Londonboii
Free Member
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- 42
Sorry if this has come up before but when looking through various posts online I cant really find a clear answer to what is the best way forward. I believe I understand the issues but I dont know the best way forward.
I currently have 2x 160w solar panels connected to a ring rsdc30 controller. Panels are connected in parralel on the roof then 2 cables go to the controller. All wire is 4mm. I want to add 2 x 185W panels to the roof and I am not sure what is the best way to add these in to my setup. I have bought a victron mppt controller 100/50 as the ring controller wouldnt take the wattage according to the spec sheet.
1= If I connect them in parallel to the existing 2 I believe I would need to upgrade to thicker wires and would lose some of the additional power from the 185W panels? It would just be as if I had 4 of the 160w panels? Higher total amperage may mean I need to increase the diameter of the wire?
2= Would it then be best to wire them all in series? I could keep the wiring 4mm but the amperage would be lower, which will slow down how fast the batteries charge?
3= should I leave the existing panels as they are and then wire the 2 new in series also. Then connect the 2 pairs of panels in parallel?
4= I could leave the ring setup as it is and simply add the 2 new panels with the victron in to the batteries also?
All these options for setting this up is confusing and have negatives so its difficult to know which would be best.
185w specs:
Max Power Voltage. 18V
Max Power Current. 10.3A
Open Circuit Voltage. 21.6V
Short Circuit Current. 11.2A
160w specs:
Maximum power voltage: 18.8V
Maximum power current: 8.48A
Open circuit voltage: 22.9V
Short circuit current: 9.02A
Sorry for the lengthy post.
I currently have 2x 160w solar panels connected to a ring rsdc30 controller. Panels are connected in parralel on the roof then 2 cables go to the controller. All wire is 4mm. I want to add 2 x 185W panels to the roof and I am not sure what is the best way to add these in to my setup. I have bought a victron mppt controller 100/50 as the ring controller wouldnt take the wattage according to the spec sheet.
1= If I connect them in parallel to the existing 2 I believe I would need to upgrade to thicker wires and would lose some of the additional power from the 185W panels? It would just be as if I had 4 of the 160w panels? Higher total amperage may mean I need to increase the diameter of the wire?
2= Would it then be best to wire them all in series? I could keep the wiring 4mm but the amperage would be lower, which will slow down how fast the batteries charge?
3= should I leave the existing panels as they are and then wire the 2 new in series also. Then connect the 2 pairs of panels in parallel?
4= I could leave the ring setup as it is and simply add the 2 new panels with the victron in to the batteries also?
All these options for setting this up is confusing and have negatives so its difficult to know which would be best.
185w specs:
Max Power Voltage. 18V
Max Power Current. 10.3A
Open Circuit Voltage. 21.6V
Short Circuit Current. 11.2A
160w specs:
Maximum power voltage: 18.8V
Maximum power current: 8.48A
Open circuit voltage: 22.9V
Short circuit current: 9.02A
Sorry for the lengthy post.