phemens wrote:
I have a total of 630 ah of batteries (3x 12v). My plan was to wire up 3 solar panels 1 existing 250w plus 2 new 300w panels) at 24v to a Victron Blue Solar 50A MPPT controller. I spoke to the guy selling me the panels, he tells me that my first limitation in the max wattage the batteries can accept from the controller at 12v (manual says 700w at 12v or 1400w at 24). After that point he says that the MPPT will cap the output anyways.
He says I’m better off putting 2 x 72 cell 335w panels on the Victron 50A MMPT (670w total) and adding a separate controller for the 250w panel wired separately to the batteries.Ã
Is this correct?
The controller can accept up to 100 volts. This will dictate if you wire series, you need to make sure you dont go over that.
Whatever watt panels you get if you go over the 700 watts the controller will just cap the amps. 700/12v = 58 amps.
72 cell panels are big.
If as you suggest your 850 watts of panels, you will not actually get that out of them during full sun. maybe 700??
Id rather have more solar and let the controller limit the power, then not enough. Again up to the 100 volt the controller is rated at.
Dont know where you are installing these. But to save on splitters and such, I would do your 3 panels in series for a 60 plus volt total. I would get matching panels with what you have. 3-250 watt panels.
But the two 72 cell panels will have the higher volts. ( probably 36 v short circuit) So in series 70 plus volts to controller.
So 3- 250watt or two 335watt on a voltage perspective are really the same. Its only an 80 watt difference.
So it comes down to how much real estate you have to mount panels.
