So here's the background. 

I have a sunsynk 5kw inverter.

1x hubble am2 (soon to be 2x)

12x400w Canadian solar panels

Split 1x8 facing north and 1x4 facing east. 

I have space on the north but wanted some protection against morning loadshedding when I had lead acids and even when I had 1x hubble. 

Now I'm getting 4x450w ja solar panels. 

The question is how do I deploy the new panels? 

Option 1 put them on the north and add them on the east strin so 1x8 with 4 east and 4 north. Voltage of about 400v.

Option 2 put them on the north and have two strings to one mppt 2x4 with one string east and one string north. Voltage of about 200v.

Option 3 move the east panels onto the north and have another north string of 8 panels half 400w and half 450w?

Option 4 face the new panels west or any other ideas? 

 

I'll await the feedback from the wise men of the forum 🙏

53 minutes ago, Dani said:

Option 3 move the east panels onto the north and have another north string of 8 panels half 400w and half 450w?

That option 3 makes most sense.
So you will have 2 strings of 8 and each string onto one mppt.
The 2 new panels will only output 400 watts each, but that is ok as they will all face the same direction which is better than having mixed directions on one mppt.

You should not mix directions of panels on same mppt.

Edited April 13, 20231 yr by WannabeSolarSparky

54 minutes ago, Dani said:

So here's the background. 

I have a sunsynk 5kw inverter.

1x hubble am2 (soon to be 2x)

12x400w Canadian solar panels

Split 1x8 facing north and 1x4 facing east. 

I have space on the north but wanted some protection against morning loadshedding when I had lead acids and even when I had 1x hubble. 

Now I'm getting 4x450w ja solar panels. 

The question is how do I deploy the new panels? 

Option 1 put them on the north and add them on the east strin so 1x8 with 4 east and 4 north. Voltage of about 400v.

Option 2 put them on the north and have two strings to one mppt 2x4 with one string east and one string north. Voltage of about 200v.

Option 3 move the east panels onto the north and have another north string of 8 panels half 400w and half 450w?

Option 4 face the new panels west or any other ideas? 

 

I'll await the feedback from the wise men of the forum 🙏

2Px4S is a big waste on 1XMPPT. The panels can provide about 21A and the inverter will throttle them to 13A. Nearly 50% loss. 

No problem having the 400 and 450 in series. You will only loose 0.5A which the 450 can provide but will be limited by the 400W if put in series. 

If you need morning PV for LS with batteries discharged try to use the 450 with higher volts on the East Side. Using 5 x 400W east will provide an early morning start and good charging. It is not indicated if you have space for 5 in east and west direction. 5 in the west direction will ensure fully charged batteries and even provide power for early evening loads. 

After the 4/5 east and or west put the rest facing north for best production during the day. 

East in serie with north or west in serie with north can work but at a reduced output. 

Let's hear of other options. 

 

Edited April 13, 20231 yr by Scorp007

On 2023/04/13 at 8:59 PM, WannabeSolarSparky said:

That option 3 makes most sense.
So you will have 2 strings of 8 and each string onto one mppt.
The 2 new panels will only output 400 watts each, but that is ok as they will all face the same direction which is better than having mixed directions on one mppt.

You should not mix directions of panels on same mppt.

Good day

I had to install 4 X panels east and 4 X panels west all on 1 MPPT. I see you say that this must not be done. Can you please explain and assist?

A panel will allow different levels of electrical current to flow through it, depending on the level of light falling on it. More sun, more current, less sun, less current. The problem is, if you place all the panels electrically in series, the the entire string will be current-limited by the panels receiving the shadow side, which will be the West-side panels in the morning, and the East-side panels towards the evening. Some folks say it's fine, personally I don't like the idea.

3 hours ago, Nature said:

Good day

I had to install 4 X panels east and 4 X panels west all on 1 MPPT. I see you say that this must not be done. Can you please explain and assist?

1Px8S with half the panels facing east and half facing west will only perform in the middle of the day. 2Px4S will work fine if the MPPT can handle the current. You won't get the most energy out of each panel, but that was already a given with changing the orientation away from north.

4 hours ago, Nature said:

I had to install 4 X panels east and 4 X panels west all on 1 MPPT. I see you say that this must not be done. Can you please explain and assist?

You can do it like that but you will lose a lot of efficiency early morning and late afternoon.

5 hours ago, GreenFields said:

A panel will allow different levels of electrical current to flow through it, depending on the level of light falling on it. More sun, more current, less sun, less current. The problem is, if you place all the panels electrically in series, the the entire string will be current-limited by the panels receiving the shadow side, which will be the West-side panels in the morning, and the East-side panels towards the evening. Some folks say it's fine, personally I don't like the idea.

Very well explained. I have been suggesting to a friend that has some panels in 1 direction and some at a 90 degree different direction to reconnect some in series with his 2nd new string to create a 1Px8S when he added panels. He insisted but his installer keeps on saying the different directions is fine and he himself feels but his new Deye inverter is working fine. Sometimes it is just accepting improving a situation. By changing it will be just more power for free but it remains a own choice to improve matters. 

Edited April 21, 20231 yr by Scorp007