Diy combiner with fuses (budget)

jimbuck
jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
Hi there, I’m installing a simple 400w system in a converted van. It comprises of a Morningstar pro star ps30 pwm charge controller . 4 100w panels (parallel) 1x 115ah battery (possible future upgrade to 220ah)
The panels will be mounted flat to the roof hence the over panelling for the 115ah battery. I am installing this system to a tight budget for a friend, she already has the panels and the pro star controller. My question is regarding the combining of the panels. I plan to do this up on the roof into an ip67 box using glands and busbars. This will be diy made. The budget doesn’t stretch to buying breakers. Can I use fuses? The isc of the panels is 5.7a so times 1.56 = 8.89a can I use a 10a blade fuse for each panel? I have drawn a diagram of what I plan to do. Can anyone advise me if this is ok? Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you, Jim
England

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That "can" work, but

    Blade fuse HOLDERS are often pretty cheaply made, and you will be running amps through them, so good heavy duty holders are required. 
    I've seen 30A holders melted with 5A fuses in them, the contacts are so bad, they heat up, melting the holder.

    When powered up, you cannot remove a fuse, or it's likely to arc badly, which is way too much fun for being on the roof.

    Eventually, cheap fuses and fuse holders will fatigue from thermal excursions, premium ones will last longer.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • jimbuck
    jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
    Hi Mike, thanks for the advice. If I can source some quality components and better fuses do you think it is doable? Breakers are £20 a piece here. The current through each fuse will only be 5/6A and I would cover a panel before removing one. I will use a larger breaker down line before the cc as a disconnect also. I would use strip link fuses but they seem to start at 30A.

    Thanks, Jim
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Can't tell from the diagram, is there a breaker between the + bussbar and controller?
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jimbuck
    jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
    Hi Estragon. It’s not in the diagram but yes there will be an appropriate sized breaker on the positive feed to the cc also to be used as a disconnect.
    Jim
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The fuse rating should be on the data label on the panels back side.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I, personally, wouldn't worry about 4 parallel 100 watt panels, at 12 volt nominal, they aren't likely to pose a danger of creating an arc and starting a fire. I actually doubt back feeding them would damage them, it is possible but unlikely.

    You could use a fused power distribution block that would work with midget fuses, some thing like this;



    Usually they are designed for high end car stereo's. Cost for this is $20 in US. The midget fuses come in AC and DC versions. be sure to get the correct amperage and type of fuse.

    Looks like you could buy this 5 pack of din rail fuse holders;

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-RT18-32X-AC-380V-32A-1-Pole-10x38mm-DIN-Rail-Mount-Fuse-Holder-Base-I1S-F7X2/282513180276?_trkparms=aid=555018&algo=PL.SIM&ao=2&asc=49569&meid=4efaa763477a471996a247dd39fa6614&pid=100005&rk=1&rkt=2&sd=172958786364&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

    and then find the correct fuse, These are fast acting 10 amp fuses KLK;

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BARGAIN-10-X-KLK-10amp-Midget-Fuses-quick-blow-ceramic-600VAC-10x38mm/222755564748?epid=2055821616&hash=item33dd442ccc:g:m7QAAOSw5cNYFmMW

    and a small section of Din rail;



    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10CM-Din-rail-35mm/222281260424?hash=item33c0fedd88:g:3ckAAOSwzaJYAJH7
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
  • NANOcontrol
    NANOcontrol Registered Users Posts: 260 ✭✭✭
    As said before these panels are only a danger to themselves, three panels feeding into a shorted one. The panels are current limited.  Current can never get above  normal operating current even in a short.  Breakers are just disconnects and test points in this size system.
  • jimbuck
    jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
    So in theory, with the correct sized cables between panels that can handle the current of the other 3 combined, there isn’t an issue. I would like to use some sort of protection hence the fuses but with the budget being tight I can justify anything over the top.
    Photowhit: thanks for the ideas! I’m looking for suitable sized enclosures and fused power distribution blocks.

    Jim
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Even with big wire, a shorted panel itself is at risk of getting overcurrent from the other three.

    Another way to do it would be to use 2-way paralleling mc4 connectors (no fuses needed for 2 in parallel), and run the two + wires to a pair of breakers next to the controller. Total cost may be close, and you don't have to mess with mounting box and fuses on the roof.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jimbuck
    jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
    That sounds good
  • jimbuck
    jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
    My last message was much longer but it only posted the lines above?

    So a pair of Y branch connectors for each pair of panels wired in parallel. Two sets of cables coming down into the truck ++ - - the two ++ going into their own separate fuses and then combined together after the fuses and into the charge controller. Sounds much easier up on the roof and nicer to disconnect down in the truck. Thanks Estragon!
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    @jimbuck - yup, that's pretty much what I had in mind. I would use a pair of breakers (more user-friendly as disconnects) but fuses would do the job.

    You will also want a fuse or breaker from controller (and inverter, if using one) to the battery. Note that pv should be depowered before battery, and repowered after battery, which is easier with breakers. Controllers should be booted up with stable battery voltage, as unstable pv voltage can cause some controllers to boot wrong.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jimbuck
    jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
    Thanks for all of your help! It’s a 30amp controller so I will use a strip link fuse between that and the battery and same with the inverter. It’s been a challenge due to the budget. I built my own system last year and bought the best I could and oversized all the wiring. I’ll attach a picture of my own system.
  • jimbuck
    jimbuck Registered Users Posts: 46 ✭✭
    Thanks for all of your help! It’s a 30amp controller so I will use a strip link fuse between that and the battery and same with the inverter. It’s been a challenge due to the budget. I built my own system last year and bought the best I could and oversized all the wiring. I’ll attach a picture of my own system.