Different size solar panels

[Warlok]

Good day,

I have 3 cs3w-400p panels in series. Very happy with their performance. I see the power store only have the 405w panels available.

My question is, will it be ok if I add another 3 panels of a different wattage? Will the whole array deliver 400*6 (2400w) or 400*3+405*3 (2415w), or will the unbalanced setup drag the whole system down?

Another question. Say I add 3*300w panels? (The guys that know, knows where this is going), what will happen? 2100w or 1800w? Because I read somewhere that the smaller panels will drag the bigger panels down to their wattage.

The reason for the upgrade is that I will be adding a 12000btu dual inverter air-conditioner to the system. This is rated at 1095w, but will be much lower once the room gets to the set temperature. BTW, I won't be running the air-conditioner at night or cloudy days. The ambient temperature will anyway be lower then.

The graphs show an average day of my system on PVoutput.org

Before solar when there was load-shedding I used to get angry, but for the past 9 months when there's load-shedding, I just smile. So I've come to the conclusion that solar is good for your health (and the environment)

Thanks again for a great forum. Couldn't have done it without you guys.

 

 

[Gerrie]

On 2020/01/15 at 11:02 PM, Warlok said:

My question is, will it be ok if I add another 3 panels of a different wattage? Will the whole array deliver 400*6 (2400w)

I guess it will be ok to use the 405W panels, but it will only give you the 2400W if the voltages of the panels is more or less the same, go bigger but not smaller.

 

On 2020/01/15 at 11:02 PM, Warlok said:

Another question. Say I add 3*300w panels? (The guys that know, knows where this is going), what will happen? 2100w or 1800w?

The answer according to me is 1800W, I have also read reducing wattage will drag your entire system down. I was also going to mix different panels but when I went to purchase panels they actually had some hidden stock the same as my existing panels.