Aiko comet panels.

[Fintray]

Seems i was right in what i thought. Hybrids do have mppts for input. However the multiplus doesnt and needs charge controllers.
Apologies for the mix up.

This makes things much more interesting and i will be able to ignore the need for optimisers.

How many strings? At least 2.
What Charge controllers? Unsure yet. I now need another day of faffing to see how i can best change things up and take advantage.

Use this https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/so ... c-4_0.xlsm to calculate which charge controller you would need, it allows you to enter the specs of any PV panel and gives you a clear answer if your proposed string size will work.

You could use a maximum of four of those panels in a string using any of the Smartsolar MPPT controllers, the 250/70 would allow you to connect 2 strings (1 x 2 panel and 1 x 3 panel) to it and be within its limits.

[NoraBatty]

Looking at victrons calculator,

I coukd do it with 1 string of 5x 625w panels and a
SmartSolar MPPT RS 450/100 & 450/200, but would need optimisers and its very expensive.

It would be better to do
2 strings, 1 string with 3x 625w, 1 string with 2x625W and could get away with SmartSolar MPPT 250/60

However if i am splitting strings up, i can jiggle panels around and have more smaller panels at the top, and larger at the bottom.

Il get back to you all in a day or two.

[NoraBatty]

Seems i was right in what i thought. Hybrids do have mppts for input. However the multiplus doesnt and needs charge controllers.
Apologies for the mix up.

This makes things much more interesting and i will be able to ignore the need for optimisers.

How many strings? At least 2.
What Charge controllers? Unsure yet. I now need another day of faffing to see how i can best change things up and take advantage.

Use this https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/so ... c-4_0.xlsm to calculate which charge controller you would need, it allows you to enter the specs of any PV panel and gives you a clear answer if your proposed string size will work.

Lol.
Thanks very much Fintray.
I must have been using it as you posted.

[Fintray]

Looking at victrons calculator,

I coukd do it with 1 string of 5x 625w panels and a
SmartSolar MPPT RS 450/100 & 450/200, but would need optimisers and its very expensive.

It would be better to do
2 strings, 1 string with 3x 625w, 1 string with 2x625W and could get away with SmartSolar MPPT 250/60

However if i am splitting strings up, i can jiggle panels around and have more smaller panels at the top, and larger at the bottom.

Il get back to you all in a day or two.

The Smartsolar 450/100 or 200 would be a bit overkill and like you say very expensive.

[NoraBatty]

It would be overkill for just that string,
However once the current dilapidated shed is replaced, i will have roughly the same sized array possible, so brings it back into play, although equally the shed could also be split into a couple of strings.

I then have other bits in the garden to do with added opportunities for solar.
It requires some more thought and playing with costs

[Joeboy]

It would be overkill for just that string,
However once the current dilapidated shed is replaced, i will have roughly the same sized array possible, so brings it back into play, although equally the shed could also be split into a couple of strings.

I then have other bits in the garden to do with added opportunities for solar.
It requires some more thought and playing with costs

I found that 3 panel strings up about the 140v mark worked well at our house for the more niche spots and there can be L shapes in any form too. Shade required depending. A bit more cabling, an mc4 or two but worth it.

[NoraBatty]

So you could use 10mm screwed rod, resined into 12mm holes the rod long enough to give you the bottom dimension out- say 200mm and the top rail fixed direct with screws/ penny washers?

Something like that. Resin fixings for sure whatever route as i dont trust expansion bolts as much, especially if i have to drill into the stone not concrete.
Maybe rod with a sleeve on to hold the bottom mounting backet out, instead of doubling up a nut to hold the strut out. Not a scaffold tube as its far too big, but something smaller diameter. I have some stainless tube knocking around with a thick diameter wall. Galvanised conduit pipe maybe.

Maybe a wedge or a stand off bracket instead, so the unistrut can sit at 90° and the bottom of the panel can slot into the unistrut. Dimensions dependant of course.

[NoraBatty]

It would be overkill for just that string,
However once the current dilapidated shed is replaced, i will have roughly the same sized array possible, so brings it back into play, although equally the shed could also be split into a couple of strings.

I then have other bits in the garden to do with added opportunities for solar.
It requires some more thought and playing with costs

I found that 3 panel strings up about the 140v mark worked well at our house for the more niche spots and there can be L shapes in any form too. Shade required depending. A bit more cabling, an mc4 or two but worth it.

Thanks Joe. I may have to extend the mounting area in the energy shed for everything i can fit in and plan, but plenty of time to do so.

[AlBargey]

Victron MPPT manuals all say do not use optimisers, optimisers like the Tigo have their own form of internal MPPT that messes with the Victron MPPT, if shading was really a big concern maybe multiple smaller MPPT's for just a couple of panels each is a better option.

Otherwise the EasySolar or Multi RS Solar are more similar to an all in one (AIO), but for just a few panels I'd prefer the EasySolar if there wasn't much shading and the built in MPPT worked for your setup, or separate inverter and dedicated MPPT's.

[NoraBatty]

Thanks Albargey,
It is good to know opyimisers arent recommended.
kind of a moot point now though, given i thought the multiplus had its own mppts and the issue is only for the bottom 3 panels.
If they have to go on 2 strings, then it completely does away with the need to optimise them.
The shaded ones will just be shaded and reduced output as and when, and the others will be on a different string, completely unaffected.