1 Large or 3 Small - what do you reckon?

[shirehorse99]

Right guys - I’ve got space on my shed for 3 panels - but there is a some shading involved at different times of the day and different times of the year.

I have bought 3 panels from city plumbing

https://www.cityplumbing.co.uk/p/dmegc- ... l/p/120106


I have sofar me3000-sp ac coupled inverter charging my 48v 28.8kw battery bank .

I can add these 3 panels to help with the charging during the day.

So I’m thinking 3 small Victron Solar chargers SmartSolar 100/20 - 1 per panel or 1 150/45 smartsolar for all three .

With the shading I’m thinking 3 separate - what do you guys think? . The cost is very close so - any pros / cons?

Cheers

[nowty]

Unless you are using the higher voltage panasonic panels (now obsolete in Europe), you cannot use single panels for Victron Charge Controllers for 48V battery systems. The working voltage needs to be higher than your battery bank. A standard panel will only give around 33V, so you need at least 2 panels in series for each Victron charge controller.

[shirehorse99]

Ah ok - interesting - the data sheet with panel shows Voc at 40v

Just reading through user manual now and it says the controller needs Vbat +5v to startup and Vbat +1v to maintain on - so I need 2 panels connected per 100/20

Looks like it’s the the 150/45 then

Other than micro inverters , anyone think for a better solution with heavy shading around a bloody massive laylandii ( other than copper nails)

[drjim]

A chainsaw and a wood burning stove for next year (when the wood has seasoned)

[Stinsy]

I’m not a fan od leylandii, I’d chop it down…

(I don’t think you should put it through the WBS though)

[shirehorse99]

I would but its not my tree

[drjim]

That's a minor issue, very windy this weekend, not good for trees...

[shirehorse99]