed in from the panels. That would be ~100a / 3.6a = 27.8 panels in parallel - so not a problem given the 3 panels in series minimum and 31 panels total.

Therefore you could do....
30 panels = 6s5p (strings of 6 in series and 5 of these strings combined in parallel). 408.6Voc @ 17.65a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
30 panels = 5s6p (strings of 5 in series and 6 of these strings combined in parallel). 340.5Voc @ 21.18a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
30 panels = 3s10p (strings of 3 panels and 10 of these strings combined in parallel). 204.3Voc @ 35.3a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
----
32 panels = 4s8p = 6,240w = greater than max spec (called overpaneling) but panels don't produce 100% so it's possible. 272.4Voc @ 28.24a (Ipmax) -> Growatt

I'd think about 6s5p or 5s6p or 3s10p and stay within the 6000w spec. 3s is better than 5s and 5s is better than 6s if you have shade traversing over the array during the day. 6s5p means you only have to combine 5 strings at a combiner box - so maybe only 1 combiner box and only need wire for 18a For 3s you have to combine 10 strings - so maybe 2 x combiner boxes and you're up to 8awg wire due to the 35.3a.

NOTE: This discussion is to help you start thinking about things and not ment to be applied literally in your situation as I don't have actual experience with GroWatts and you didn't provide any details as to your location, weather / temps, shading, etc.

The Growatt SPF 5000 specs here - https://diysolarforum.com/threads/help-with-panel-configuration.45470/ - show 6000w as the Maximum PV Array power. 6000w / 195w panels = 30.8 panels total. 31 panels max are likely OK but 37 panels might be too much for this single unit.

Maximum PV Array Open Circuit Voltage = 450vdc. At 68.1Voc (listed in pic above) that would be 450v/68.1v = 6.6 maximum panels in a single string. Of course you don't want to go right up to 450v as cold temps can push 681v/panel higher in winter. 6panels in series x 68.1v = 408.6v is likely OK. So let's say 6 in series is the max and at 150v minimum then let's say 3 panels is the minimum.

Maximum Solar Charge Current = 100a. Not sure but this sounds like the max current you can feed in from the panels. That would be ~100a / 3.6a = 27.8 panels in parallel - so not a problem given the 3 panels in series minimum and 31 panels total.

Therefore you could do....
30 panels = 6s5p (strings of 6 in series and 5 of these strings combined in parallel). 408.6Voc @ 17.65a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
30 panels = 5s6p (strings of 5 in series and 6 of these strings combined in parallel). 340.5Voc @ 21.18a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
30 panels = 3s10p (strings of 3 panels and 10 of these strings combined in parallel). 204.3Voc @ 35.3a (Ipmax) -> Growatt
----
32 panels = 4s8p = 6,240w = greater than max spec (called overpaneling) but panels don't produce 100% so it's possible. 272.4Voc @ 28.24a (Ipmax) -> Growatt

I'd think about 6s5p or 5s6p or 3s10p and stay within the 6000w spec. 3s is likely better than 5s and 5s is likley better than 6s if you have shade traversing over the array during the day. 6s5p means you only have to combine 5 strings at a combiner box - so maybe only 1 combiner box and only need wire for 18a For 3s you have to combine 10 strings - so maybe 2 x combiner boxes and you're up to 8awg wire due to the 35.3a.

NOTE: This discussion is to help you start thinking about things and not ment to be applied literally in your situation as I don't have actual experience with GroWatts and you didn't provide any details as to your location, weather / temps, shading, etc.

Thank you for your help! I believe I am going to go with a 6s5p. I think I read somewhere I needed to stay below 18 amps on the SPF 5000. I should have given you the specifications on the Growatt, I apologize.