Interest in mismatched panel test?
Ever since I got my first set of mismatched panels, seeing then react to different conditions convinced me they would interfere with a MPPT controllers ability to track. With the TS-MPPT-60 I could lo...
Forum Discussion
So I was able to get some series test in today between the clouds. I should have logged separate graphs for each test but I did one log and am using the voltage of the array to tell what I was testing. It didnt seem like putting the 230w poly in between the two 250w polys made a big difference watching the outputs of amps and watts. A little less but not much.
What was odd was connecting all four panels in series. by the time I got to that test a cloud bank had rolled in but I was pulling 20a when there was no sun to be seen. I did some yard work while the cloud passed and was ready to see the controller max out when there was clear sun but it never happened even though there was 970w in series and the Voc was 130v. I re ran the test starting with the 3 250w, then 2 250w and the 230 and finally the four together. This time the four together were hooked up in bright light and the output was better but not what I expected from four panels. The watts out stayed around 660w and the amps were not that far above the three 250w and certainly not the additional 16a I know the 230w is capable of delivering. There are a few spikes, one up to 800w and 58a but only for a moment and then it dropped back down.
so some how the off panel did affect the controller. It just seemed to have a hard time tracking in the first test and even when it did in the second it didn't produce enough extra to warrant the cost and hassle of mounting a forth panel. I hope to rerun the test tomorrow so that I can make separate graphs and show the different results. I'll try and get the 220w mono in the test too.
What was odd was connecting all four panels in series. by the time I got to that test a cloud bank had rolled in but I was pulling 20a when there was no sun to be seen. I did some yard work while the cloud passed and was ready to see the controller max out when there was clear sun but it never happened even though there was 970w in series and the Voc was 130v. I re ran the test starting with the 3 250w, then 2 250w and the 230 and finally the four together. This time the four together were hooked up in bright light and the output was better but not what I expected from four panels. The watts out stayed around 660w and the amps were not that far above the three 250w and certainly not the additional 16a I know the 230w is capable of delivering. There are a few spikes, one up to 800w and 58a but only for a moment and then it dropped back down.
so some how the off panel did affect the controller. It just seemed to have a hard time tracking in the first test and even when it did in the second it didn't produce enough extra to warrant the cost and hassle of mounting a forth panel. I hope to rerun the test tomorrow so that I can make separate graphs and show the different results. I'll try and get the 220w mono in the test too.
