Soldato
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its all according what the start up voltage is for your mppt's. i currently have 4 on my shed roof at 113v, my start up voltage is 75v... so all good
Solar panels and battery - any real world recommendations?
- Thread starter GinG
- Start date
And I have three on one string, but my startup voltage is around 62v at the most 
PW3 startup voltage is actually as low as 60v. so no problem at all with four panels, three panels, or even 2 panels so longs as they generate more than 30v which pretty much all decent sized ones do now.
PW3 startup voltage is actually as low as 60v. so no problem at all with four panels, three panels, or even 2 panels so longs as they generate more than 30v which pretty much all decent sized ones do now.
Soldato
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OK I'll just get a 200W Renogy for £120 off the bay then unless anyone has any reservations ? 
When you are talking about panel amounts, what sizes are you looking at? E.g. if the NE can only fit four, but you can fit the lager 1300x2400mm ones that are 650-700w each that is a big chunk of power that will easily have enough voltage to start the MPPT on the PW3.
Soldato
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And I have three on one string, but my startup voltage is around 62v at the most
PW3 startup voltage is actually as low as 60v. so no problem at all with four panels, three panels, or even 2 panels so longs as they generate more than 30v which pretty much all decent sized ones do now.
Oh thats odd the review I looked at earlier stated 150v but clicking through it also shows 60v startup on the spec sheet. Good spot.
Strange how the US version has 6x MPPT which you can pair but outside the US them seem to be fixed paired already.
I don't where or what system your installing apart from the MPPT and it's 12v, or your needs so it's a bit difficult to say, but a bigger panel will give more power, even in the winter, up to the limits of the MPPT.OK I'll just get a 200W Renogy for £120 off the bay then unless anyone has any reservations ?
Soldato
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Initially I want to build a system for trialling in the first instance
Location will the shed
Basic 12V leisure battery - again I don't know what to get
Circuit break the 12V battery and PV in - No idea what to use here
Isolate PV - With what ?
Wire Gauge - Thinking 6mm2 throughout ?
Solar Panel - ?
Charge Controller - Victron 100/20 SmartSolar MPPT (this is the only thing I have at the moment)
Load will be negligible around 10W to max 50W
The setup is for testing prior to going large
Seen plenty of videos and tbh some are very questionable - especially in some cases very poor cabling selection so any help would be much appreciated
Associate
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Hoping someone can educate me, im trying to understand the DIY process for doing most of the work myself but I am really missing something.
But when I look on my portal for PV data the amps get up to 14(A) at 3.4kw.
Edit
I am going to spend next couple of months researching info so not attempting anything unless I feel pretty confident.
But when I look on my portal for PV data the amps get up to 14(A) at 3.4kw.
Edit
I am going to spend next couple of months researching info so not attempting anything unless I feel pretty confident.
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Thank you, I wasn't aware there are bigger panels as an option. I got the number 4 from the nice tool that Heatable have on their website, where one can draw the different areas on their roof and the tool estimates how many panels will fit.
@SkyTerran @alphaomega16
The biggest bit of advice I can give, is to thoroughly research and understand how the system works, don't rush to buy anything until you understand, and know your requirements, otherwise you will make mistakes and you will waste money.
The DIY Solar forum has lots of great advice, and you'll get far more information there for building a DIY system.
In case you can't see signatures here a link to my DIY build thread.
forums.overclockers.co.uk
The biggest bit of advice I can give, is to thoroughly research and understand how the system works, don't rush to buy anything until you understand, and know your requirements, otherwise you will make mistakes and you will waste money.
The DIY Solar forum has lots of great advice, and you'll get far more information there for building a DIY system.
In case you can't see signatures here a link to my DIY build thread.
Ronski's Solar & battery DIY build with whole house backup
We already have 4kw of solar on our house roof, which was installed in December 2015, this is comprised of 16 panels witha Solaredge inverter and optimisers, and uses the best two roof's of the house. As some of you might be aware on the solar thread I've been looking into getting an additional...
forums.overclockers.co.uk
Soldato
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Guess I'm not getting much help here
Going for the Aiko Neostar 2 (460W).... I don't think the gen 3s are available yet
Last thing I need is the battery so please would a kind soul please recommend me one ?
Associate
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yeah ive seen your build thread but the numbers for the panel and max for inverter makes it seem like only 3-5 panels can connect to it.@SkyTerran @alphaomega16
The biggest bit of advice I can give, is to thoroughly research and understand how the system works, don't rush to buy anything until you understand, and know your requirements, otherwise you will make mistakes and you will waste money.
The DIY Solar forum has lots of great advice, and you'll get far more information there for building a DIY system.
In case you can't see signatures here a link to my DIY build thread.
Ronski's Solar & battery DIY build with whole house backup
We already have 4kw of solar on our house roof, which was installed in December 2015, this is comprised of 16 panels witha Solaredge inverter and optimisers, and uses the best two roof's of the house. As some of you might be aware on the solar thread I've been looking into getting an additional...
This lack of rain and nice weather is good for generation but my end panel on the first string is absolutely caked in pigeon droppings now. So much so that I'm losing half of the generation from that panel now.
It's annoying as the aerial faces south, so points inwards over that panel as the roof is south-east facing. I've got some bird spikes to remove the issue altogether, but I think it's got the point this year where rain might not be enough to clear it (when we eventually get some).
It's annoying as the aerial faces south, so points inwards over that panel as the roof is south-east facing. I've got some bird spikes to remove the issue altogether, but I think it's got the point this year where rain might not be enough to clear it (when we eventually get some).
I'm not sure what you mean by that???
The problem is, it's not simple, there is a lot of variables, and it seems you want us to design and specify a complete system for you. I've suggested reading up on the DIY Solar forum to educate yourself, if you're going to build it, then you need to understand exactly what's required. The DIY solar forum will be a far place to get the information you require.
Soldato
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You misunderstand, I'm not asking you to design anything, just give recommendations on preferred panels / batteries
Don't worry, I'll work it out
Subliminal Aura, this quote above is all you need to know about preferred panels really. Just check the specs are to your inverters satisfaction.
Not sure if anyone caught this but a real world string vs micro inverter test is underway.
Personally I think the guy is an absolute mad man for spending that much cash on 6 panels. It’s not like he will be making it back in YouTube money anytime soon. It’s an interesting experiment nonetheless. I’d have just bunged them all on a single string inverter with the north pitch also being done at the same time.
Personally I think the guy is an absolute mad man for spending that much cash on 6 panels. It’s not like he will be making it back in YouTube money anytime soon. It’s an interesting experiment nonetheless. I’d have just bunged them all on a single string inverter with the north pitch also being done at the same time.
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Associate
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in the image the panel says its Isc 15.86A but inverter takes max Isc 16A, will have to do a lot of reading up as im missing something.
I will have a proper look at that website you linked though in the beginners corner bit.
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I though that as well, he did get the panels fitted at cost, but that likely still quite a bit given the scaffolding etc. He didn't do the north roof due to export limitation, but I still would have done. He didn't do it because he also want to do them 50/50 string inverter/micro inverter.
At least someone is mad enough to experiment, and it will be interesting to see the results.
What image is that? Isc is the short circuit current that the panel can generate in a dead short.