Series vs parallel question

[learaviator]

I really appreciate input on things. Currently I have 8 280 watt panels, wired in four pairs, each pair in series. The solar panel tag shows 36.75 max power voltage and 7.62 max power current. Currently at max sun I am seeing 60 volts and 32 amps in, and 27.9 volts and 64.5 amps out of my Flexmax 80. I purchased a second Flexmax 80 for a spare. Should I have used the second Flexmax and wired the panels in two groups of four in parallel instead? Am I correct in figuring that with wiring eight panels into two groups of fours, all in parallel I could be seeing approx. 1600 watts from each Flexmax instead of the 1800 watts I am seeing from the one now? Am I figuring this correctly? That seems way better to me. Surely it is not that easy to increase the wattage that much.

 

[upnorthandpersonal]

The 280W sticker value is at test conditions, pretty much ideal. You generally don't see these conditions in real life. You're at 86% of your rated ideal (80% after MPPT losses) - that's not bad. You won't see more power by using the second MPPT; you'll probably see less because of increased losses due to the second MPPT.

You won't see 2x1600W because your max. is 2240W.

 

[learaviator]

Thank You!,

 

[73powerstroke]

Ive tried many variations lately. And can't find a big enough difference between series and parallel except wires and Amps are a issue with many panels in parallel. Sun or shade they really seem to do the same for me. I bought a few branch connectors 4 to 1 and tried them out. For me parallel is simply not worth the headache or wiring. 4 240w panels in parallel made my 10ga wire noticeably warm. I chose 2s2p for each group of panels

 

[littleharbor2]

Deleted comment.

 

[12VoltInstalls]

Sun or shade they really seem to do the same for me

Which is expected mostly.

With series you might see a few minutes earlier charging voltage or may have ‘some’ charging on some cloudy days where a lower voltage may not. In average conditions I’ve not seen much of a difference. Nevertheless I am confident that series is a much better performer 60 days of the year (basically winter) and no downside most of the year.

Shade is more dramatic than “overcast” imho

 

[73powerstroke]

Which is expected mostly.

With series you might see a few minutes earlier charging voltage or may have ‘some’ charging on some cloudy days where a lower voltage may not. In average conditions I’ve not seen much of a difference. Nevertheless I am confident that series is a much better performer 60 days of the year (basically winter) and no downside most of the year.

Shade is more dramatic than “overcast” imho

Like a string inverter setup

 

[12VoltInstalls]

Like a string inverter setup

I’ve never lived under one of those

 

[73powerstroke]

I’ve never lived under one of those

I was thinking of the 500 plus volt strings of panel type setups for a string inverter. Shading issues? Maybe