Solar panels ,Duogen, +++

[Ludd]

Please can someone with more elecrical knowledge than I advise me?

I have a Duogen wind/water generator with it's own regulator,feeding a bank of 5x110 Ah batteries
Wired into the same regulator I have two 80watt solar panels: so far so good,the system works well.
I want to add 2x90 watt panels. I can't put them through the Duogen regulator,as it is already up to it's limit.
Can I run the two extra panels through an independent MPPT controller,or even run all four panels through one MPPT controller,independent of the Duogen? What amperage MPPT controller would I need to use
1) to run 2x90watts panels
2)to run all four,e.g,2x90 watt+2x80watt panels.?

 

[VicS]

Please can someone with more elecrical knowledge than I advise me?

I have a Duogen wind/water generator with it's own regulator,feeding a bank of 5x110 Ah batteries
Wired into the same regulator I have two 80watt solar panels: so far so good,the system works well.
I want to add 2x90 watt panels. I can't put them through the Duogen regulator,as it is already up to it's limit.
Can I run the two extra panels through an independent MPPT controller,or even run all four panels through one MPPT controller,independent of the Duogen? What amperage MPPT controller would I need to use
1) to run 2x90watts panels
2)to run all four,e.g,2x90 watt+2x80watt panels.?

I think if i was going to get an MPPT regulator anyway I get one capable of handling all the solar panels ( 340 watts) if possible.
Or maybe 2 MPPT controllers one having the two 80 watt panels connected to it and the other the two 90 watt panels.

Maybe I'm wrong but I suspect if only some of the panels have an MPPT controller you may not get the full benefit from the other panels

 

[Ludd]

I think if i was going to get an MPPT regulator anyway I get one capable of handling all the solar panels ( 340 watts) if possible.

Bear with an idiot,or rather someone who has been fed conflicting info about just about everything under the sun!
My preference would be for what you say,but what size would the MPPT controller need to be ? 30amp?

 

[VicS]

Bear with an idiot,or rather someone who has been fed conflicting info about just about everything under the sun!
My preference would be for what you say,but what size would the MPPT controller need to be ? 30amp?

30 amps should be an adequate rating but study the manufacturers specs and data

 

[Ludd]

30 amps should be an adequate rating but study the manufacturers specs and data

Thanks for that. I may start by feeding the existing panels into a suitable MPPT controller and take it from there.

 

[nigel1]

Have a look at the Blue Sky 3024DiL MPPT controller, that can handle 40 amps solar, and also the wind genny through a diversion load facility..

I thinkl Outback do a similar system

 

[sailinglegend420]

I have a DuoGen and solar panels. I would suggest that if you run the DuoGen through its regulator and the solar panels through another regulator then either regulator will get confused by the volts from the other regulator and may dump their power. That's is why a regulator that can handle Wind and Solar is the best option.

I would suggest that you apply the KISS principle and disconnect the DuoGen from the regulator and regulate it by tying off the blades when you know the batteries are REALLY 100% charged. This will very rarely happen. If you are a liveaboard this is DuoGen's suggested option - but don't leave the boat for too long unattended. I have a battery monitor set with a high alarm state which alerts me if the volts go too high.

This option may now allow you to connect all your solar panels through the existing regulator, but a better option would be to sell that and get an MPPT controller and connect all the panels in series. This will make the combined voltage into the MPPT controller high but keep the current low so that new heavier cables won't need to be fitted.