Can I use this little Victron charge controller with this setup?

softdown
softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭✭
edited August 6 in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
Bought a couple 48V 20A 100V Victrons last year. Unsure what I was thinking. 

Wanting to use four 190 watt solar panels with one controller. They put out ~40. volts in optimal conditions. 

Think I’ll point these panels to the east at ~ 20 degrees. Have steel racks made. 

Just need more solar in July and August - 8 fridges and freezers. #PreparedPrepper
First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭✭
    #2

    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • MikesSolarGarage
    MikesSolarGarage Registered Users Posts: 3 ✭
    #3
    It should be fine as long as you don't live in a very cold climate.  Cold sunny days increase a panels output.
    https://www.youtube.com/c/MikesGarageRoute66
    https://www.windsolarforum.com
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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,159 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Battery bank voltage?

    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.

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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Gets to -20F here. And the eastern orientation amplifies that challenge. Oh well, I have two and they are pretty cheap. Probably why this penny pincher pounced. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    littleharbor2 said:
    Battery bank voltage

    Been having sunny weather lately. Sitting at 53.2 volts at 2:12pm with some clouds. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭✭
    #7
    Adding panels is maybe 75% of the work of doing an entire system. Anxiety when voltmeter read 0 volts - due to being in wrong voltage range. Plus combiner box was missing the fuse for some reason. Unbelievable amount of work involved. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭✭
    edited August 7 #8
    The little Victron flashed blue for Bulk for several minutes. Then shifted to a steady blue for Bulk. 

    Shade from main array will start hitting one of the new panels next month. What happens when one of four panels is in the shade? I forgot the theory on that. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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  • softdown
    softdown Solar Expert Posts: 4,001 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Operational ~ 10am. Voltage up from 53.2 yesterday at this time. Today: 55.2 volts. Have not seen anything over 53 volts in three weeks. Already paying dividends. 
    First Bank:16 180 watt Grape Solar with  FM80 controller and 3648 Inverter....Fullriver 8D AGM solar batteries. Second Bank/MacGyver Special: 10 165(?) watt BP Solar with Renogy MPPT 40A controller/ and Xantrex C-35 PWM controller/ and Morningstar PWM controller...Cotek 24V PSW inverter....forklift and diesel locomotive batteries
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