Review my system from panels to inverters

[bds70]

I am going to review my entire system from panels to inverters. This way I can clarify what I "think" I know and what I definitely do "not" know. I am going to take this in bite size pieces.

8 yrs ago a company built and installed a 12v system for me. At the time I knew nothing.

The panels used were 6 pairs of Winaico 260W 20v 60 cell. Each pair was wired in series. Then each pair went to 3 individual RCD"s (as shown) each positive and neg to their own switch.

Leaving the RCD the wires were grouped POS together neg together so a parallel setup. I believe this was to maximise the solar output

What is the output from that arrangement?

 

[SeaGal]

The panels used were 6 pairs of Winaico 260W 20v 60 cell. Each pair was wired in series. Then each pair went to 3 individual RCD"s (as shown) each positive and neg to their own switch.

How many panels? By 6 pairs, I would assume you mean 12 panels, but there are only 2 in series and 3 sets of cable. So do you have 3 pairs of 2 panels = total 6 panels?

Leaving the RCD the wires were grouped POS together neg together so a parallel setup. I believe this was to maximise the solar output
What is the output from that arrangement?

I don't see the parallel connections in your system, but assuming they are...

- panels in series adds voltage, current same
- panels in parallel adds current, voltage the same.
- Power = Volts x Amps.

So each panel is 20V and 13A max.

So, if you have 6 panels consisting of 3 sets of 2 panels in series, which are then paralleled together then
a) each 2 panels in series will produce max of 40V @ 13A
b) connecting 3 of those in parallel will produce 40V @ 39A

 

[bds70]

How many panels? By 6 pairs, I would assume you mean 12 panels, but there are only 2 in series and 3 sets of cable. So do you have 3 pairs of 2 panels = total 6 panels?


I don't see the parallel connections in your system, but assuming they are...

- panels in series adds voltage, current same
- panels in parallel adds current, voltage the same.
- Power = Volts x Amps.

So each panel is 20V and 13A max.

So, if you have 6 panels consisting of 3 sets of 2 panels in series, which are then paralleled together then
a) each 2 panels in series will produce max of 40V @ 13A
b) connecting 3 of those in parallel will produce 40V @ 39A

Sorry your quite correct. 6 panels in total. So 3 pairs. Where do you get the 13Amps from?

Where the cables leave the bottom of the RCD's the outer two pos loop to the middle positive main cable to the MPPT the same with the Neg cables.

Is that not the parallel configuration?

 

[SeaGal]

Sorry your quite correct. 6 panels in total. So 3 pairs. Where do you get the 13Amps from?

Power = Volts x Amps, so Amps = Power / Volts; so 260W/20V = 13A

Where the cables leave the bottom of the RCD's the outer two pos loop to the middle positive main cable to the MPPT the same with the Neg cables.
Is that not the parallel configuration?

- yes, missed that on first look.