need help sourcing correct components

[NochiLife]

Thanks you for the help, I was also thinking to set the panels up that way but was confused why the website was saying otherwise. I got the MPPT version of the controller and the previous owner already installed breakers on it to connect to the panels and then going to battery. Also I plan on upgrading to 48v in the future so I'll go with the 0 or 00 gauge from the battery to inverter, thanks. Sorry for taking long to respond but I'll have power soon to be able to comment regularly haha

Just a comment: if you're planning on upgrading to 48v in the future, you won't need super-heavy wiring; 3KW @ 48v is all of 62.5A, well within the range of 2 AWG wires. However, if you were planning on staying at 24v and going 3KW, you'd be wise to use bigger wires.
And, so you're aware, there's absolutely NOTHING wrong with using extra heavy wire (0 or 00)...it just hurts at the wallet level a bit more . Have fun, and be safe.

EDIT: Good on the MPPT. The Morningstar website only suggested "6 in parallel" if you had the PWM version; with the MPPT version selected, it suggested 2 panels in series.

[Mike90250]

I'm Assuming (since you are well above 300w) that you will be using a MPPT controller. Using 34V panels with a PWM controller with a 24v battery bank is not "bad" but you are working with some really heavy cabling for all the panels.

Anyway, I'd laid out the links for the gear in my earlier posts

[Mcmullen7242]

Thanks you for the help, I was also thinking to set the panels up that way but was confused why the website was saying otherwise. I got the MPPT version of the controller and the previous owner already installed breakers on it to connect to the panels and then going to battery. Also I plan on upgrading to 48v in the future so I'll go with the 0 or 00 gauge from the battery to inverter, thanks. Sorry for taking long to respond but I'll have power soon to be able to comment regularly haha

[NochiLife]

So I picked up everything. 6 of the Sharp panels in photo. A 1500w pure sine wave 24v. 4 agm 12v 120ah batteries. And a Tristar 45a control charger. I just need some help gathering the right wires and cables.
I used the Morningstar website and plugged in my panels and the controller I use and they told me to have the 6 panels in parallel. Is that correct?

Umm...I'm assuming that means you selected the "Tristar 45" product (the PWM charger), not the "Tristar MPPT-45" (the MPPT charger)? The TS-45 is a lot cheaper, but it's not an MPPT. IF you got the TS-MPPT-45 unit, then we're good; @Mike90250 suggested three parallel strings of two panels, which is what you'll probably need to go with. I was going to suggest two parallel strings of three panels in series until I checked the Morningstar calculator, and found that if I assumed a record low of -10F, the maximum voltage from the panels could *just* exceed the 150v limit of the MPPT.
For the breaker, since you will have to allow for nearly 100vDC, you need a breaker rated at LEAST for that high. DC arcs are hard to break, so an AC-rated breaker will NOT work here. I'd suggest something like this, rated 250vDC: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Low-voltage...s/173953388877
- Note that sizing the breaker's ampacity here is not terribly important, just make sure it's more than the maximum power you expect to get from the panels. 5.47A (short circuit per panel) * 3 (panels in parallel) = 16.41A (total maximum current)...you will PROBABLY be fine with a 16A breaker (as it will need way over 16A to trip), but a 32A would be better. Note that the panels' maximum power current and the short circuit current are SO close that a regular mechanical breaker cannot tell between the two. We're simply using the breaker as a disconnnect--it's hard to find switches rated for high DC voltage.
- Note that DC breakers are POLARITY SENSITIVE. Notice the "+" and "-" on top of the breaker in the listing linked above? That's important.

Also what size wires and connectors do I need to hook them up together and to get to the controller?

Pretty much all solar panels these days use MC4 cables (until littleharbor finds something else to surprise me with ). MC4 extensions can readily be found on eBay; I would suggest buying three (black) extensions of twice the length you need, and cut them in half. That way you can easily plug into the panels, and then wire the other ends to your solar panel breaker (above). Then you'll need some wire to go from the breaker to the MPPT charger; make sure it's rated for the 16A. (**Also, make SURE the polarity to the MPPT is correct BEFORE you turn it on. A multimeter can literally be a lifesaver...hopefully you have and know how to use one!)

Here's a link to MC4 cables already pre-cut and prepared for wiring up; not sure if you're into serious price-shopping, but this will work. You will need three sets of these. https://www.ebay.com/itm/10-12-AWG-M...r/163028287258
Whatever you get, just make sure it's MC4, and 12 or 10 AWG. Note that they make red/black pairs of MC4 cables--if you use my method (buy twice the length, cut them in half), you'll have some red wires on the negative line...and some black wires on the positive line, which will be terribly confusing.
(They do make triple combiners, where you'd only need one main set of MC4 cables. HOWEVER, 16A is a little high for that, not to mention the losses in the line to your breaker.)

also I looked up a chart for what cables I need from the battery to charger and it said to go with a gauge that can handle the max amp of the charger so that would be 11 gauge according to the chart.

I'll agree with Mike90250 on that one, that you should go with 8AWG. At the very least, it reduces voltage drop.

and then what would I need from the battery to the inverter?
i looked up a battery chart on how to get my batteries wired up so I got that down but is there a certain gauge cables I need or just any battery cables?

My 2 cents...you should be just fine with 2 AWG wire (rated 95A), as you only have a 1500W inverter. HOWEVER, if you are planning on upgrading to a bigger inverter/system down the road, just bite the bullet today, and get wire like Mike90250 suggested, 0 or 00 gauge; you'll save money in the long run. Don't use battery starter wire--that's dinky compared to what off-grid solar uses! I don't know what you'll need to mount to your batteries, but if they're bolt terminals, you'll need wires with ends on them. I personally used a blowtorch and soldered mine together, though you're probably better off buying cables with right ends already crimped on.

AND...breakers, breakers! If you ever melt down a lead acid battery, or heat a wrench cherry red, or (like me) blow your meter up by accident, you'll appreciate a breaker! Breaker on the inverter. Breaker on the MPPT to the battery (like Mike90250 suggested). At 24v, you might be able to get by with cheaper breakers (most are rated at up to 30vDC), but I'd make sure any breaker I used on a solar system has an adequate DC rating.

[Mike90250]

So, I invite you to research what putting 2 panels in series will do.
a) only need 3 combiner circuits (otherwise you need 6 breakers and a large box for them) use 10A 100VDC rated breakers
b) smaller PV cables
c) You will still have 40A from controller to batteries. That requires 8ga cable, not 11. Using a 50A breaker or fuse is handy to protect the battery cable from a fried/shorted controller.

https://lugsdirect.com/WireCurrentAmpacitiesNEC-Table-301-16.htm

d) every battery wire needs to be 1/0 and same with the wires to the inverter. 2/0 would be even better - less loss, but harder to work with.
e) you need a 130A 50VDC breaker on your + battery cable ( or the proper size breaker for the cable used ) Your inverter may specify cable size and breaker/fuse size needed.

[Mcmullen7242]

So I picked up everything. 6 of the Sharp panels in photo. A 1500w pure sine wave 24v. 4 agm 12v 120ah batteries. And a Tristar 45a control charger. I just need some help gathering the right wires and cables.
I used the Morningstar website and plugged in my panels and the controller I use and they told me to have the 6 panels in parallel. Is that correct? Also what size wires and connectors do I need to hook them up together and to get to the controller?
also I looked up a chart for what cables I need from the battery to charger and it said to go with a gauge that can handle the max amp of the charger so that would be 11 gauge according to the chart.
and then what would I need from the battery to the inverter?
i looked up a battery chart on how to get my batteries wired up so I got that down but is there a certain gauge cables I need or just any battery cables?

[Mcmullen7242]

Thank you guys for all the info, I am picking up the last of the things I need tomorrow and then getting to installing. Really appreciate all the help, learned a lot

[Mike90250]

[QUOTE=littleharbor;n401600]

They will work with ANY solar panels (unless there's some ridiculously high voltage panels I haven't heard of!)



Funny you would mention that. I came across this this morning. Series wiring not necessary

That's a thin film panel, and only good for 5 years, maybe

[littleharbor]

[QUOTE=NochiLife;n401602]

I feel lucky to have put a caveat on that statement after your find . Goodness, what in the world! You'd have to get the 600v Morningstar MPPT to use THAT one.

Notice it has a Maximum system voltage of 600 volts yet IF you were to series wire two of them you'd be looking at 1020+ Voc.

[NochiLife]

[QUOTE=littleharbor;n401600]

They will work with ANY solar panels (unless there's some ridiculously high voltage panels I haven't heard of!)



Funny you would mention that. I came across this this morning. Series wiring not necessary

Optisolar 365 watt panels 510 volts.jpg

I feel lucky to have put a caveat on that statement after your find . Goodness, what in the world! You'd have to get the 600v Morningstar MPPT to use THAT one.

[littleharbor]

[QUOTE=NochiLife;n401586]
They will work with ANY solar panels (unless there's some ridiculously high voltage panels I haven't heard of!)



Funny you would mention that. I came across this this morning. Series wiring not necessary

Optisolar 365 watt panels 510 volts.jpg

[NochiLife]

If you do get this controller I'd be real curious to find out if it does, in fact, boost the incoming amperage . The VOC limit of 50 volts leaves me wondering being that most 72 cell (24 volt nominal) PV panels have a VOC of approx. 45 volts at 25 degrees Celsius. Add cold weather to the equation and you have magic smoke, not magic MPPT.

I guess I didn't clarify my comments when posting the eBay listing--it is NOT an MPPT. They're just hijacking the term to get hits or purchases--with them admitting that it has "no inductance", it's a PWM charger.

Mcmullen7242 I personally have a Morningstar Tristar TS-MPPT-60. You won't go wrong with a Morningstar product, though they can be a little pricey. They will work with ANY solar panels (unless there's some ridiculously high voltage panels I haven't heard of!) Like Mike90250 pointed out, the question is how to wire your panels up to stay within the required MPPT input voltage range (above your battery voltage, and less than the 150VOC maximum), and keep losses to a minimum. Fanless design is really nice--they are so efficient that there is no cooling fan. Mine has never gotten too hot to touch.

MPPT controllers are rated at output amps, so their PV capacity changes as your battery voltage changes:

Using 1360 watts:
12V 113A
24V 56A
48V 28A
All the same PV array & controller, but different battery voltages.

Please note that all charge controllers have a maximum output current...if you got the 45A version, that's the OUTPUT current.
To try to elaborate on Mike90250's response:
If you have 1,360W of panels, that's dandy. However, if you have a 24v system, (1360W / 24v) = 56A. That means that you would either need TWO of the 45A MPPTs (or one 60A MPPT).
With the same 1,360W of panels and a 48v system, (1360W / 48v) = 28A--you'd be just fine with just the one 45A unit.

The reason I went with 48vDC on my system was because of how much those MPPT's cost--and at 48vDC, I only needed one 60A unit.

[Mike90250]

The Tristar MPPT 45 is a great controller. The Tristar MPPT 60 is even better because it got a great web interface for monitoring the system. And it handles 60A output.

MPPT controllers are rated at output amps, so their PV capacity changes as your battery voltage changes:

Using 1360 watts:
12V 113A
24V 56A
48V 28A
All the same PV array & controller, but different battery voltages.

And of course, the MFG's sizing chart is the final say.
For most conversion efficiency, 2x battery voltage is pretty good. But you may need higher voltage for long distance PV cable runs for less loss. It's all tradeoffs

[Glock24]

https://www.amazon.com/Morningstar-T...ws_feature_div

would this charger work with the 8-170 watt Sony panels?

Here's a nice tool from Morningstar to check the best way to connect your panels to the charge controller you want:

http://string-calculator.morningstarcorp.com/

It'll tell you if your configuration is appropriate.

[Mcmullen7242]

https://www.amazon.com/Morningstar-T...ws_feature_div

would this charger work with the 8-170 watt Sony panels?