Second system extension extension.

[Joeboy]

Basically and to be up front about this, I blame Nowty. He dropped the seed into my mind a year or so ago when he mentioned adding extra panels for the Winter dip at his place. I could easily see myself building a 3 folding panel Winter array to add into the existing 3 strings of 325W JA panels feeding the 150W/35A Victron charge controller. Thoughts?

[Joeboy]

The deck is clear over Winter so space is cool, the JB to connect into is in the tub area so short runs and it would save me dragging my old arse up onto the roof between the dormers.

I'd be interested in the effectiveness of the Tigo's as I have optimisers on the other array but no before&after info?

I could literally fit the 4th set onto the front of the hot tub and see how they perform...?

[Stan]

Those steamer chairs could be modified to play with the angle of the panels Joeboy.

[Stinsy]

Which direction is south?

The fear when extending a string is that you'd generate less power than before because one of the new panels is shaded. And let's face it there is a lot of shade to go around in winter plus your additional panels are seldom the most optimally placed fo your array. Tigos take away that fear. VFM for the £50 per panel is difficult to calculate.

However if you're adding strings in parallel there is no risk of affecting your current setup so I probably wouldn't bother.

Do you currently have 3x strings of 2 panels each?

[nowty]

Ahhh, you mean like my temporary winter panels.

They are installed end of Sept to early March when the decking areas no good for anything else.
Just one word of warning if your going to add a 4th parallel string. CHECK, DOUBLE CHECK and CHECK again that you have the polarity correct before you connect them as once you go past 3 parallel strings, you can easily destroy the diodes in the added string if you accidently connect it up incorrectly. If you use branch connectors, not much chance of getting it wrong but if your adding wiring via junction boxes its possible to get it wrong.

I wanted a add a few more temporary ones at the front of the house as its more sunny but it did not pass the SWMBO test.

PS - As Stinsy says, no point to Tigos if your adding a parallel string.

[Joeboy]

Thanks Lads, 3 strings of 3 325W panels Stinsy. Next string would be 4th.

Nowty, weathers good, kicking back on the deck and looking around. Thoughts fruited by Stan's post of plug in solar on my existing thoughts of 'How To' for not much hassle or Penge. Thanks for the point on.polarity, imagine.... Had thought about a moving rig on the deck which I could swing around on trolleyed wheels but also merits in simply fixing them to the front face of the pergola. All pics are looking due North(ish).


P.S, you are a mad bas***d, well played sir! LOVE that photo.

[Stinsy]

First job would be to attack that leylandii!

An additional string (or two) in front of the bar should make a big difference!

[Joeboy]

First job would be to attack that leylandii!

An additional string (or two) in front of the bar should make a big difference!

Its on the 'to do' list. Battery hedge trimmer solar powered!

[nowty]

When I bought the house 12 years ago, my leylandii before the decking, fence and solar !

It was a big job.

You cannot comprehend how far over the back the leylandii grew to.

[Joeboy]

Would I be right in saying that the 4th string in parallel would not pull down the other 3 strings due to it (the 4th string) being early mornings Winter shaded(leylandi to East of panels)?

My hope is that the other 3 strings will output to their max as conditions dictate and the 4th deck string will come 'online' once voltage from it is high enough to push into the JB where the other three more favoured strings will already be outputting?