Solar Panels

[IAMJAMESMANNION]

Hey there

So I'm stuck pondering this..... how to wire up my solar. I have 120 Panasonic hit 330 panels to cable up. Now I don't know what controllers to use with this setup and I can't decide on what series and parallel with the panels.

I have seen Schneider mppt 80-600 controllers but reading the tech sheet I believe I'm gonna need a few! Am I getting this right?

Any advice on what you guys have done or would do is greatly received ?

 

[kennl]

Hey there

So I'm stuck pondering this..... how to wire up my solar. I have 120 Panasonic hit 330 panels to cable up. Now I don't know what controllers to use with this setup and I can't decide on what series and parallel with the panels.

I have seen Schneider mppt 80-600 controllers but reading the tech sheet I believe I'm gonna need a few! Am I getting this right?

Any advice on what you guys have done or would do is greatly received ?

Your limit with the 80-600 is 80 amps at what ever voltage your battery bank is. It can only output 80A max your panels are hgh voltage so the 600v rating is a plus.

1980w at 24v nominal(t will actually be higher when you batteries are at the top of their voltage range) and double that at 48v. you have almost 40kw of panels so yes your going to need a boat load of charge controllers. If your trying to store all that I'd go with traction batteries myself and wouldn't be using 2nd hand cells imho if that was your plan.

As for panel grouping 6s2p per controller or 10s off the top of my head. That 6s2p will put you high on amps depending on your location. There's a lot of factors when sizing and configuring solar. Change that 10s to 8s your panels push just shy of 70v open circuit.

 

[AZ_Tekkie]

Hey there

So I'm stuck pondering this..... how to wire up my solar. I have 120 Panasonic hit 330 panels to cable up. Now I don't know what controllers to use with this setup and I can't decide on what series and parallel with the panels.

I have seen Schneider mppt 80-600 controllers but reading the tech sheet I believe I'm gonna need a few! Am I getting this right?

Any advice on what you guys have done or would do is greatly received ?

are you being serious? You have almost 40kw of panels? That's a huge install, i couldn't even fit that many on my property lol. Good luck with the install, hope you make some videos on your project.

 

[daromer]

That is alot yes!
First are you going to only charge battery with it? Not selling anything?

First you need to decide on above. Then you go after the total how to set it up. With this size of array i recommend atleast HVDC where you try to get up to 4-600VDC on the lines in. Otherwise you need thick as hell wires!!

Then you look for HVDC stuff and the get enough of them that suits you. You will need a handfull yes.. All betwen 4 and 16 depending on which one you choose.

 

[IAMJAMESMANNION]

Hi guys

Yes I am honestly being serious. I am building a home for life, its off grid so investing the money in solar and batteries hahah Also 120 Panels is where I hope to be in 18months time! Im looking at potentially increasing in the future.

I was thinking high voltage to lower the amps, keep the cable thickness down. Certainly make it a lot easier to route into my power room. Like everything though I am open to suggestion. Spending time now getting it right means no costly mistakes later.

So taking into account what you guys are saying!

Mppt 80-600 technical spec quotes this: 195v-550v Operating with a Max Array voltage of 600v, 35Amps (STC 28A) Max output of 4800w at 48v.

So should I say in saying Standard Test Conditions is basically what I should work to at most to be safe and with the panasonic n330 which is 58v, 5.7A, 330w do this:

10s4p to give me on paper (i live in the uk so probably could say Ill get 50-60%)580v, 22.8A, 13,200w to one Schneider 80-600 MPPT

which works well with my idea of 120 panels as I would have 3 groups of 10s4p fed back to 3 80-600 MPPT's each group getting there own.

Or have I missed something and actually there is a better way of setting this up or a better PV Controller for the job?

Like always I cant thank you guys enough for taking your time to work this out with me!

 

[IAMJAMESMANNION]

Just want to add, been reading schneider technical documents and I should be using the words arrays and clusters which to most of you guys probably would help out understand what I have said above hahahaha so:

120 panels divided into 40 panel arrays, total of 3 arrays 10s4p (580v, 22.8A, 13,200ws) going to a cluster of 3 80-600 MPPT's. Now would I now need a DC combiner before going to the inverter/cluster of inverters?

---

Hmm looks potentially like I may need a BOS (Balance of System Module)?

 

[kennl]

Hi guys

Yes I am honestly being serious. I am building a home for life, its off grid so investing the money in solar and batteries hahah Also 120 Panels is where I hope to be in 18months time! Im looking at potentially increasing in the future.

I was thinking high voltage to lower the amps, keep the cable thickness down. Certainly make it a lot easier to route into my power room. Like everything though I am open to suggestion. Spending time now getting it right means no costly mistakes later.

So taking into account what you guys are saying!

Mppt 80-600 technical spec quotes this: 195v-550v Operating with a Max Array voltage of 600v, 35Amps (STC 28A) Max output of 4800w at 48v.

So should I say in saying Standard Test Conditions is basically what I should work to at most to be safe and with the panasonic n330 which is 58v, 5.7A, 330w do this:

10s4p to give me on paper (i live in the uk so probably could say Ill get 50-60%)580v, 22.8A, 13,200w to one Schneider 80-600 MPPT

which works well with my idea of 120 panels as I would have 3 groups of 10s4p fed back to 3 80-600 MPPT's each group getting there own.

Or have I missed something and actually there is a better way of setting this up or a better PV Controller for the job?

Like always I cant thank you guys enough for taking your time to work this out with me!

you really need to read up on how to size a solar setup. You hit one of those charge controllers with 13.2 kw your not going to be able to put that in your batteries at 48vdc.


13,000/48=270A your controller can not convert that.

There's a lot more to solar then just slapping a bunch of parts together. You need to understand the limits of each component and buy parts that work together. Please read my first reply I have been at this for many years and have studied it even longer. A good starting point would be builditsolar dot com.

---

http://electrical-engineering-porta...ate-size-of-solar-panel-battery-bank-inverter

Try this

 

[IAMJAMESMANNION]

Hi guys

Yes I am honestly being serious. I am building a home for life, its off grid so investing the money in solar and batteries hahah Also 120 Panels is where I hope to be in 18months time! Im looking at potentially increasing in the future.

I was thinking high voltage to lower the amps, keep the cable thickness down. Certainly make it a lot easier to route into my power room. Like everything though I am open to suggestion. Spending time now getting it right means no costly mistakes later.

So taking into account what you guys are saying!

Mppt 80-600 technical spec quotes this: 195v-550v Operating with a Max Array voltage of 600v, 35Amps (STC 28A) Max output of 4800w at 48v.

So should I say in saying Standard Test Conditions is basically what I should work to at most to be safe and with the panasonic n330 which is 58v, 5.7A, 330w do this:

10s4p to give me on paper (i live in the uk so probably could say Ill get 50-60%)580v, 22.8A, 13,200w to one Schneider 80-600 MPPT

which works well with my idea of 120 panels as I would have 3 groups of 10s4p fed back to 3 80-600 MPPT's each group getting there own.

Or have I missed something and actually there is a better way of setting this up or a better PV Controller for the job?

Like always I cant thank you guys enough for taking your time to work this out with me!

you really need to read up on how to size a solar setup. You hit one of those charge controllers with 13.2 kw your not going to be able to put that in your batteries at 48vdc.


13,000/48=270A your controller can not convert that.

There's a lot more to solar then just slapping a bunch of parts together. You need to understand the limits of each component and buy parts that work together. Please read my first reply I have been at this for many years and have studied it even longer. A good starting point would be builditsolar dot com.

---

http://electrical-engineering-porta...ate-size-of-solar-panel-battery-bank-inverter

Try this

---

Batteries would be hanging off a Conext XW+ well actually batteries will be spilt into banks hanging of a multi conext xw+ setup so they will be safe!

I have been reading but to be honest even big name companies turn fuzzy once you say your going big with how to construct your arrays and clusters and simply point you to pretty pictures. Using the technical data I thought I was on the right track with the arrays back to mppt's?

 

[AZ_Tekkie]

Hi guys

Yes I am honestly being serious. I am building a home for life, its off grid so investing the money in solar and batteries hahah Also 120 Panels is where I hope to be in 18months time! Im looking at potentially increasing in the future.

I was thinking high voltage to lower the amps, keep the cable thickness down. Certainly make it a lot easier to route into my power room. Like everything though I am open to suggestion. Spending time now getting it right means no costly mistakes later.

So taking into account what you guys are saying!

Mppt 80-600 technical spec quotes this: 195v-550v Operating with a Max Array voltage of 600v, 35Amps (STC 28A) Max output of 4800w at 48v.

So should I say in saying Standard Test Conditions is basically what I should work to at most to be safe and with the panasonic n330 which is 58v, 5.7A, 330w do this:

10s4p to give me on paper (i live in the uk so probably could say Ill get 50-60%)580v, 22.8A, 13,200w to one Schneider 80-600 MPPT

which works well with my idea of 120 panels as I would have 3 groups of 10s4p fed back to 3 80-600 MPPT's each group getting there own.

Or have I missed something and actually there is a better way of setting this up or a better PV Controller for the job?

Like always I cant thank you guys enough for taking your time to work this out with me!

you really need to read up on how to size a solar setup. You hit one of those charge controllers with 13.2 kw your not going to be able to put that in your batteries at 48vdc.


13,000/48=270A your controller can not convert that.

There's a lot more to solar then just slapping a bunch of parts together. You need to understand the limits of each component and buy parts that work together. Please read my first reply I have been at this for many years and have studied it even longer. A good starting point would be builditsolar dot com.

---

http://electrical-engineering-porta...ate-size-of-solar-panel-battery-bank-inverter

Try this

---

Batteries would be hanging off a Conext XW+ well actually batteries will be spilt into banks hanging of a multi conext xw+ setup so they will be safe!

I have been reading but to be honest even big name companies turn fuzzy once you say your going big with how to construct your arrays and clusters and simply point you to pretty pictures. Using the technical data I thought I was on the right track with the arrays back to mppt's?

---

Most charge controllers should have some sort of table to size out the system. Here's an example from morning star. http://string-calculator.morningstarcorp.com/

You just choose your panel, or enter in custom stats, pick their product and it will tell you the configuration options. With 120 panels though your probably going to need 10+ charge controllers even with the high voltage models.

 

[not2bme]

Have you read this guy's build? He's the only other guy that I've known to have a setup like you're suggesting and still not have enough power to power his house for more than 2 days. Somehow he must run both the a/c and the heater at the same time....

 

[IAMJAMESMANNION]

Hi guys

Yes I am honestly being serious. I am building a home for life, its off grid so investing the money in solar and batteries hahah Also 120 Panels is where I hope to be in 18months time! Im looking at potentially increasing in the future.

I was thinking high voltage to lower the amps, keep the cable thickness down. Certainly make it a lot easier to route into my power room. Like everything though I am open to suggestion. Spending time now getting it right means no costly mistakes later.

So taking into account what you guys are saying!

Mppt 80-600 technical spec quotes this: 195v-550v Operating with a Max Array voltage of 600v, 35Amps (STC 28A) Max output of 4800w at 48v.

So should I say in saying Standard Test Conditions is basically what I should work to at most to be safe and with the panasonic n330 which is 58v, 5.7A, 330w do this:

10s4p to give me on paper (i live in the uk so probably could say Ill get 50-60%)580v, 22.8A, 13,200w to one Schneider 80-600 MPPT

which works well with my idea of 120 panels as I would have 3 groups of 10s4p fed back to 3 80-600 MPPT's each group getting there own.

Or have I missed something and actually there is a better way of setting this up or a better PV Controller for the job?

Like always I cant thank you guys enough for taking your time to work this out with me!

you really need to read up on how to size a solar setup. You hit one of those charge controllers with 13.2 kw your not going to be able to put that in your batteries at 48vdc.


13,000/48=270A your controller can not convert that.

There's a lot more to solar then just slapping a bunch of parts together. You need to understand the limits of each component and buy parts that work together. Please read my first reply I have been at this for many years and have studied it even longer. A good starting point would be builditsolar dot com.

---

http://electrical-engineering-porta...ate-size-of-solar-panel-battery-bank-inverter

Try this

---

Batteries would be hanging off a Conext XW+ well actually batteries will be spilt into banks hanging of a multi conext xw+ setup so they will be safe!

I have been reading but to be honest even big name companies turn fuzzy once you say your going big with how to construct your arrays and clusters and simply point you to pretty pictures. Using the technical data I thought I was on the right track with the arrays back to mppt's?

---

Most charge controllers should have some sort of table to size out the system. Here's an example from morning star. http://string-calculator.morningstarcorp.com/

You just choose your panel, or enter in custom stats, pick their product and it will tell you the configuration options. With 120 panels though your probably going to need 10+ charge controllers even with the high voltage models.

---

Have you read this guy's build? He's the only other guy that I've known to have a setup like you're suggesting and still not have enough power to power his house for more than 2 days. Somehow he must run both the a/c and the heater at the same time....

Thanks to both of you! Never come across either of these links!

I did notice a mistake to my above post though. Schneider's documentation was a little sneaky. They one page had the use of a mppt 80-600 but when stepping up to a larger array replaced the controller with a Conext CL which looking at the diagram handles the change from DC to AC. Which the takes provides a AC in to the XW+ which is now making more sense how you would protect your battery bank.

Checking those links out now

 

[kennl]

Hi guys

Yes I am honestly being serious. I am building a home for life, its off grid so investing the money in solar and batteries hahah Also 120 Panels is where I hope to be in 18months time! Im looking at potentially increasing in the future.

I was thinking high voltage to lower the amps, keep the cable thickness down. Certainly make it a lot easier to route into my power room. Like everything though I am open to suggestion. Spending time now getting it right means no costly mistakes later.

So taking into account what you guys are saying!

Mppt 80-600 technical spec quotes this: 195v-550v Operating with a Max Array voltage of 600v, 35Amps (STC 28A) Max output of 4800w at 48v.

So should I say in saying Standard Test Conditions is basically what I should work to at most to be safe and with the panasonic n330 which is 58v, 5.7A, 330w do this:

10s4p to give me on paper (i live in the uk so probably could say Ill get 50-60%)580v, 22.8A, 13,200w to one Schneider 80-600 MPPT

which works well with my idea of 120 panels as I would have 3 groups of 10s4p fed back to 3 80-600 MPPT's each group getting there own.

Or have I missed something and actually there is a better way of setting this up or a better PV Controller for the job?

Like always I cant thank you guys enough for taking your time to work this out with me!

you really need to read up on how to size a solar setup. You hit one of those charge controllers with 13.2 kw your not going to be able to put that in your batteries at 48vdc.


13,000/48=270A your controller can not convert that.

There's a lot more to solar then just slapping a bunch of parts together. You need to understand the limits of each component and buy parts that work together. Please read my first reply I have been at this for many years and have studied it even longer. A good starting point would be builditsolar dot com.

---

http://electrical-engineering-porta...ate-size-of-solar-panel-battery-bank-inverter

Try this

---

Batteries would be hanging off a Conext XW+ well actually batteries will be spilt into banks hanging of a multi conext xw+ setup so they will be safe!

I have been reading but to be honest even big name companies turn fuzzy once you say your going big with how to construct your arrays and clusters and simply point you to pretty pictures. Using the technical data I thought I was on the right track with the arrays back to mppt's?

---

Most charge controllers should have some sort of table to size out the system. Here's an example from morning star. http://string-calculator.morningstarcorp.com/

You just choose your panel, or enter in custom stats, pick their product and it will tell you the configuration options. With 120 panels though your probably going to need 10+ charge controllers even with the high voltage models.

---

Have you read this guy's build? He's the only other guy that I've known to have a setup like you're suggesting and still not have enough power to power his house for more than 2 days. Somehow he must run both the a/c and the heater at the same time....

Thanks to both of you! Never come across either of these links!

I did notice a mistake to my above post though. Schneider's documentation was a little sneaky. They one page had the use of a mppt 80-600 but when stepping up to a larger array replaced the controller with a Conext CL which looking at the diagram handles the change from DC to AC. Which the takes provides a AC in to the XW+ which is now making more sense how you would protect your battery bank.

Checking those links out now

---

Nice inverter. 3 phase, 2/4 string mppt and no charge controllers needed. Now we're talking :shy:

 

[Korishan]

Ugh, please don't include past comments in the quote that have been replied to already. You don't have to quote the entire post every time, or press the "Reply" button when you want to reply. Just add your comment to the bottom with the "Quick Reply". I have almost a full page of past quotes that keep building up, and I view at 20 posts per page. I'm following this thread and it makes it hard to follow what's being said.

Thanks.

 

[kennl]

better? most forums I'm on don't keep adding the previous replies when your reply. Now I know how to get past that.I too found it irritating.