460 watt solar setup: wire sizes?
I want to change out my old 50 watt panel and 10 amp controller with at least one and hopefully two 230 watt 24 volt panels and whatever controller would be best. Right now the roof on my fifth wheel ...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
I "cheated" since I was going MPPT and did a series/parallel install on the panels giving me a nominal voltage of 33. 2oldman took that to an extreme and did 800 watts of panels in series.
If there are to be no shade issues series installs are not a lot of extra effort. #6 wire would be a much larger expense and perhaps a bit of a pain to work with.
If I were starting over I'd use the Rogue because it does diversion loads, whereas that is an "add on" with the (excellent quality) Morningstar MPPT units.
I may end up replacing the ROM in my Blue Sky because that would get me 20 amps of diversion load capability. They want $70 for the ROM however, so it is not cost effective. I would not choose Blue Sky, because they charge extra for the temperature compensation probe--and that is imho a requirement for great charging.
Some folks are having good luck with Chinese "knock offs" for MPPT controllers.
My order of preference for 500 watts and lower in a fixed install is:
Rogue
Morningstar
Chinese Knock Off
Blue Sky
Above 500 watts:
Morningstar MPPT 60
I "cheated" since I was going MPPT and did a series/parallel install on the panels giving me a nominal voltage of 33. 2oldman took that to an extreme and did 800 watts of panels in series.
If there are to be no shade issues series installs are not a lot of extra effort. #6 wire would be a much larger expense and perhaps a bit of a pain to work with.
If I were starting over I'd use the Rogue because it does diversion loads, whereas that is an "add on" with the (excellent quality) Morningstar MPPT units.
I may end up replacing the ROM in my Blue Sky because that would get me 20 amps of diversion load capability. They want $70 for the ROM however, so it is not cost effective. I would not choose Blue Sky, because they charge extra for the temperature compensation probe--and that is imho a requirement for great charging.
Some folks are having good luck with Chinese "knock offs" for MPPT controllers.
My order of preference for 500 watts and lower in a fixed install is:
Rogue
Morningstar
Chinese Knock Off
Blue Sky
Above 500 watts:
Morningstar MPPT 60
