Upgrade Solar Wire Guage for better

[Mohsin Ali]

Hello Everyone
I have used 12awg wire from solar panels to charge controller the total length of wire is 70 feet but I am not getting good result so I want to increase wire guage. Now can I attach another 12awg wire of same length with this wire in parallel? Will it work or I have to install sepàrate 8 or 10 awg wire and scrap this wire? P.S currently i have 3x180 watt & 1x330 watt panel connected in series (around 110 volts VOC)

 

[MisterSandals]

Now can I attach another 12awg wire of same length with this wire in parallel?

Yes but lets look at your array.

P.S currently i have 3x180 watt & 1x330 watt panel connected in series (around 110 volts VOC)

How are these wired, all in series?

What is Voc and Imp of both types of panels?

 

[wpns]

It may help (parallel wires will reduce voltage drop just like bigger wires) but that doesn’t sound like your problem.

What are your exact panel specs and charge controller details? AFAIK you can’t put different panels in series and get the results you seem to expect.

 

[Mohsin Ali]

@wpns @MisterSandals
2 x Apollo
1 x Inverex
1 x Jasco

 

[Mohsin Ali]

Mppt Specs
@MisterSandals @wpns

 

[MisterSandals]

Too blurry for me to read.

 

[Mohsin Ali]

Yes but lets look at your array.

How are these wired, all in series?

What is Voc and Imp of both types of panels?

Panel #1
Voc=25.35
Imp=8.88

Panel #2&3
Voc=22.6
Imp=9.84

Panel #4
Voc=47.45
Imp=9.04

All 4 wire in series

 

[MisterSandals]

The Imp is surprisingly close so the losses should be low.
What is the issue you are seeing?

 

[740GLE]

all of these panels are wired in series?

 

[wpns]

It should work, I don’t think I would upsize the wire. What kind of battery are you charging, and what results are you expecting compared to what results you actually get?

 

[Mohsin Ali]

The Imp is surprisingly close so the losses should be low.
What is the issue you are seeing?

The input current from Panel stays at 3 amps at 90 volts meaning only 270 watts compared to installed capacity of 880 watts (180+185x2+330) it should atleast produce 600 watts or more

 

[Mohsin Ali]

all of these panels are wired in series?

Yes

 

[Mohsin Ali]

It should work, I don’t think I would upsize the wire. What kind of battery are you charging, and what results are you expecting compared to what results you actually get?

Battery is small just 60ah Flooded but when load is running output of panels should increase like 6-7 amps at 90 volts but in reality it gives like 3~4 amps at 90ish volts

 

[wpns]

Battery is small just 60ah Flooded but when load is running output of panels should increase like 6-7 amps at 90 volts but in reality it gives like 3~4 amps at 90ish volts

What voltage battery?
How are you measuring input voltage/current/power and what's your output voltage/current/power at that time?
What's this load of which you speak?

 

[littleharbor2]

Do you have ANY shading on any panel? What angle are thy set at? Connect a large load and see what you get. Could be your battery is full, or nearly full at the time you're checking