Panel to Solar Controller Wire Size
As some of you already know, I'm piecing together a solar system. Controller is a Morningstar 45A PWM. Panels will be two 12V 150W wired in parallel. I'm going to be using a combiner box on the roof, ...
Forum Discussion
Clipping is based on Vmp and would be 14.4/19.1 = 25% at 70F for a flooded battery. About 15V or 21% for colder temperatures. Also less for equalization but that is normally infrequent.
So there is a 25% loss of panel power or the 150W panel will only provide 113 watts of power to the battery.
The Morningstar MPPT-45 has 92% efficiency or 138W from the panels. Wire size with parallel panel wiring with MPPT would be a much bigger concern than with a PWM controller. Serial panel wiring is much less of a concern with MPPT.
Add 3% MPPT serial wiring loss and you have 11% efficiency loss.
So there is a 25% loss of panel power or the 150W panel will only provide 113 watts of power to the battery.
The Morningstar MPPT-45 has 92% efficiency or 138W from the panels. Wire size with parallel panel wiring with MPPT would be a much bigger concern than with a PWM controller. Serial panel wiring is much less of a concern with MPPT.
Add 3% MPPT serial wiring loss and you have 11% efficiency loss.
