Solar madness

time4t said:
I was getting ready to put 2x200 watt panels on my roof, but when I saw how flimsy the mc4 connectors are I went a different route.
I replaced the 4mm2 wires coming from the rear of the panel with 6mm2, to these I attached 10mm2-25mm2 Dinse style welding plugs female on the pos side & male on the neg, these will go into a Y connector made up out of 10mm2 wire & Dinse plugs.
The single wires coming from the Y connectors then travel along the roof & in to the victron MPPT controller 10mm2 wire is the biggest that the controller will take.

Why have I done this, it's about cutting down resistance in the wire & connectors & it's about the quality of the amps getting to the batteries.
The mc4 connectors create a sort of road block that Dinse connectors do not, so the power can travel in a cleaner, easier fashion, upping the wire size does the same thing.
Word on the web is that I will get about 5-10% increase in power collection.

When I said I was getting ready, well that was until I was admitted to hospital after being told I had Heart failure. Got to take it very easy for a few months so everything has been put on the back burner for now:).

Phill
Click to expand...

This really depends on the voltage of the panels, 60v panels won't suffer much with the tiny resistance added by the mc4 connectors. The resistance causes the voltage to drop slightly and the current to increase.
 
Phil said:
I did,

Not sure why the members are having problems as they do not need an activation email and no members are in the queue for moderation.

I am going to work on the site later today and get the SSL installed. I am also going to set up the email system a little better.
Click to expand...


Hmm odd, I'll send them a heads up, maybe they're all peeved with this being the third forum and have lost faith.

It's sunday, emergency stuff only Phil, or you'll wear out.

Btw way put your avatar on there, I miss your mush :D:D
 
Last edited:
Phil said:
This really depends on the voltage of the panels, 60v panels won't suffer much with the tiny resistance added by the mc4 connectors. The resistance causes the voltage to drop slightly and the current to increase.
Click to expand...

I Got a lot of info from HandyBobs web site, He's a solar guru & he emphasises the importance of getting QUALITY amps which means getting those amps to the batteries as fast as you can.

So you need to reduce the resistance in the cables by as much as possible. The male end of an mc4 connector is thin hollow metal, therefore you get an mc4 cable which uses the full area to transfer energy going into something which if crushed until it resembles a solid wire is only 1mm2. thus you lose 3mm2 area which creates a electrical choke.

A Dinse type welding connector is, when joined together solid brass, I fitted the wire into a piece of 10mm dia copper pipe before clamping it in the connector to get maximum contact area.

Hope this clears up my thinking a bit!

Phill

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes.!!
Phil, I hope Teses condition is diagnosed & treated properly soon!!!
 
Pudsey Bear said:
After looking at the sizes, I don't see any for 6mm to 10mm, the 10mm ones look like they would need a copper sleeving, as would the smaller size on any of them.

I need to go to a local welding factors.
Click to expand...

The Dinse connectors start at 10-25mm2, I have 2 panels & am connecting them in parallel, the 2 pos mc6 wires from the panels fit quite well when the are soldered together in a piece of copper pipe as do the 2 neg wires, I used sealant where the wires enter the connectors.

All the best, Phill
 
I have always gone with a chocolate block and 6mm2 cable when fitting my own panels, sometimes using 6mm yellow crimps, but peeling off the plastic so they go into the controller terminals further, especially on the one pictured above, I did ask the factory about 5 years ago why on earth did they not either make a rear entry model or create a snap/screw on cover to hide the ugly cabling, they said it was on the list to do, must be a bloody long list.
 
time4t said:
The Dinse connectors start at 10-25mm2, I have 2 panels & am connecting them in parallel, the 2 pos mc6 wires from the panels fit quite well when the are soldered together in a piece of copper pipe, I used sealant where the wires enter the connectors.

All the best, Phill
Click to expand...

What size pipe Phill?
 
Phil said:
I am now considering not putting 3 x 330-watt panels on my van and upgrading the batteries. Instead, I am thinking of 4 x 330-watt panels giving me 1320 watts and not changing my batteries.

Rae and I have been planning the install today and we think that it will only cost me 25kg of extra weight.

And before you ask why, the answer is "because I can" :)
Click to expand...

I am in full agreement with your plan Phil, I believe that if you have the room then fit as much solar as you can, any excess power can be dumped into your hot water tank.
It's win win all the way round!!

Phill
 
Phil said:
I am now considering not putting 3 x 330-watt panels on my van and upgrading the batteries. Instead, I am thinking of 4 x 330-watt panels giving me 1320 watts and not changing my batteries.

Rae and I have been planning the install today and we think that it will only cost me 25kg of extra weight.

And before you ask why, the answer is "because I can" :)
Click to expand...

I think you have a way to go to match this guy!ulysse.jpg
 
I think it could be really handy. I like the idea of a shorter vehicle with an off-road trailer option as well (I think they are popular in Oz?)
 
Your impression is totally wrong on this I'm afraid, as I already said I was looking on google to find more info on it, of course it exists, you posted a picture of it, I posted my picture as I found the description funny, no more no less.

Thanks for finding the video :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top