New solar project

daveyboy12 wrote:
I'd like to be able to run the refrigerator, watch TV through-out the day, and be able to use laptop, and some other small electrical items.

I was planning on getting two of the Grape 250 watt mono panels.

Some "small items" draw a lot more than big items, especially "small" 120V items. Microwave will draw more than DC circuit of LP fridge, coffee maker can draw more than MW, and the DW running her hair drier on Hi for half hour will draw more than MW for the day. With 500W solar you can have all these items, but some self-discipline is needed not to run them all at the same time and to restrict the use on some days. If you can make your meals and coffee on propane, your daily energy draw will be a lot smaller, and 500W will work fine. If you can't - then you will need either more solar or a generator because on some days 500W won't harvest enough.

daveyboy12 wrote:

I've heard others say the MC4 connectors don't work all that well so they cut the MC4 off and splice in 10 or 8 AWG.

MC4 connectors work perfect. The problem is that the panel has 3ft long MC4 cable, but controller takes a stripped wire and it is faar away from the panel, so you have to transition from the panel to controller. For that, you need one looong MC4 cable cut in half - MC4 ends connect to the 3ft MC4 panel cable, and stripped ends go to controller.

Yes, many people choose to run #8 or #6 or thicker cable to controller. For parallel wired panels and long wire run you might have to. MC4 comes in #12, #10 and #8. There is probably no MC4 in #6 gauge.

daveyboy12 wrote:
I know this likely voids the panel warranty.

I don't think it matters these days. Shipping cost is nearly as much as the panel itself. If it works when you pick it up or receive at home, it will work for many years. It's easy to test the panel right in the warehouse.

There I planned on buying a decent charge controller, something I could use on another project down the road, the midnite classic 150.

Way overkill. 500W panel needs 30-35A controller, and 45A would be a little overkill already. Unless you plan to upgrade to 2,000W in future, you don't need 150A controller.

daveyboy12 wrote:
Got it, I see the - from one panel goes directly to the + of the 2nd panel, and the two left run down to the charge controller.

SMK was talking about series connection. If you have to have a parallel for some reason, then you can still use MC4 connectors, but you will have to buy costly Y-splitters or whatever they are called, for parallel wiring of MC4.