Different panels, one controller?

bumper
bumper Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Question, example can you use three different voltage panels running into one controllers. Example
125 watt18.4 vmp
205 watt 27.9 vmp
260 watt 34.8 vmp
Would these be ok?
:confused::p
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Different panels, one controller?
    bumper wrote: »
    Question, example can you use three different voltage panels running into one controllers. Example
    125 watt18.4 vmp
    205 watt 27.9 vmp
    260 watt 34.8 vmp
    Would these be ok?
    :confused::p

    No.
    You can not mix panels of that different Vmp in parallel.
    If you were to hook those up to one controller on a 12 Volt system you'd be losing about 47% of the 260 Watt panel and about 34% of the 205 Watt panel.
    It's difficult to get dissimilar panels to function on the same controller. The rule of thumb is: no more than 10% difference in Vmp for parallel connections and no more than 10% difference in Imp for serial connections. 5% is better. The greater the difference, the more power you throw away.
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  • bumper
    bumper Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭
    #3
    Re: Different panels, one controller?
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    No.
    You can not mix panels of that different Vmp in parallel.
    If you were to hook those up to one controller on a 12 Volt system you'd be losing about 47% of the 260 Watt panel and about 34% of the 205 Watt panel.
    It's difficult to get dissimilar panels to function on the same controller. The rule of thumb is: no more than 10% difference in Vmp for parallel connections and no more than 10% difference in Imp for serial connections. 5% is better. The greater the difference, the more power you throw away.
    Thanks, that severaly limits my purchasing of panels sense I already have the 125 watt panel, I guess that just calls for more panels than I wanted to buy.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Different panels, one controller?

    If it's any help, the Kyocera 135 has a Vmp of 17.7 which would be close enough to the 125 Watt panel's 18.4 Vmp to work. They can be had new for less than $350 and are small enough to ship UPS.
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  • bumper
    bumper Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭
    #5
    Re: Different panels, one controller?
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    If it's any help, the Kyocera 135 has a Vmp of 17.7 which would be close enough to the 125 Watt panel's 18.4 Vmp to work. They can be had new for less than $350 and are small enough to ship UPS.
    I can get a 210 watt at18.? for around 310.00 from sunele down in Florida
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Different panels, one controller?

    toss the 125w, and you will get more power from the other 2, than with all 3 ! IF you use a MPPT controller.

    125 watt18.4 vmp
    205 watt 27.9 vmp
    260 watt 34.8 vmp
    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 ,

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  • bumper
    bumper Registered Users Posts: 14 ✭
    #7
    Re: Different panels, one controller?
    mike90045 wrote: »
    toss the 125w, and you will get more power from the other 2, than with all 3 ! IF you use a MPPT controller.

    125 watt18.4 vmp
    205 watt 27.9 vmp
    260 watt 34.8 vmp
    I am running a tristar ts-45 controller ,just adding on as I can afford :D
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Different panels, one controller?
    bumper wrote: »
    I am running a tristar ts-45 controller ,just adding on as I can afford :D

    BAD IDEA

    What's your system/battery voltage ? 12V i'd guess. when you get into panels over 19V, you are seriously wasting their power, unless you have MPPT controller to downconvert the voltage to battery voltage.

    You need to either exchange the HV panels, or the controller, or get a new budget
    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 ,

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