Solar panel output not changing when I adjust my tilt angle. Could something be hooked up wrong.

[dave.n]

Hi, first time posting but have spent many weeks reading post on this forum. Many thanks for that.

I installed an ecoflow delta pro 3 with an extra battery for house backup and to run a few smaller appliances. Today at high noon I did an experiment with my solar panels changing the tilt angles because I am not happy with the input I am getting with these 10 panels I installed. I have six panels in series and the others in a two series parallel connection. The parallel connection I did install two 15amp fuses. I'm post that because I not sure if that can cut down a total output for the panels. I also have two circuit breakers just before going into my basement. One is a 20amp and the other is 40amp. The solar panels are eco worthy 195w bi .

Any help to why changing the tilt angles didn't do a thing would be great. Thank you.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Welcome to forum.

How full were the batteries when you did your test?
What loads were running?
What were you seeing for production from each array?

• Solar Charging Input
  
  2600W total, 2 portsHigh-PV Input: 30V-150V⎓15A, 1600W MaxLow-PV Input: 11V-60V⎓20A, 1000W Max

Those are the specs I found for your unit.

 

[dave.n]

Battery on the app was showing 69% full and the load was 177w. On the series side my input was 886w and parallel side was 333w.

 

[Mattb4]

It is just about Summer Solstice. Other than some minor difference if your panels were flat or vertical it likely would not be much of a change. BTW very nice mount.

Your much less results than expected (you should see around 70-80% of rated thus for 1950W Array somewhere in the 1500W ballpark in full sun ) is more likely because of your Delta Pro and how it's setup.

 

[42OhmsPA]

Battery on the app was showing 69% full and the load was 177w. On the series side my input was 886w and parallel side was 333w. View attachment 305977

I can't find the specs for max charging, you could be hitting it.
I would try increasing the load to see of more PV is used.

PS - nice array.

 

[HarryN]

You are in N IL, not NM. The sky is partly cloudy from the picture.

The light is much more scattered and "even" than somewhere like Albuquerque where it feels like laser beams coming down from the sky.

Anything over 50% of the panel rating is doing pretty well.

I am assuming that all of the panel strings have roughly the same Vmp. In other words with 10 identical panels you would wire them 5S2P to be similar. If 5S2P is too much power for the unit, then wire them 4S2P and hook them up 5S2P in the winter.

If you really have them wired 6S, then that string is the only one contributing power to your system.

 

[Chicat]

It is just about Summer Solstice. Other than some minor difference if your panels were flat or vertical it likely would not be much of a change. BTW very nice mount.

Your much less results than expected (you should see around 70-80% of rated thus for 1950W Array somewhere in the 1500W ballpark in full sun ) is more likely because of your Delta Pro and how it's setup.

Delta pro maximum pv input should be 1600 watts and 150 volts

 

[dave.n]

It is just about Summer Solstice. Other than some minor difference if your panels were flat or vertical it likely would not be much of a change. BTW very nice mount.

Your much less results than expected (you should see around 70-80% of rated thus for 1950W Array somewhere in the 1500W ballpark in full sun ) is more likely because of your Delta Pro and how it's setup.

Yes, I was thinking if I was getting around 1500w that would be okay. I am getting a few clouds here and there. Thank you

 

[dave.n]

Delta pro maximum pv input should be 1600 watts and 150 volts

Yes, that is on one input. The other input is a 1000w. Thank you

Delta pro maximum pv input should be 1600 watts and 150 volts

 

[dave.n]

Thank you for all the replies and liking my array. It's so funny that after a few day of running my whole house dehumidifier and washer dryer, wifi and living room lights, TV. I now want MORE POWER ! Ty

 

[MrSparkle]

I now want MORE POWER ! Ty

Aaand we have our next addict.
Welcome to the club!

 

[HarryN]

Try disconnecting the panels that are not part of the 6S string.

I think that you will find that they are not contributing to the solar charging power as wired.

For the 6 wired in series, you run the risk of hitting ( 6 ) x ( panel Voc ) which is going to be too high sometimes, especially in the winter.

Strongly consider to change it to 5S.

 

[dave.n]

Try disconnecting the panels that are not part of the 6S string.

I think that you will find that they are not contributing to the solar charging power as wired.

For the 6 wired in series, you run the risk of hitting ( 6 ) x ( panel Voc ) which is going to be too high sometimes, especially in the winter.

Strongly consider to change it to 5S.

Each panel Voc is 23.7v total 142.2v for the six in series. Manual said 155v max so with this, you still think five panels would be best. Thank you

 

[dave.n]

I was checking each panel today and all was around 130v. Now these panels are bi facial 195w. So good so far but, why is that the four panels in 2s2p gets cut in half with the watts. When I was checking each panel I decided to see the watt output in series for the four that I use to input the low side of my delta pro 3 and it was almost 600w. But then in parallel it drops it to 300w. That sucks. Is this sound right. I need these extra watts!

 

[Mattb4]

...When I was checking each panel I decided to see the watt output in series for the four that I use to input the low side of my delta pro 3 and it was almost 600w. But then in parallel it drops it to 300w. That sucks. Is this sound right. I need these extra watts!

That sounds like your method of parallel is not connected properly and only 2 panels are being utilized.

 

[HarryN]

If each panel is ~ 23 volts Vmp, then ( 2 ) x ( 23 volts ) ~ 50 volts

Your 6 S string is ~ 130 Volts.

All of the strings should have "roughly" the same voltage, at least for most power systems unless there is something special about your power system.

___________

For the "max voltage" number, this is the voltage number that will damage your unit. For this, the calculation is based on the Voc number on the back of the panel, which is probably close to 25 volts. This is the number that the array will hit if the battery is full and stops charging from solar.

( 6 ) x ( 25 volts ) ~ 150 volts, and that is in the summer.

In the winter, the Voc ( and Vmp ) rise - nearly all electronics work better when cold. In your area, this could hit close to 30 - 35 volts each vs 25 volts each, so in January the number can hit

( 6 ) x ( 30 volts ) ~ 180 volts. At that point, it will blow out the electronics in your power unit.

Instead, if the array is wired

String 1 = ( 5 ) x ( 30 ) ~ 150 volts, which is still at the ragged edge, but if it is going to be really cold, you could change it to 4S instead by disconnecting a panel.

Wire string 2 the same way - in parallel, so you end up with

2P 5S.

or 2P 4S

Personally I would start with 2P 4S and see what the results are given how close to the edge you are.

____________

Is there something about your power system that needs 2 different string voltages ?

 

[Nobodybusiness]

Thank you for all the replies and liking my array. It's so funny that after a few day of running my whole house dehumidifier and washer dryer, wifi and living room lights, TV. I now want MORE POWER ! Ty

That’s always what happens..

Welcome to the addiction..

 

[dave.n]

That sounds like your method of parallel is not connected properly and only 2 panels are being

That sounds like your method of parallel is not connected properly and only 2 panels are being utilized.

I went off this to connect my four panels

 

[dave.n]

If each panel is ~ 23 volts Vmp, then ( 2 ) x ( 23 volts ) ~ 50 volts

Your 6 S string is ~ 130 Volts.

All of the strings should have "roughly" the same voltage, at least for most power systems unless there is something special about your power system.

___________

For the "max voltage" number, this is the voltage number that will damage your unit. For this, the calculation is based on the Voc number on the back of the panel, which is probably close to 25 volts. This is the number that the array will hit if the battery is full and stops charging from solar.

( 6 ) x ( 25 volts ) ~ 150 volts, and that is in the summer.

In the winter, the Voc ( and Vmp ) rise - nearly all electronics work better when cold. In your area, this could hit close to 30 - 35 volts each vs 25 volts each, so in January the number can hit

( 6 ) x ( 30 volts ) ~ 180 volts. At that point, it will blow out the electronics in your power unit.

Instead, if the array is wired

String 1 = ( 5 ) x ( 30 ) ~ 150 volts, which is still at the ragged edge, but if it is going to be really cold, you could change it to 4S instead by disconnecting a panel.

Wire string 2 the same way - in parallel, so you end up with

2P 5S.

or 2P 4S

Personally I would start with 2P 4S and see what the results are given how close to the edge you are.

____________

Is there something about your power system that needs 2 different string voltages ?

My system has an high and low side to connect xt60 to the back of the unit. Here is the diagram I followed

 

[Mattb4]

I went off this to connect my four panels

Real simple to test. Disconnect 1 set of series panels and check output. Than disconnect the second one and reconnect the first (at the combiner Y plug).

 

[dave.n]

My system has an high and low side to connect xt60 to the back of the unit. Here is the diagram I followed

I forgot to post this if this helps anyone wanting to help me get the most from these panels to work with my delta pro 3. Thank you.

 

[dave.n]

Real simple to test. Disconnect 1 set of series panels and check output. Than disconnect the second one and reconnect the first (at the combiner Y plug).

Thank you. I'll try that

 

[Texas-Mark]

then wire them 4S2P and hook them up 5S2P in the winter.

Wouldn't 5S in the winter be way more risky because of the cold and exceeding the input voltage?

 

[HarryN]

Interesting - that unit has a "low voltage side" and a "high voltage side" input.

Is that unit designed to take power from "both' at the same time ?

I am not familiar with that power system, but the ones that I have seen accept one or the other at a time, not both at the same time. Yours might be different.

 

[dave.n]

Interesting - that unit has a "low voltage side" and a "high voltage side" input.

Is that unit designed to take power from "both' at the same time ?

I am not familiar with that power system, but the ones that I have seen accept one or the other at a time, not both at the same time. Yours might be different.

Yes, the input will take both at the same time. I just can't figure out way the low side with my parallel connection my watts are cut in half of the panels rating.