Large Solar Panels
I have been looking at maybe using 2 255 watt panels they are big 65"x 38", this would give me more wattage than using 4 100 watt. I know that I need more battery but you have to start somewhere. Any...
Forum Discussion
Other than being Monocrystalline, I don't see anything wrong with these panels. Mono used to be more efficient per same size than Poly a decade ago. Today I would choose Poly over Mono. Shop around, there should be Poly close to $200. Solar Blvd have 260W by Solar World, good brand, $230, Germans put some odd H4 connectors on it but they are reportedly compatible with MC4.
Don is right about extra ~20% of power when using MPPT. Though this is a result of MPPT only. 5*100W modules in series would generate same power as 2*250W in series, if same MPPT is used. I just don't see why paying more and drilling more, to install 5*100 vs 2*250.
As to your question - Anybody using large panels - oh yeah. Check the list of members installs in SMK post. 10-15 years ago people were installing 2*100 or 2*160 because couldn't afford more wattage. Big panels didn't exist or were not marketed to individual consumers because the cost was prohibitive. Today panels cost 10 times less per watt, so more and more people install 2, 3 or 4 panels 250W each. I have 2*250, SMK has 3*250. Some members have a single 250W panel, with lower-end 20A MPPT.
Don is right about extra ~20% of power when using MPPT. Though this is a result of MPPT only. 5*100W modules in series would generate same power as 2*250W in series, if same MPPT is used. I just don't see why paying more and drilling more, to install 5*100 vs 2*250.
As to your question - Anybody using large panels - oh yeah. Check the list of members installs in SMK post. 10-15 years ago people were installing 2*100 or 2*160 because couldn't afford more wattage. Big panels didn't exist or were not marketed to individual consumers because the cost was prohibitive. Today panels cost 10 times less per watt, so more and more people install 2, 3 or 4 panels 250W each. I have 2*250, SMK has 3*250. Some members have a single 250W panel, with lower-end 20A MPPT.
