Solar Panels to Bluetti AC300...

[Crooner88]

I am a complete novice flying by the seat of my pants when it comes to electrical issues. I plan to hook-up 10-200w panels to my AC300 and two B300 to power my 5th wheel. Can I configure two separate arrays of 5-panels (each array paralleled) back to the main unit? If not, what is the most efficient way to hook these 10 panels to my AC300.

 

[Crooner88]

Already showing what a novice I am... I just learned the difference in the type of hook-up. My panels would be in "series" not parallel. Currently I have 4-200w panels in series into a AC200, but am upgrading to the AC300.

 

[bloomy]

Well, you're a fast learner so you've got that going for you! :D

 

[Crooner88]

At 70, trust me, it is merely a façade that I seem to manage.

 

[dcGuide]

Already showing what a novice I am... I just learned the difference in the type of hook-up. My panels would be in "series" not parallel. Currently I have 4-200w panels in series into a AC200, but am upgrading to the AC300.

Welcome aboard @Crooner88 -- we use the AC200 as well. Your new 300 specs indicate:

INPUT
AC Charging Cable Input: 3,000W Max.
Solar Input: 2,400W Max., VOC 12-150VDC, 12A
Car Input: 12/24V from Cigarette Lighter Port

Maximum Input:
5,400W, with AC and Solar Input Simultaneously

At first glance at the 300MAX you see the "solar" input is limited to 150 volts DC AND 12 amps of current. In other words, you have three limiting factors, total watts input limit, at 5,400 watts, voltage limited to 150 volts on the PV input and current limited to 12 amps on the PV input. You can read about this in the 300 users guide: link to download T -- The good stuff starts on page 19.

What really controls all this are the specs on the panels, Voltage and Current. A typical 200watt 12-volt panel might produce 18-volts at load and 12 amps of current. If you have the panels in series you see the voltage increase, if you have panels in parallel you see the amperage increase.

You might be able to do all this with the two inputs on the 300MAX. The B300 also has charging input, not as much as the 300MAX. Again, you will be limited by current and voltage.

Example, on the 300MAX with Solar Input: 2,400W Max., VOC 12-150VDC, 12A
150v divided by 18v = 8.3 8 panels @ 18v = 144 volts -- This would probably be too close to the limit
7 panels might be the max --

Thoughts?
Good luck!!

 

[DThames]

Welcome aboard @Crooner88 -- we use the AC200 as well. Your new 300 specs indicate:

INPUT
AC Charging Cable Input: 3,000W Max.
Solar Input: 2,400W Max., VOC 12-150VDC, 12A
Car Input: 12/24V from Cigarette Lighter Port

Maximum Input:
5,400W, with AC and Solar Input Simultaneously

At first glance at the 300MAX you see the "solar" input is limited to 150 volts DC AND 12 amps of current. In other words, you have three limiting factors, total watts input limit, at 5,400 watts, voltage limited to 150 volts on the PV input and current limited to 12 amps on the PV input. You can read about this in the 300 users guide: link to download T -- The good stuff starts on page 19.

What really controls all this are the specs on the panels, Voltage and Current. A typical 200watt 12-volt panel might produce 18-volts at load and 12 amps of current. If you have the panels in series you see the voltage increase, if you have panels in parallel you see the amperage increase.

You might be able to do all this with the two inputs on the 300MAX. The B300 also has charging input, not as much as the 300MAX. Again, you will be limited by current and voltage.

Example, on the 300MAX with Solar Input: 2,400W Max., VOC 12-150VDC, 12A
150v divided by 18v = 8.3 8 panels @ 18v = 144 volts -- This would probably be too close to the limit
7 panels might be the max --

Thoughts?
Good luck!!

This came up recently on another thread (AC300). According to the owner, it has two MPPTs, so 12amp for each MPPT, if I understood correctly. Note 12amps and 150v make it impossible to get 2400w, so the discussion revealed two MPPTs.

 

[Atomicpunk]

There are 2 MPPT's (2 legs of MC4 connections into the AC300, 1 cable going to 4 x MC4 connections 2+ 2 -), with 12 Amps being a limit (but I have gone over with slight over-paneling) and voltage indirectly being a limiting factor (150Voc max). I've been running the AC300 with 4 batteries for 2 weeks and happy to say that for an hour or two each day I am producing at least 2200 watts with the 2 arrays that I have set-up going into each MPPT. (I have 3 x 450W Renogy's for each leg). One of the legs is directed to get more mid-morning sun. I think when the afternoon temp falls below 90 here in FL and the sun angle decreases, that I may approach close to 2400 watts for several hours (slight shading issue). I have reached 1235 watts on one leg, so the wattage of 1200 watts per leg is not a limiting factor, just the voltage and amps produced. I don't want to curse it, but the AC300 has been working like a charm. I was going to purchase the new Ecoflow system and even got the coupon for $1000 off, but the AC 300 with batteries went on sale. Good luck on your decision, @Crooner88