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I know it's a mess, want advice on how to proceed.

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  • I know it's a mess, want advice on how to proceed.

    6x100w renogy monocrystalline, 1x100w renogy polycrystalline, 4 of the 100 monos on a crappy 30a pwm, the others offline until I can get a charge controller to handle. 1x vmax 125ah 12v, 2x marine batteries. I know it's a screwed up system. I had the marine batteries already.

    I only use fewer than 400wh/day now, but I want to go up to being able to run an energy efficient refrigerator, say, fewer than 1750wh/ day. I am thinking my next purchase should be an mppt controller. I called renogy and asked if their 40a commander would handle the panels. They told me I would need to buy a 60 amp charge controller to handle the seven panels. I did the math and did not come up with the same number. My question to you is am I going down the right path? Is there anything else you would do first? This is my first post, so I apologize in advance for any faux pas I may be making in my post.
    Last edited by Skunkarific; 09-16-2016, 12:55 AM.

  • #2
    STOP buying stuff
    900wh is an efficient fridge, yours is roughly twice that. Look at the energy star models.
    The minimum battery bank to run only that fridge (900wh) is 4,500wh and you will need a pure sine inverter of about 1Kw to have enough surge to start the compressor.

    A single 6V 200ah golf cart battery is 1200wh, 4 in series to give 24V, is 4800wh, just about what you need.
    Look into making this a 24V system, that will be a good start. Wire 2 PV's in series into the PWM controller (if it's adjustable for 24v system)

    But instead of messing with the 100w panels, look to 3 or 4, 250w ballpark panel, about the same price, put a couple on a MPPT controller and you will be in much better shape,

    Much more planning is needed before you continue
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment


    • #3
      Assuming limited funds, and a 12v only pwm, in what order would you buy your recommendations?

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Skunkarific View Post
        Assuming limited funds, and a 12v only pwm, in what order would you buy your recommendations?
        I would shop for a pair of 250W panels (something in that ballpark, 200-300w) that are on sale, and wire in parallel, to the controller. You will then have good panels, throttled back by a PWM controller, but able to be expanded on in the future when you buy a MPPT controller. If you have choices of voltage, go with the lower voltage panels in the mid-high wattage range.
        The 250W class panels are built by the hundreds of thousands, and have good price point per watt, the 100w panels are not as good on the price points per watt.
        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment


        • #5
          By the way, thank you for sharing your knowledge. I really do appreciate it. I did have a question about your reply, while you are exactly right about the 250w panels being less expensive per watt, why not keep the 7 I have already bought? You may have overlooked that, or is there something so wrong with them I should throw them away?

          Comment


          • #6
            You didn't mention an inverter.
            Does your charge controller also do 24V
            You have 2, 12V batteries ?
            Then I would, if the controller can manage 24V system, wire 2 panels in series, to make them 24V gear, and wire the 3 series strings in parallel. (the odd panel, unused)
            You would then feed that to the controller and charge the 2 batteries in series, making a 24V 125ah bank.

            Then buy a 1,000W pure sine inverter and run your fridge from that. (till the batteries are ruined)
            12v 125ah = 1500wh total storage, half of which is usable. (750wh usable)
            panels could harvest 600W @ 24V = 25A, within the range of the controller, 3 hours of sunlight could recharge the batteries and run the fridge at the same time.

            Only new thing is a combiner box/fuses for the 3 parallel solar strings, and the 24VDC inverter And a new, efficient fridge.

            Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
            || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
            || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

            solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
            gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

            Comment


            • #7
              I didn't mention an inverter because you might die laughing, and I need you alive as a resource. Of course it's a 12V, and of course my charge controller is only a 12V. I have 3 12V batteries total wired in parallel for 375ah (4500wh), one is a vmax solar tank, two are marine batteries, all are 125ah.

              The fridge I have (I rechecked) takes 375kw/yr, or about 1kw/day.

              As my current PWM can only handle 30A, I was thinking of first getting an MPPT 40A controller and wiring the panels in parallel until I get new batteries and a proper 24V inverter. Is there a good thread here discussing controllers, or do you have a recommendation?

              Comment


              • #8
                I can give you a recommendation of a major name brand controller I know works, or you can gamble and play ebay and see what is in the box you open.

                Any controller from Morningstar, Midnight Solar, Xantrax, Trace, Schneider, would work well, within it's specified limits. There may be some other brands, like Tracer, Rogue, Blue Seas that work, but are not as advanced. Nearly all genuine MPPT controllers handle 12, 24 & 48V presets.

                Watch what options & features come standard, and what the extras cost, how easy is it to re-program, will the presets work with your battery brand? Special cables, meters, battery temperature sensor, remote voltage sense lines ?
                Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                Comment


                • #9
                  I got a Morningstar TS-60. With a 12V (for now) output, what voltage would you recommend go in it?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Morningstar TS-60
                    Is it the TS-60 or the TS-MPPT-60 ? They both look the same but one is PWM ($200) and the other is MPPT ($400)

                    If you have the PWM , it needs to have PV panels running 18 - 20V. That would be all panels in parallel.
                    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Your quick response saved me. I was under the impression it was an mppt controller....all the cool fins n stuff. Most of what I could find start at ~$560.00, I really liked the features, but winter is coming and I can't afford it. What about one like this: http://www.epsolarpv.com/en/index.ph.../573/am_id/136 ?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        That tracer is a true MPPT controller. What's happening with the rest of the system now ?
                        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          What's happening with the rest of the system? I want to propose another sticky, open thread. "Houseguests in a limited power dwelling." Came home last night to every possible electricity-draining device on. An hour later the inverter said "10.5VDC =shutoff. Of course we had the "this is the voltage meter, watch it, you'll damage the system if you run it low" discussion. No clear day in sight for a week. Looks like I'm lugging the batteries in to work to charge. Inb4 you say "generator" I, too, am a huge listeroid fan. Down the road.... Once I get the mppt, I'll wire the six panels series/parallel for a 24v input as you recommended. Thanks again for being here. I really appreciate it, and once I know what I'm doing will contribute to the teaching.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            > "Houseguests in a limited power dwelling."
                            not a thread, it's a horror movie - and the lights are really out.
                            And now I'm looking at the honda eu series, the 3000 or 7000 they can have remote start.
                            Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                            || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                            || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                            solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                            gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              I settled on the epever 40a (@24v) MPPT + MT-50 + battery temp sensor. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00YC...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

                              It's still very overcast, but I can see action even at sunset. I currently have 4 x 100w series/parallel at 24v. I have 2 more panels, but when I added them, nothing. I'm going to bring my VOM home tomorrow and check. If I have a bad diode, what are the renogy 100w monos likely to use?

                              Comment

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