Suggestions for use of 319V 100W Solar Panel?

[Allan Michaud]

Hive voltage brings the benefit of low amps (small wire) - look at the high voltage cross country transmission lines.

HOWEVER at 300+ Volts, you have to use an EXPENSIVE $800 MPPT controller that can accept that high voltage, and convert that down to a usable 12V.

I would suggest you trade those HV panels for something more normal.

You described an inverter that lowers the voltage to 14v for charging the battery. if you can tell us the model # and any info about that, it would be helpful.

It came with the panels from Germany and has no brand name on it. The shop said it would convert the voltage down to 14.5v 13.4a and the instructions with it (its headed "Solar Converter KR1212C") says to simply input from the panels and output to my charge controller (Victron energy MPPT 75/15 15a)
I have to get this all on a motorbike and bounce it around the jungle and this is the only realistic solution I can see for the price. All in, the panels and charge controller cost me USD 450. There are small foldup thin film ones with similar power but they are an insane $2,000

[LETitROLL]

I have recently acquired a 100Watt 319VDC (429VOC) flexible solar panel which I would like to use on my boat. I may buy more of these panels if I can find an affordable way to use them

The cost of high voltage MPPT controllers is prohibitively expensive with the Xantrex 80-600 at $1300 being the only one available that I know of....Therefore I was considering the following possiblities:

1. Go through a 230VAC UPS (UK model). "AC", input is quoted as 230V "RMS". That means a (sine wave) peak value of 230 x 1.414 Volts which is approx 325Volts. AC enters the SMPS through a filter and is rectified (turned to DC) and that voltage (325-ish minus a couple of volts across the rectifier) is stored on a "reservoir" capacitor. An input of 325V "DC" would amount to the same thing. Although perhaps the 429VOC would be a bit too overwhelming for the UPS which is designed for 230VAC UK mains power?

2. Use an invertor able to take this high dc voltage and convert to 230VAC UK mains voltage. Charge batteries from mains power. But is there a charge controller for the batteries which will run off of 230VAC?

3. Find a switch mode power supply able to convert 320VDC to 48VDC. So far I have not found any at an affordable price.

4.Cut the panels into 4 pieces and wire in parallel producing 80VDC. Use the cheaper 100V MPPT's.

What would people suggest?

That is alot of work and expense to just be able to run a small light bulb and charge a cell phone. If you are just experimenting and have low expectaions that is okay, if you really need power on your boat I hope you realize that you need different panels.

[Mike90250]

Hive voltage brings the benefit of low amps (small wire) - look at the high voltage cross country transmission lines.

HOWEVER at 300+ Volts, you have to use an EXPENSIVE $800 MPPT controller that can accept that high voltage, and convert that down to a usable 12V.

I would suggest you trade those HV panels for something more normal.

You described an inverter that lowers the voltage to 14v for charging the battery. if you can tell us the model # and any info about that, it would be helpful.

[Allan Michaud]

Hi,
I don't know if anyone is still interested, but I got one of these panels to use as a lightweight camping power supply charger, and needed to solve the high voltage problem. As I am a bit of an electronics geek and an embedded software writer I did that with DIY kit, ending up with an MPPT inverter which I built and programmed myself specifically for the panel. I could tell people about it, as well as the things I learned about what definitely will not work with this type of panel, if anyone is still interested?

I just bought 2 of these to use as a base camp set up in the jungle to trickle charge a small 45amp car battery.

They came with an inverter to convert to 14.4v, which I put in a box with a 15amp mppt charge controller so I could keep everything neat and tidy. I am fairly inexperienced in solar having only had a simple 5w unisolar panel for the past few years but it was enough for my purposes in the forest. Now i need more power, but these things are a little bit scary at 319v.

Can anyone advise me on wiring these up? As the voltage is so high and the amps so low coming out of the panels, I believe I can use a very small cable to reach the inverter.
I am in Cambodia and am having trouble finding anyone who really knows what they are doing, but from what I understand even 1mm cable would be overkill.

4.5m from the end of each panel to the inverter so my calculation was 9m x 0.39 amps x 0.017 = 0.06v, which is nowhere near even 1% loss

Locals have suggested anything from 4mm to what I can only describe as ultra cheap 'bell wire'.

Would anyone be kind enough to tell what is correct? Can I really get away with 1mm cable?

[jflorey2]

What would people suggest?

Get another panel. 300 volts on a boat deck? Yikes.

[Sunking]

Not a panel anyone, even pros would use. Just too dang dangerous. At 300 volts @ 100 watts is enough to kill you instantly. All it takes is walking go outside with the damn thing into sunlight and touch the wires. All is takes in 10 ma to kill you, and this panel generates 33 ma @ 300 volts. 300 volts is more than enough voltage to push 10 ma into a human body.

One good use you could try with your kids as punishment is to connect one lead to one ear, and the other lead to another ear. 30 ma through the brain would not kill you, but give you one good attitude adjustment. But 30 ma through the heart is instant death and untraceable. Perfect tool for a murder.

[Evanspatrick]

Hi,
I don't know if anyone is still interested, but I got one of these panels to use as a lightweight camping power supply charger, and needed to solve the high voltage problem. As I am a bit of an electronics geek and an embedded software writer I did that with DIY kit, ending up with an MPPT inverter which I built and programmed myself specifically for the panel. I could tell people about it, as well as the things I learned about what definitely will not work with this type of panel, if anyone is still interested?

[Sunking]

Maybe the op just missed the decimal point. I think a standard 24 V panel is being described. No high voltage conversion required.

Edit: Never mind, I see that this is a real thing.

Completely useless product. Th edesign is made to use directly to high voltage GTI's, not intended for battery systems. Last thing you want is Thin Film panels. 5 years you will be replacing it.

[SunEagle]

Maybe the op just missed the decimal point. I think a standard 24 V panel is being described. No high voltage conversion required.

Edit: Never mind, I see that this is a real thing.

Similar technology to the Uni-Solar panels. High voltage, low amps, low wattage.

And the kicker is short life due to lack of cooling unless it is mounted on a flat piece of sheet metal raised above the roof so the back can be ventilated. Big expense for moderate output.

[sensij]

Maybe the op just missed the decimal point. I think a standard 24 V panel is being described. No high voltage conversion required.

Edit: Never mind, I see that this is a real thing.

[steve p]

solar roll

I have recently acquired a 100Watt 319VDC (429VOC) flexible solar panel which I would like to use on my boat. I may buy more of these panels if I can find an affordable way to use them

The cost of high voltage MPPT controllers is prohibitively expensive with the Xantrex 80-600 at $1300 being the only one available that I know of....Therefore I was considering the following possiblities:

1. Go through a 230VAC UPS (UK model). "AC", input is quoted as 230V "RMS". That means a (sine wave) peak value of 230 x 1.414 Volts which is approx 325Volts. AC enters the SMPS through a filter and is rectified (turned to DC) and that voltage (325-ish minus a couple of volts across the rectifier) is stored on a "reservoir" capacitor. An input of 325V "DC" would amount to the same thing. Although perhaps the 429VOC would be a bit too overwhelming for the UPS which is designed for 230VAC UK mains power?

2. Use an invertor able to take this high dc voltage and convert to 230VAC UK mains voltage. Charge batteries from mains power. But is there a charge controller for the batteries which will run off of 230VAC?

3. Find a switch mode power supply able to convert 320VDC to 48VDC. So far I have not found any at an affordable price.

4.Cut the panels into 4 pieces and wire in parallel producing 80VDC. Use the cheaper 100V MPPT's.

What would people suggest?

DC-DC 400W step down controller converter high voltage 319V to 12V is what i have just bought from ebay for my solar roll

[Mike90250]

What do you mean by ""neuter?

a) either find a PWM controller that can handle 300VDC without burning up (you loose 80% of the wattage this way, highly neutered)

b) pry open the junction box, and hope you can access the panel interconnects, and tap into them

Minute you take a knife to the backing and cut up the panel, you void the warranty, break the hermetic seal, and the death clock starts ticking on the panel.

Best is to trade it off for some normal panels.

You could possibly charge a 280V battery in the UPS, and get your AC from that. There may be a "crowbar" style regulator from a Wind Generator, that could operate in that voltage range to keep from overcharging the battery, if you cannot trade the panel for more normal ones, this would be your best hope. Something like 20ea, 20ah motorcycle batteries, might work, but what a pain to wire up and anchor down. And VERY dangerous voltages.

[Geegrrl]

do

effectively neuter the panel to less than 100 watts.

What do you mean by ""neuter?

Would cutting the panel into 4 pieces connected in parallel to produce 80VDC qualify as neutering? If so is the soldering of flexible amorphous cells as straightforward as regular cells?

Are there problems associated with DIY flexible cell soldering?

The 600VDC high voltage MPPT solution is just too pricey at $1300 plus shipping to the UK. Unless anyone knows of a less expensive one?

[Mike90250]

You WILL need a MPPT controller, or effectively neuter the panel to less than 100 watts. A conventional inverter will load the panel too much, and it's voltage will "collapse" and you get nothing at full sun. PV panels are CURRENT sources, and that makes a big difference.

[Geegrrl]

I have recently acquired a 100Watt 319VDC (429VOC) flexible solar panel which I would like to use on my boat. I may buy more of these panels if I can find an affordable way to use them

The cost of high voltage MPPT controllers is prohibitively expensive with the Xantrex 80-600 at $1300 being the only one available that I know of....Therefore I was considering the following possiblities:

1. Go through a 230VAC UPS (UK model). "AC", input is quoted as 230V "RMS". That means a (sine wave) peak value of 230 x 1.414 Volts which is approx 325Volts. AC enters the SMPS through a filter and is rectified (turned to DC) and that voltage (325-ish minus a couple of volts across the rectifier) is stored on a "reservoir" capacitor. An input of 325V "DC" would amount to the same thing. Although perhaps the 429VOC would be a bit too overwhelming for the UPS which is designed for 230VAC UK mains power?

2. Use an invertor able to take this high dc voltage and convert to 230VAC UK mains voltage. Charge batteries from mains power. But is there a charge controller for the batteries which will run off of 230VAC?

3. Find a switch mode power supply able to convert 320VDC to 48VDC. So far I have not found any at an affordable price.

4.Cut the panels into 4 pieces and wire in parallel producing 80VDC. Use the cheaper 100V MPPT's.

What would people suggest?