| Author |
Hooking up panels of diffrent outputs
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| franklin.sr@gmail.com 2006-10-29, 9:25 pm |
| Hi there.
I have 4x 80w panels running in series and have 1x 60w panel which is
not currently being hooked up.
Is it possible to connect the 60w panel up in series with the 4x80
panel set up or do they all need to be the same output?
Cheers
Steve
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| All in series is OK.. same amps in the string.... make sure charge
controller can handle total voltage
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| Windsun 2006-10-30, 9:25 am |
| If you hook up a 60 in series with your 4 80's you will lose some power from
the 80's, but not sure if you will lose more than 60 watts or not.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
<franklin.sr@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1162177425.445247.209170@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
> Hi there.
>
> I have 4x 80w panels running in series and have 1x 60w panel which is
> not currently being hooked up.
>
>
> Is it possible to connect the 60w panel up in series with the 4x80
> panel set up or do they all need to be the same output?
>
>
> Cheers
> Steve
>
| |
| Anthony Matonak 2006-10-30, 1:25 pm |
| franklin.sr@gmail.com wrote:
> I have 4x 80w panels running in series and have 1x 60w panel which is
> not currently being hooked up.
>
> Is it possible to connect the 60w panel up in series with the 4x80
> panel set up or do they all need to be the same output?
As it has been explained to me, when you place mismatched panels
in series the total voltage will add up and the total amperage
will be limited to that of the panel which produces the least.
So, say your 80W panel is 12V @ 6.66A. Four of them in series
would give you some 48V @ 6.66A for 320W. The 60W is 12V @ 5A.
Add it to your series string and you'll have 60V @ 5A for some
300W. It looks like adding the 60W panel in this way will lose
you 20W.
You would probably be better off selling the 60W panel and
buying an 80W.
Anthony
| |
| Windsun 2006-10-31, 9:25 am |
| That is only "sort of" true when using an MPPT controller, which I assume
you are if you are going for high voltage series panels. You will see a
significant drop in amps from the 80 watt panels, but not totally down to
the rated value of the 60 watt panel.
We have never tried an actual hookup with multiple panels, but once we tried
a short circuit test 75 and a 60 in series, and what we got was about 5%
more than what the 60 would put out as short circuit current all alone.
If you have an MC60 controller this should be easy to test.
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"Anthony Matonak" <anthonym40@nothing.like.socal.rr.com> wrote in message
news:hpp1h.13683$8C4.6395@tornado.socal.rr.com...
> franklin.sr@gmail.com wrote:
> As it has been explained to me, when you place mismatched panels
> in series the total voltage will add up and the total amperage
> will be limited to that of the panel which produces the least.
>
> So, say your 80W panel is 12V @ 6.66A. Four of them in series
> would give you some 48V @ 6.66A for 320W. The 60W is 12V @ 5A.
> Add it to your series string and you'll have 60V @ 5A for some
> 300W. It looks like adding the 60W panel in this way will lose
> you 20W.
>
> You would probably be better off selling the 60W panel and
> buying an 80W.
>
> Anthony
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