I have an existing OEM setup on my Camper.
It consists of a single 165w panel (Voc=23v, Vmp=18.72v, SCC=9.49a, Imp=8.82a. 15a fuse)
wired to a 25a MPPT SCC (Pmax= 300w, Voc- 70v)
I would like to throw another panel on the roof to bump up recovery times. There is a 12v fridge running constantly and on hot days when the beer is coming out of it regularly, the system can't keep up. I have 230Ah of AGM batteries.
Because this stuff is OEM, it is ridiculously expensive, (the twin to the existing panel is $500!) I am looking elsewhere for product.
How important is it to match panels in a series array? (avoiding overvoltage going to the SCC, of course)
Does the 15a fuse in the existing panel do anything important with flow-through power?
I hear that if one panel in a series array has shade, the entire array goes down, is this true? Or, are there exceptions?
What about parallel arrays? do the panels need to be matched perfectly? Or, just voltage wise?
My education from many years ago included classes in Avionics, and as such Ohm's law isn't new to me.
My thoughts lean towards buying a random, not too big, panel and wiring it in series with the existing panel, I can find used 250w/39Voc/7a panels for under $75. (one of these in series should provide 62Voc at 15a to the SCC...(or, 53Vmp at 14a nominal)...
Would one of those get my existing panel's 15a fuse popping?
What should I look for to keep things running in a partially shaded area?
Thanks in advance...
It consists of a single 165w panel (Voc=23v, Vmp=18.72v, SCC=9.49a, Imp=8.82a. 15a fuse)
wired to a 25a MPPT SCC (Pmax= 300w, Voc- 70v)
I would like to throw another panel on the roof to bump up recovery times. There is a 12v fridge running constantly and on hot days when the beer is coming out of it regularly, the system can't keep up. I have 230Ah of AGM batteries.
Because this stuff is OEM, it is ridiculously expensive, (the twin to the existing panel is $500!) I am looking elsewhere for product.
How important is it to match panels in a series array? (avoiding overvoltage going to the SCC, of course)
Does the 15a fuse in the existing panel do anything important with flow-through power?
I hear that if one panel in a series array has shade, the entire array goes down, is this true? Or, are there exceptions?
What about parallel arrays? do the panels need to be matched perfectly? Or, just voltage wise?
My education from many years ago included classes in Avionics, and as such Ohm's law isn't new to me.
My thoughts lean towards buying a random, not too big, panel and wiring it in series with the existing panel, I can find used 250w/39Voc/7a panels for under $75. (one of these in series should provide 62Voc at 15a to the SCC...(or, 53Vmp at 14a nominal)...
Would one of those get my existing panel's 15a fuse popping?
What should I look for to keep things running in a partially shaded area?
Thanks in advance...