Missed some notifications sorry!
combiner box/breaker setup later, but it is very worth it.
I've been thinking on it, making up my own combiner box actually works out around the same price as in line fuses, only downside is an ugly white box shoved on the frame lol, using a fairly standard ip65 UK style consumer unit with slight modification and replaceable fuse type breakers. But then I thought it wasn't worth the hassle... now I don't know.
I've never experienced even a hint of excitement
I live in the UK... I probably wouldn't struggle to find a dull day if I had to disconnect, although I do already have a main manual disconnect fitted, just can't be seen in photo.
be careful with keeping your string current in check with proper conductor size.
I already had this in mind when burying my cable 800mm down in 3" conduit, Its 10mm SWA over 25 meters so more than capable whichever panel arrangement.
Can you add one more panel and go 3s3p?
....No, lol. its too much hassle, aside from these are somewhat "older" panels now, very difficult to find in the UK, I don't want any odd looking out of place panels, although I agree it would have been ideal. I build the frame specifically for 8 panels, and with the serious weather conditions up here I wouldn't want to stress it any more anyway.
Alternatively, replace the TriStar controller
Honestly really don't want to do this, I bought it brand new about a year back, its been in the box since, only now really getting things into action. Yes it would have been nice to have a victron that could communicate with my other victron equipment, but when it comes to charge controllers I put Morningstar in a different class to most.. so I would like to keep it.
BTW, I very much like that rear post/rod for adjusting array angle with the telescoping rod. Never thought of that. That appears to be an elegantly simple way to adjust the seasonal solar array position. Don't think I could make it work though with my rotating arrays.
Thank you, I mean in all honestly those 2 rear supports were an afterthought, after fully assembling without them I soon realised my box section etc was on the thin side, and the whole thing had too much twist and flex in it, those 2 rear supports solved all that and I haven't long had 60mph winds which it handled no problem at all.
Another fusing question, when fusing all 4 strings individually, would you still fit a main fuse after this handling the complete array?