Yet more questions relating to Solar Panels

[Ian_Rob]

As posted a few days ago, I am thinking of installing a SolbianFlexpanel to charge my batteries. Though two separate panels would be better from a shadowing point of view, I was going to go with just one 40W panel initially to a] trial the panel and b] reduce the initial outlay. I have been told that because these Solbian panels work at 8V, a 'special controller is required to increase the voltage to the normal charge voltage of 14.4V' and have been recommended to use the Genasun MPPT or a Western (Wmarine10). I have been given to understand that there aren't any controllers that will deal with 3no. 8v panels and that the only solution would be to buy an additional controller if and when a third panel is installed. Is all this pointing at an 8v system not being a sensible choice?

 

[Rigger Mortice]

Is all this pointing at an 8v system not being a sensible choice?

It seems a bit pointless to get a panel that produces a lower voltage than you need so that you then need an expensive controller which will waste some of the power when it makes the conversion from 8 to 14ish volts. But, if there are other considerations that make that particular panel desirable, it may be the right way to go.

FWIW I'm not sure that the MPPT controllers are really necessary for small solar panel setups. The extra cost of the controller could be spent on bigger panels. I know that MPPT are all the rage but PWM controllers are cheap and efficient these days; I'm just not convinced that the extra cost justifies itself yet.