How to wire 9x 44Voc Panels with a 3K Growwatt ES - can I add an overpowered odd panel?

[wittyhome]

I have 9 panels ready to mount -

https://documents.unboundsolar.com/legacy/pdfs/module%20pdf%20folder/Sharp-175.pdf

and I'm considering buying a Growatt 48V SPF 3kW 3000W LVM-ES

SPF 3000TL LVM-ES 3kW 120V 250V Solar Voltage, 48V Battery parallel

SPF 3000TL LVM-ES 3kW 120V, 120 to 250V Solar Voltage, 48V Battery OPTIONAL (batteryless), up to 6 in parallel for single , split or 3 phase output growatt BEST SOLAR FOR HOME PEROVSKITE INVERTERS FOR PHONE PHOTOVOLTAIC DC TO AC INVERTER SOLAR ROOF JACKERY 1000 1KW 1000W SOLAR SUN POWER SOLAR...

www.signaturesolar.com

If I'm reading this right, the Growatt has a start-up voltage of 150v and a max Voc of 250v.

So how can I wire up 9 panels?

3s3p would only give 133.2v max, not enough for startup.
2s4p would get 177.6 which works, but means leaving one panel out of the system

What if I get one "oversized" panel to make 2s5p?
Can I get something like this (sunpower photo below) nearby, making one string 222v and the other 241.8v, and the current is larger on this odd panel than the others?

All of the examples I've found for mixing panels have had the odd panel being lower specs than the rest. What about using a higher-spec-ed panel as the odd one? If I'm fine with the maximum output being in line with the other lower panels, losing the higher capacity from that one odd panel but getting the max out of the rest of them, will this work?

Thanks!




9 panels' specs:

 

[rmaddy]

You can't do 2S4P since the max input current is 18A. Perhaps you meant 4S2P since you stated the voltage would be 177.6V.

And same for your mention of adding a 10th panel for 2S5P. You mean 5S2P.

In series you add voltage. In parallel you add amperage.

I can't address the specific question about using a single 305W panel along with your 9 175W panels but why not try to find a 10th panel that is closer to 175W?

 

[wittyhome]

You can't do 2S4P since the max input current is 18A. Perhaps you meant 4S2P since you stated the voltage would be 177.6V.

Gah, you're right! I meant two parallel strings of 4 or 5 panels in series. Newbie typo. Thanks for catching that.

And same for your mention of adding a 10th panel for 2S5P. You mean 5S2P.
In series you add voltage. In parallel you add amperage.

Yep.

I can't address the specific question about using a single 305W panel along with your 9 175W panels but why not try to find a 10th panel that is closer to 175W?

That's the crux of the question.

What's a good way to find a used local panel with specs? FB Marketplace doesn't seem to normalize listing details or the photo of the back sticker. I'm near Philadelphia.

I reference this particular panel because my community here has a good number of them from a used group buy and I'm guessing I could find an extra in someone's basement if I asked around.