Series panels

2»

Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    mike_s said:
    mike95490 said:
    But if you have a string of panels, and some shade hits parts of some of them, your array voltage may drop enough the system shuts down.
    The discussion was comparing series vs. parallel panels. There is no case in which a parallel connected system would continue to provide power with the same shading which would drop a series connected system below the system voltage. So, what's your point?

    My point was that the original post, it was series panels.
    Renogy sells a 12 volt 500 watt  kit. 150 volt cc with 5 100 watt panels in series. Can some one explain why this is a bad idea?

    Now you are changing the OP's 5S array to a array of you choosing, to prove a specific point only you know.  And this answers the OP's question how?

    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 ,

  • mike_s
    mike_s Registered Users Posts: 155 ✭✭
    mike95490 said:

    Now you are changing the OP's 5S array to a array of you choosing, to prove a specific point only you know.  And this answers the OP's question how?

    Nope. Try to keep up. Mcgiver said the disadvantage of series strings was that shading on one affected the whole string. I pointed out that was incorrect. He doubled down, so I detailed why, including a comparison.
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Sorry to interrupt the pissing match, but some of us are still learning here. It seems to me @mcgivor is correct in that "shading of one affected the whole string", and the degree to which the string is affected depends on whether bypass diodes /rectifiers are in parallel with a cell, group of cells, group of panels, etc., and how the shade falls.

    Not doubling down, just trying to learn.
    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
  • mountainman
    mountainman Registered Users Posts: 439 ✭✭
    edited June 2018 #35
    Sorry that my question opened such a can of worms.Just to be clear the only shading is briefly when then sun comes up from behind the trees and goes down.So my understanding is parellel is better for shading. The best configuration would be to put 2s 3p 6 panels on 45 amp cc. 2nd best would be 3s 2p and lastly all in series would be harder on cc because of excess heat. all in series at 22.5 voc is 112.5 x 1.25 is 140.625. Panels Temp Co eff of pmax -0.44/°c as to the reply of over 150 volts in cold weather -17.78 c is the lowest temp wouldn't that be 42.78 x .0044 roughly. 19% 112.5 × .19 =21volts 134 total???
    2kw array 6 345 q cells  make sky blue 60 cc
     6 230ah GC @36 volts 
    18 amp accusense charger. 3650 champion 
  • mountainman
    mountainman Registered Users Posts: 439 ✭✭
    And to add why my interest in all in series I need 500 watts for 125 foot array on the 8 awg I already purchased.
    2kw array 6 345 q cells  make sky blue 60 cc
     6 230ah GC @36 volts 
    18 amp accusense charger. 3650 champion 
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2018 #37
    mike95490 said:
    mike_s said:
    mike95490 said:
    But if you have a string of panels, and some shade hits parts of some of them, your array voltage may drop enough the system shuts down.
    The discussion was comparing series vs. parallel panels. There is no case in which a parallel connected system would continue to provide power with the same shading which would drop a series connected system below the system voltage. So, what's your point?

    My point was that the original post, it was series panels.
    Renogy sells a 12 volt 500 watt  kit. 150 volt cc with 5 100 watt panels in series. Can some one explain why this is a bad idea?

    Now you are changing the OP's 5S array to a array of you choosing, to prove a specific point only you know.  And this answers the OP's question how?

    mike_s said:

    mike95490 said:

    Now you are changing the OP's 5S array to a array of you choosing, to prove a specific point only you know.  And this answers the OP's question how?

    Nope. Try to keep up. Mcgiver said the disadvantage of series strings was that shading on one affected the whole string. I pointed out that was incorrect. He doubled down, so I detailed why, including a comparison.
    The point regarding shading was to bring up one aspect where a series configuration could experience losses, it was for the benefit of the OP, the parallel comment was merely a comment nothing more, not a comparison. There are obviously advantages and disadvantages to both, or there would never be a need for one over the other. Thinking one is superior over the other in all circumstances is flawed, which is why I pointed out the advantage, series, MPPT, over parallel,  PWM. If I believed parallel was always  superior I would never use series, but I do. So the discussion was never intended to be a comparison, it became one without intention, my apologies to the OP.

     
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    The temp coefficient is calculated for the string, so if it works out to 3v, in a string of 2 panels that would increase string Voc in the cold from ~22.5 x 2 = 45v to 22.5 + 3 = 25.5 x 2 = 51v

    With 3 strings of 2, and panel current of ~5a, combined current would be ~15a. 125' of 8ga gives a drop of a bit over 5%. 2 strings of 3, ~10a at 67v a drop of a bit over 2%. Either would be ok IMHO. With only 2 strings, fuse/breaker per string is optional.

    Early morning and late afternoon shading doesn't matter a lot much of the year, as the sun is low (weak) and angled east/west, so you wouldn't be missing a ton of production. It can matter in winter though (especially if the sun doesn't clear the trees mid-day).
    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
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    Estragon said:
    The temp coefficient is calculated for the string, so if it works out to 3v, in a string of 2 panels that would increase string Voc in the cold from ~22.5 x 2 = 45v to 22.5 + 3 = 25.5 x 2 = 51v

    With 3 strings of 2, and panel current of ~5a, combined current would be ~15a. 125' of 8ga gives a drop of a bit over 5%. 2 strings of 3, ~10a at 67v a drop of a bit over 2%. Either would be ok IMHO. With only 2 strings, fuse/breaker per string is optional.

    Early morning and late afternoon shading doesn't matter a lot much of the year, as the sun is low (weak) and angled east/west, so you wouldn't be missing a ton of production. It can matter in winter though (especially if the sun doesn't clear the trees mid-day).
    Wrong thread perhaps? 
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Responding to posts #35/36?
    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
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2018 #41
    Estragon said:
    Responding to posts #35/36?
    Sorry, my mistake 
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
  • mike_s
    mike_s Registered Users Posts: 155 ✭✭
    mcgivor said:
    The point regarding shading was to bring up one aspect where a series configuration could experience losses, it was for the benefit of the OP, the parallel comment was merely a comment nothing more, not a comparison. There are obviously advantages and disadvantages to both, or there would never be a need for one over the other. Thinking one is superior over the other in all circumstances is flawed, which is why I pointed out the advantage, series, MPPT, over parallel,  PWM. If I believed parallel was always  superior I would never use series, but I do. So the discussion was never intended to be a comparison, it became one without intention, my apologies to the OP.

     
    Parallel also experiences losses due to shading. So, you're saying you had no point?

    Parallel does not imply PWM. With a 12V system, one might gain a few percent with MPPT, or use it with panels having more cells (e.g. 48+). The main reason for parallel with PWM is lower cost per watt for smaller systems.
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    @mike_s
    Not going to bite
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.