Voltage of series connected panels

[Driver607]

Ok to start I have 20 12v 100w panels hooked in series they go into a sunny boy 6000 us inverter.so my question is the voltage should be 240v.the sunnyboy needs 300 to start up.so today I hooked the panels to the inverter and ended up having 380 to 400v.so now I'm worried about hitting the 600v max on the inverter and possibly hurting it.any thoughts and pointers would be a great help.

[littleharbor]

12 volt panels have a Vmp. of about 18 volts. 380 volts isn't unusual for 20 of them in series. Was it cold when you saw 380 volts?

You wont have to worry about the voltage going too high in this configuration.

[Driver607]

Thanks. I'm looking at getting another 10 panels soon im hoping that will keep me so I'm not paying anything and getting credit.

[Driver607]

When I saw 380 it was in the upper 70s low 80s outside also about 4pm in lower michigan

[bcroe]

Your highest voltage will be Voc at your lowest temp (20 below zero F in these parts), before the inverter
turns on. I would try to keep this below 500V. When the inverter turns on, the Vmp will be about 20%
lower than Voc. Bruce Roe

[Driver607]

Thanks