Panels and controllers

[pelissima]

Hi all,
My panels work now on a cheap 10 Amp MPPT controller and at noon I see 8-9 Amps. Fine. I plan to add another panel which will add 5+ Amps to the MPPT and possibly burn it. But I also have another 10A controller but not MPPT. The question. If I split the lines before the controllers and feed them in parallel would this be a good enough temporary solution until a more capable MPPT come into the picture? Your thoughts are welcome.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Hi all,
My panels work now on a cheap 10 Amp MPPT controller and at noon I see 8-9 Amps. Fine. I plan to add another panel which will add 5+ Amps to the MPPT and possibly burn it. But I also have another 10A controller but not MPPT. The question. If I split the lines before the controllers and feed them in parallel would this be a good enough temporary solution until a more capable MPPT come into the picture? Your thoughts are welcome.

If you fit a MPPT controller and a PWM controller in parallel you will possibly have a problem with one controller sensing the other and shutting down or not starting. You'll need to have controllers that you can change the setting on and set them to identical settings to stand a chance.

 

[noelex]

Using different controllers is OK, but wire the new panel to the non MPPT controller and then join the output of the two controllers together.

 

[PaulRainbow]

If you fit a MPPT controller and a PWM controller in parallel you will possibly have a problem with one controller sensing the other and shutting down or not starting. You'll need to have controllers that you can change the setting on and set them to identical settings to stand a chance.

Edit. If you fit ANY two controllers, whether they be a PWM and a MPPT, two MPPTs or two PWMs, you need to set them the same, or issues are likely to ensue.

 

[pelissima]

The more I think of it I tend to agree with Noelex that this is the way to go.

 

[PaulRainbow]

The more I think of it I tend to agree with Noelex that this is the way to go.

Go for it :encouragement: