what power to expect

[jerrys resort]

I have built a cabin in the woods, I have 8-100 watt panels I bought from Harbor Freight, wired in pairs(series), and 4 pair in parallel . I have these hooked to a Bluetti AC200P. Through the summer months I was getting 365-385 watts per hour.... this seems really low...any ideas suggestions???? thanks
om

 

[MurphyGuy]

Maybe they're not angled correctly to the sun? Shading? Even a small amount of shading will kill a panel's output.

 

[robby]

Put your info in here and check your actual values against the data it produces.
https://pvwatts.nrel.gov
They should be close, if not you probably have shading issues or the panels are not oriented properly.

 

[Hardergamer1]

Depending on where you are, I would use PVGIS to work out the needed angles and direction. https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/pvgis-photovoltaic-geographical-information-system_en

 

[crossy]

What are the specs of your panels? (Just post a photo of the data plate)

Are your panels far from the Bluetti? Wire size?

As a Brit "in the woods" suggests that trees may be involved, so I'd also be looking at shading issues.

 

[Bud Martin]

I have built a cabin in the woods, I have 8-100 watt panels I bought from Harbor Freight, wired in pairs(series), and 4 pair in parallel . I have these hooked to a Bluetti AC200P. Through the summer months I was getting 365-385 watts per hour.... this seems really low...any ideas suggestions???? thanks
om

What is the spec of the panel?
Is this the one you have?

https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/57000-57999/57325-792363573252.pdf

Vmp is 18V imp is 5.56A (18V x 5.56A = 100W).

So your setup for 8 panels is 2s4p that means the Imp will be 4 x 5.56A = 22.24A but the AC200p is limited to 12A (it will not pull more than 12A from the panels) according to the spec (https://www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-ac200p-2000wh-2000w-portable-power-station)
Solar Input: 700W Max., VOC 35-150V, 12A.
That means your setup will have calculated max power off 36Vmp x 12A = 432W (will be less in the real world, you indicate 365 ~ 385W) due to input current limit, you need to raise the Vmp up to get more power, since you have 8 panels, then you can try 4s2p which will give you 72Vmp x 11.12A = 800W, the AC200p will limit it to 700W.

 

[jerrys resort]

What is the spec of the panel?
Is this the one you have?

https://manuals.harborfreight.com/manuals/57000-57999/57325-792363573252.pdf

Vmp is 18V imp is 5.56A (18V x 5.56A = 100W).

So your setup for 8 panels is 2s4p that means the Imp will be 4 x 5.56A = 22.24A but the AC200p is limited to 12A (it will not pull more than 12A from the panels) according to the spec (https://www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-ac200p-2000wh-2000w-portable-power-station)
Solar Input: 700W Max., VOC 35-150V, 12A.
That means your setup will have calculated max power off 36Vmp x 12A = 432W (will be less in the real world, you indicate 365 ~ 385W) due to input current limit, you need to raise the Vmp up to get more power, since you have 8 panels, then you can try 4s2p which will give you 72Vmp x 11.12A = 800W, the AC200p will limit it to 700W.

December 24, 9:50 PM,,,I JUST FOUND YOUR REPLY====THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I AM SUCH A DUMB S***T, everything makes cents...I should have figured it out myself....I will make the wiring change the first warm day...thanks again jk

 

[jerrys resort]

Maybe they're not angled correctly to the sun? Shading? Even a small amount of shading will kill a panel's output.

thanks for your reply.. i need to change wiring to 4 in series, not 2... ac200p has 12 amp limit input....

 

[Bud Martin]

December 24, 9:50 PM,,,I JUST FOUND YOUR REPLY====THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU I AM SUCH A DUMB S***T, everything makes cents...I should have figured it out myself....I will make the wiring change the first warm day...thanks again jk

Please do the follow-up so it will be helpful to other people too, thanks.