June 23, 20242 yr I have two strings of 5 x 550w JA Solar panels . My question is this, can I add two more panels to the one string or do the strings have to be equal, meaning six in each ? Also does the orientation need to be the same ? Both strings face 15 deg N (my prev post I said NW but I subsequently installed compass app on phone) , so could I add the additional two panels mounted against a close by parapet wall which faces 62 deg N (more direct facing to the early morning sun) ? Finally what should be used to clean the panels and how often ? I noticed quite of dust caking the surface.
June 23, 20242 yr 5 hours ago, ZaOracle said: I have two strings of 5 x 550w JA Solar panels . My question is this, can I add two more panels to the one string or do the strings have to be equal, meaning six in each ? Also does the orientation need to be the same ? Both strings face 15 deg N (my prev post I said NW but I subsequently installed compass app on phone) , so could I add the additional two panels mounted against a close by parapet wall which faces 62 deg N (more direct facing to the early morning sun) ? Finally what should be used to clean the panels and how often ? I noticed quite of dust caking the surface. It's essential to provide the make and model of inverter. A lot of inverters will be fine with 6 panels per string but one needs to know the maximum input per MPPT and if different directions the 2x MPPTs work much better.
June 23, 20242 yr My one cent: If you require more power in the morning then place 6 on a bearing of 062 (62Deg N) and the rest 015 (15Deg N). I don't think 2 panels alone facing 062 will make a difference. Will the mppt even start up with only two? I might be wrong but most people don't recommend mixing azimuth direction per mppt ie on the same mppt having 3 facing N and the other 3 facing NNE. Emphasis being SAME MPPT One string facing N on a mppt and one string facing NNE on the other mppt is recommended.
June 23, 20242 yr 7 hours ago, ZaOracle said: I have two strings of 5 x 550w JA Solar panels . My question is this, can I add two more panels to the one string or do the strings have to be equal, meaning six in each ? Also does the orientation need to be the same ? Both strings face 15 deg N (my prev post I said NW but I subsequently installed compass app on phone) , so could I add the additional two panels mounted against a close by parapet wall which faces 62 deg N (more direct facing to the early morning sun) ? Finally what should be used to clean the panels and how often ? I noticed quite of dust caking the surface. Previous post from @AndrewJdc is spot on. You can have 6 on each MPPT and even if the sizes vary a bit it will be OK as we don't always have the full 1000W/m² of irradiation. With 6 you are about 200W per MPPT over the spec of the inverter. I think this won't be a problem.
June 23, 20242 yr 9 hours ago, ZaOracle said: I have two strings of 5 x 550w JA Solar panels . My question is this, can I add two more panels to the one string or do the strings have to be equal, meaning six in each ? You have 5 x 550w/ mppt = 2750w/ mppt currently. Now you are asking 7 x 550w= 3850w for mppt1 and 5 x 550w for mppt2. You will be 600w over the spec for mppt1 but that will not be a problem for the Sunsynk 5kw. 2nd question no the 2 strings on different mppts do not have to be equal. Edited June 23, 20242 yr by TaliaB
June 23, 20242 yr 9 hours ago, ZaOracle said: Also does the orientation need to be the same ? Golden rule orientation and tilt must be the same on a single input mppt( 1 string/mppt) for best performance. On a 2 string mppt you can have 1 string of equal amount of panels facing east and the same amount facing west into 1 mppt with 2 strings input as they are paralleled entering the mppt this way you don't have peak production at mid-day but you have an equal spread throughout the day. Edited June 23, 20242 yr by TaliaB
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