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I have some dumb questions about circuit breakers and saftey

Originally i bought this hvlv2424 for the idea of running 2 for 240v split phase but never considered the 150v pv factor. Im almost thinking about the new powmr 3k24vh for $497 on Amazon because it goes to 450v but i dont think it has the other features that this hvlv2424 has like a on off timer . And it doesnt seem like it can be used later for 240v
 
73powerstroke said:
Looks like they recommend 6ga pv wire.
Click to expand...
That would only be AFTER a combiner box with a suitable main breaker or fuse. Before or without a combiner box, 4P is out of the question. Its more than 30A, the wires on the panels are 10AWG and the connectors are 30A max. That will never change and should never get more than 30A.

I now see the chart in post #56. They are not saying 3S in not allowed, but for their limited examples of 4 panels and 8 panels, 2S2P and 2S4P (with a combiner box!) work. For 6 panels, 3S2P. For 9 panels 3S3P (with fuses on the 3 parallel strings).

73powerstroke said:
And the 30-115v voc
Click to expand...
No! That is 30-115V Vdc. This is the MPPT working range. So 30.4Vmp is used (3S is 91.2Vmp, perfectly fine).

How many panels do you WANT to run to this AIO? 6? 8? 9? Other?
6 panels 3S2P easy peasy.
8 panels 2S4P but requires a combiner box.
9 panels 3S3P but requires 3 MC4 inline fuses
 
MisterSandals said:
That would only be AFTER a combiner box with a suitable main breaker or fuse. Before or without a combiner box, 4P is out of the question. Its more than 30A, the wires on the panels are 10AWG and the connectors are 30A max. That will never change and should never get more than 30A.

I now see the chart in post #56. They are not saying 3S in not allowed, but for their limited examples of 4 panels and 8 panels, 2S2P and 2S4P (with a combiner box!) work. For 6 panels, 3S2P. For 9 panels 3S3P (with fuses on the 3 parallel strings).


No! That is 30-115V Vdc. This is the MPPT working range. So 30.4Vmp is used (3S is 91.2Vmp, perfectly fine).

How many panels do you WANT to run to this AIO? 6? 8? 9? Other?
6 panels 3S2P easy peasy.
8 panels 2S4P but requires a combiner box.
9 panels 3S3P but requires 3 MC4 inline fuses
Click to expand...
I forgot about the panels. Theres 10 panels all the same. These are not the santan 240w. They are smaller. So the numbers are different. Oddly each Gloria panel is individually rated slightly different from the next one. Heres a tag
Theres 10 of these. The ones you mentioned shading that face west all 4 are these. The 6 on the ground are the rest. Currently 6 go directly to the 63a breaker . The other 4 (2s2p) are combine with 4 (2s2p) 240w santan trinas to the 63a breaker. The final 240w 6 (2s3p) array feeds a 40amp tracer 4210an charge controller directly to same batteries. 20230724_141925.jpg20230724_141942.jpg
 
73powerstroke said:
They are smaller. So the numbers are different.
Click to expand...
For all practical purposes, the panels are identical spec-wise.

73powerstroke said:
The other 4 (2s2p) are combine with 4 (2s2p) 240w santan trinas to the 63a breaker.
Click to expand...
2S2P combined in parallel with another 2S2P is still 4P and as i've said in the last 5 posts, you cannot exceed 3P without each string into a combiner box.

Lets just look at your main AIO. How many panels do you want to feed into it?
You only options are: 4, 6, 8 (2S4P) with combiner box, 9 (3S3P) with 3 inline fuses, 12 (3S4P) with combiner box, 15 (3S5P with combiner box).
How many to your main AIO?
 
MisterSandals said:
For all practical purposes, the panels are identical spec-wise.


2S2P combined in parallel with another 2S2P is still 4P and as i've said in the last 5 posts, you cannot exceed 3P without each string into a combiner box.

Lets just look at your main AIO. How many panels do you want to feed into it?
You only options are: 4, 6, 8 (2S4P) with combiner box, 9 (3S3P) with 3 inline fuses, 12 (3S4P) with combiner box, 15 (3S5P with combiner box).
How many to your
Click to expand...

MisterSandals said:
For all practical purposes, the panels are identical spec-wise.


2S2P combined in parallel with another 2S2P is still 4P and as i've said in the last 5 posts, you cannot exceed 3P without each string into a combiner box.

Lets just look at your main AIO. How many panels do you want to feed into it?
You only options are: 4, 6, 8 (2S4P) with combiner box, 9 (3S3P) with 3 inline fuses, 12 (3S4P) with combiner box, 15 (3S5P with combiner box).
How many to your main AIO?
Click to expand...
Probably 8 or 9 or 12. Theres 14 panels that can be arranged. The panels are degraded. So im not sure how many will be needed to get 2kw. I try to never use the 2.4kw output of the inverter and stay at 2k or less.
I like the 3s3p idea with mc4 fuses
 
73powerstroke said:
I like the 3s3p idea with mc4 fuses
Click to expand...
If you don't want to spend $100 for a combiner box, this is a great setup.

While any waterproof 15A fuse would work, its impossible to beat the inline mc4 fuses.

(pack of 5 practically same price as 3 individual ones):

At least have a look... (its $90 instead of $35 for inline fuses only)
There is some very nice added functionality (fusing and pv cutoff switch) in a 4 string combiner box (and ability to use 12 panels 3S4P):

Its essentially 4 mc4 inline fuses, your 63A breaker, a surge protector (useful if prone to lightning strikes) and a waterproof box.
 
MisterSandals said:
If you don't want to spend $100 for a combiner box, this is a great setup.

While any waterproof 15A fuse would work, its impossible to beat the inline mc4 fuses.

(pack of 5 practically same price as 3 individual ones):

At least have a look... (its $90 instead of $35 for inline fuses only)
There is some very nice added functionality (fusing and pv cutoff switch) in a 4 string combiner box (and ability to use 12 panels 3S4P):

Its essentially 4 mc4 inline fuses, your 63A breaker, a surge protector (useful if prone to lightning strikes) and a waterproof box.
Click to expand...
Lots of lightening storms right now in Arizona. Definitely rather have the box. Is there one with 15a mcb instead ?
 
73powerstroke said:
Lots of lightening storms right now in Arizona. Definitely rather have the box. Is there one with 15a mcb instead ?
Click to expand...
You can always built your own. It's really simple.

The attached should get you started, you can easily modify to suit your needs.

The photo was during my build, not complete. Ignore the extra breaker, that's for future expansion.

I also have a Midnite SPD... Don't really trust the Amazon one for great protection.

Category Products - MidNite Solar's

MidNite Solar Category Products.
www.midnitesolar.com
 

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42OhmsPA said:
You can always built your own. It's really simple.

The attached should get you started, you can easily modify to suit your needs.

The photo was during my build, not complete. Ignore the extra breaker, that's for future expansion.

I also have a Midnite SPD... Don't really trust the Amazon one for great protection.

Category Products - MidNite Solar's

MidNite Solar Category Products.
www.midnitesolar.com
Click to expand...
Cool. I might do that. I dont want fuses. I want breaker.
 
MisterSandals said:
TBH, i'd bet you never blow a 15A fuse unless something gets hooked up backwards. I do prefer breakers too but the main is a breaker and a valid solar cutoff.
Click to expand...
Yes im sure thats true. I just like breakers. I should probably consider the max the aio can use. And possible future proofs too
I do want to get a sungold sp6548 or the sp6048 240v split phase inverter eventually. Maybe a second hvlv2424
 
MisterSandals said:
These will accept significantly higher voltage strings so maybe combiner box not necessary? Need to do the math to do any future proofing.
Click to expand...
I think i should be able to feed the aio with 3s2p and do everything else separately with individual 40a cc. However its easier to keep track of whats going on using the aio 80a cc.
Its really just a mess of crap here.
I guess i can run 10ga pv from every array 2s2p and put them on a 32a mcb to a 40a cc each.
 
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