Good morning all

I have  12 solar panels 450watt each connected in 3 strings

1 string has 4 solar panels

2 string has 2 panels

3 string has 6 panels

All are connected in parallel 

This is the only way I can connect up the panels due to the place there are and I can not move them.

The 3 strings go to a  combiner box which goes to my Voltonic 7200w inverter. Which charges up 6 x  US2000 lithium batteries 

My question is what is the best setup to get the most power for the panels would it help if I had a string in series 

Do all your panels have the same orientation or do they all face different directions?

Even if you can't move the panels, you would be better off with 2 strings of 6 panels each, i.e. to connect the 4 panel string in series with the 2 panel string and then parallel your 2 strings with 6 panels each.

Would you be so kind as to show me on a diagram what you mean. And what would be the size of the fuse I need for the combiner box on the series and parallel string

2 minutes ago, jason compo said:

Would you be so kind as to show me on a diagram what you mean. And what would be the size of the fuse I need for the combiner box on the series and parallel string

A photo of your available roof space or a diagraM of your roofspace would help us give more accurate answers to your question

This is the setup

The panels infront is the 6 string

17 minutes ago, jason compo said:

This is the setup

The panels infront is the 6 string

Nice ground mounting

Is that photo early morning or late afternoon?

Early this morning 

Does your Inverter have a single MPPT or 2 MPPT?
My recommendation would be that you string the top 6 panels in series (marked in red), and the bottom 6 in series (marked in yellow), but I believe you have those in series already.
Then feed one string into MPPT 1 and the second string into MPPT, if your Inverter does have 2 MPPTs.
If not, then you should parallel the two strings into the single MPPT. 

I have a combiner box as shown

Can you show me a diagram of what you mean on connecting the panels

On 2023/04/13 at 10:07 AM, jason compo said:

Good morning all

I have  12 solar panels 450watt each connected in 3 strings

1 string has 4 solar panels

2 string has 2 panels

3 string has 6 panels

All are connected in parallel 

This is the only way I can connect up the panels due to the place there are and I can not move them.

The 3 strings go to a  combiner box which goes to my Voltonic 7200w inverter. Which charges up 6 x  US2000 lithium batteries 

My question is what is the best setup to get the most power for the panels would it help if I had a string in series 

Self deleted. 

Edited April 14, 20231 yr by Scorp007

So your Inverter has two MPPTs, meaning that you could couple each string independently to the Inverter if you wire your strings into  2 X 6Panel series strings.
 

Just now, zsde said:

So your Inverter has two MPPTs, meaning that you could couple each string independently to the Inverter if you wire your strings into  2 X 6Panel series strings.
 

As I have said twice I have a combiner box so what do I have to do ?

7 hours ago, jason compo said:

As I have said twice I have a combiner box so what do I have to do ?

 

Do you know if you have some shade at certain times of the day and on which panels. 

Edited April 14, 20231 yr by Scorp007

8 hours ago, Scorp007 said:

I will post a sketch on how to connect in a few minutes. 

Do you know if you have some shade at certain times of the day and on which panels. 

 It is based on what @zsde

mentioned. 

Self deleted. 

 

Edited April 14, 20231 yr by Scorp007

1 hour ago, jason compo said:

As I have said twice I have a combiner box so what do I have to do ?

Based on my sketch you can remove say 2 fuses for the string of 2 panels and fit a 2nd SPD as I see you only have one fitted. Better to have each input to MPPT on its own SPD. 

@jason compo where are you located?

The photograph you posted of your panel setup implies they are looking South. 

Are you somewhere in Europe or similar?

So what do I do with my combiner box ?

Just now, jason compo said:

So what do I do with my combiner box ?

Sorry I do not understand the skcitch or the fuse size. I do not want to be rude but it is unlegable to me 

47 minutes ago, suds7162 said:

@jason compo where are you located?

The photograph you posted of your panel setup implies they are looking South. 

Are you somewhere in Europe or similar?

Southern Portugal  the system is pointing south

What size fuses do I use ?

Which SPD do I buy ? And again qhat do I do withy combiner box ?

4 minutes ago, jason compo said:

Southern Portugal  the system is pointing south

Ok that makes a lot of sense, I was confused there for a minute 😂

I can't help you with the other questions sorry. I'm not comfortable (or capable, to be honest) to give advice in this case, other than I think you need to get an installer or engineer out to assess and assist.

1 minute ago, suds7162 said:

Ok that makes a lot of sense, I was confused there for a minute 😂

I can't help you with the other questions sorry. I'm not comfortable (or capable, to be honest) to give advice in this case, other than I think you need to get an installer or engineer out to assess and assist.

My system is installed and working perfectly and has been for about a year I just want to get more power out.

I do not understand why you have put fuses into the sketch but do not know what size fuse to put in

.so i just put in any  size fuse??

I have drawn the sketch to what I think it looks like 

Am I correct ?