Neeves
Well-Known Member
Well done and more so for admitting the error. Don't worry - we all make them, few fess up
Jonathan
Solar charging!
- Thread starter Walusotu
- Start date
Jonathan
VicS
Well-Known Member
You cannot connect the 2x 50 watt panels in series then connect that combination in parallel with the 180 watt panel becau e the two in series would make a 24 volt combination which cannot be put in parallel with a 12 volt panel.
Panels of various powers can only be connected in parallel with each other, but must of course be all the same voltage .
Panels in series must be the same power as each other
ITYWF your 180 watt plus 1x 50 watt , in parallel . is just about the max power that the Victron 75/15 can handle there fore it you want use 2x 50 watts in addition to the 180 watt connecting them in series ( or in parallel) on a separate MPPT controller is an option .
Pete7
Well-Known Member
Agree with Vic, but the solution is to add another Victron Solar MPPT. Two will play nicely together. Your choice for the 2 x 50w is parallel or in series, depends if you think shading is going to be a regular problem or just occasionally.
The one other thing you might add is the Victron battery sense, particularly if your MPPTs are mounted away from the batteries. This widget will feed the exact battery voltage and temperature to the MPPTs by bluetooth. So if your MPPTs are in a cupboard or hot cabin and the batteries in the bilge and cool, there is a difference in temperature which the MPPTs can adjust to if they know about it. Equally batteries in a hot engine room really need the MPPTs to lower the voltage a bit rather than thinking the batteries are the same temperature as the MPPT. Is this important? well we measured 26c in Weymouth harbour last August. I didn't believe it, but the infra red temp gun said the same thing as did the Raymarine instruments.
Pete
Buck Turgidson
Well-Known Member
To clarify. He's not getting 180watts out of anything at the moment so putting the panels in series may help discover the problem. Your insistence that you "cannot put the panels in series" is not correct. What you mean is putting them in series will reduce total power output. But the op isn't getting much power as is, so as part of fault finding there is nothing wrong in trying this and checking the output.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
That's correct.
Yes, if the outputs are different, the total output is limited to that of the lowest output panel.
PaulRainbow
Well-Known Member
I'd agree, add a second Victron controller.
Walusotu
Member
Just to acknowledge my thanks for help and advice received.
In order to finalise the issue:
1. The 180w panel is working well and connected to the Victron 75/15 controller
2. Until now ( 4 days since installation) the charger has never progressed beyond bulk mode. From memory the max voltage at the battery was 13.6v. Battery consumption is minimal and largely taken by the fridge which cycles as normal. I have 2 No. 110Ah domestic bank. Does this sound OK?
3. As previously indicated I have 2 No. 50 w panels that I propose to connect. Ulimately I will install a further Victron but I will leave India first which is a killer for customs etc. An option is to connect the 2 smaller panels to the Marlec HRDi which controls the wind generator and has a capacity for 150w of solar. My question is, will this in any way conflict with the operation of the Victron .
Thanks
In order to finalise the issue:
1. The 180w panel is working well and connected to the Victron 75/15 controller
2. Until now ( 4 days since installation) the charger has never progressed beyond bulk mode. From memory the max voltage at the battery was 13.6v. Battery consumption is minimal and largely taken by the fridge which cycles as normal. I have 2 No. 110Ah domestic bank. Does this sound OK?
3. As previously indicated I have 2 No. 50 w panels that I propose to connect. Ulimately I will install a further Victron but I will leave India first which is a killer for customs etc. An option is to connect the 2 smaller panels to the Marlec HRDi which controls the wind generator and has a capacity for 150w of solar. My question is, will this in any way conflict with the operation of the Victron .
Thanks
Pete7
Well-Known Member
What is the output of the 180w solar panel according to the MPPT say at mid day?
What type of batteries do you have and have you adjusted the MPPT to reflect the battery type?
That 13.6v at the batteries from 180w of solar is rubbish, there is something wrong here.
Walusotu
Member
The output at maximum sun is approx 75 to 80 w giving about 4 to 5 amps. It is making on average 450wh per day.
I have sealed batteries and the battery type is set on the victron at factory default.
the voltages are genuine - whether it is rubbish or not is the question and why. I am hoping that someone can provide some good diagnostics.
I have sealed batteries and the battery type is set on the victron at factory default.
the voltages are genuine - whether it is rubbish or not is the question and why. I am hoping that someone can provide some good diagnostics.
Graham376
Well-Known Member
We had an original panel connected to our Aerogen regulator and the others when added via separate controller, no conflict.
VicS
Well-Known Member
Try it. It should be perfectly satisfactory ' When the wind blows and the sun shines do you have any conflict between the HRDi and the Victron ?
You may well find that for 2x 50 watt there is little to be gained by fitting another Victron mppt controller if you already have the spare capacity on the HRDi.
Pete7
Well-Known Member
What is the default voltages for absorption and float set to in the Victron app? should be 14.2v or so. You said earlier that its always in bulk, which suggests its not even reaching the absorption stage or has this resolved following sorting out the 180w panel wiring problem? The other thing to look at is the wiring size. Presumably you have 4mm solar wire from the panel to the MPPT, but what size is the wire from the MPPT to the battery?
Pete