Portable Power Grid - Whole House System

[sunshine_eggo]

that's a 60 cell panel. It's considered marginal for charging a 24V system. In moderate to cool temps, it should be okay most of the time, but in hot temps, it may not provide sufficient voltage as Vmp drops with higher temperature.

If this is the charger:

60 AMP Solar Charge Controller 12 / 24 / 36 / 48 VDC MPPT ETL Listed to UL 458 / CSA 22.2

This solar battery charge controller by AIMS Power features a smart tracking algorithm using MPPT charging technology and has less power loss performing at 97.5-99% efficiency, maximizing energy harvest. The tracking algorithm is automatic and varies with weather conditions. This charge...

www.aimscorp.net

150Voc is the limit, and 3S would work.

 

[Jhp230gr45]

I need to know the specs of the controller.
At minimum, you need to make them 2S

This would be all i have on the AIMS 60amp mppt controller... If the VOC is 30.3 it should handle being wired in series...

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Yep. that's the one. 3S is fine.

If your charging issues are voltage related, this will help immensely.

if your charging issues are shade related, this may hurt things.

 

[Jhp230gr45]

that's a 60 cell panel. It's considered marginal for charging a 24V system. In moderate to cool temps, it should be okay most of the time, but in hot temps, it may not provide sufficient voltage as Vmp drops with higher temperature.

If this is the charger:

60 AMP Solar Charge Controller 12 / 24 / 36 / 48 VDC MPPT ETL Listed to UL 458 / CSA 22.2

This solar battery charge controller by AIMS Power features a smart tracking algorithm using MPPT charging technology and has less power loss performing at 97.5-99% efficiency, maximizing energy harvest. The tracking algorithm is automatic and varies with weather conditions. This charge...

www.aimscorp.net

150Voc is the limit, and 3S would work.

The one in your picture is the newer one... Mine is black... Yes it should handle 3S...and youre right... The system is challenged on days above 80deg F... I open the sidewalls and let air flow through on those days... Most summer days in upper Michigan are in the 70's but we get those hot spells... This is the system AIMS sold me... It is six years old now...

 

[sunshine_eggo]

The one in your picture is the newer one... Mine is black... Yes it should handle 3S...and youre right... The system is challenged on days above 80deg F... I open the sidewalls and let air flow through on those days... Most summer days in upper Michigan are in the 70's but we get those hot spells... This is the system AIMS sold me... It is six years old now...

Based on that, 3S should help.

 

[Jhp230gr45]

Thank you... Yes you are correct... A friend of mine suggested series wiring for the PV panels... I'm just afraid to try until the loggers can take down some of my larger trees close to the yard (log prices being low right now)...
As for now I'm keeping them parallel for that reason and readjusting the trailer to get maximum light...

 

[sunshine_eggo]

Thank you... Yes you are correct... A friend of mine suggested series wiring for the PV panels... I'm just afraid to try until the loggers can take down some of my larger trees close to the yard (log prices being low right now)...
As for now I'm keeping them parallel for that reason and readjusting the trailer to get maximum light...

If you're relocating for better sun, you're already mitigating the shade. Would go series to get the most out of your efforts.

 

[Supervstech]

Thank you... Yes you are correct... A friend of mine suggested series wiring for the PV panels... I'm just afraid to try until the loggers can take down some of my larger trees close to the yard (log prices being low right now)...
As for now I'm keeping them parallel for that reason and readjusting the trailer to get maximum light...

If shading only on a single panel is the concern, yes, keeping parallel will help output, except the voltage still won’t be high enough to properly charge the bank.

A good compromise is 2S 2P, add a fourth panel, and tie panels in series parallel.

That will double your voltage, and still offer protection from partial shading.

If you are fully shaded… parallel or series won’t matter.

 

[Bluedog225]

And keep in mind, there are only about 5-7 good solar hours. Shade at other times doesn’t matter as much.