Please help me with solar setup
I have been reading a lot about solar on here and finally decided to take the plunge or come to the dark side as some would say. Sunny side makes more sense, but whatever. :) We do not use a lot of...
Forum Discussion
smyke wrote:
... but all the other components seem to be OK. Charger is Solar30 which few people on here like and the MC4 wires can be upgraded to 10AWG.
"All the other components" are: 1) panels, 2) controller and 3) MC4 cable.
1) 200W panels are OK unless you can fit larger ones. The more watts, the better (up to the maximum amps that #10 cable can handle without much loss). I wrote this already, the limit is ~280W.
2) 30A PWM controller that "few people here like".
You know... Sometimes people can tell whether it's doing the job well or not, and sometimes they can't or it doesn't matter to them because they use it only occasionally. On a brief glance: remote temp comp is optional (not included), the casing looks like plastic (acceptable in a smaller controllers but not 30A), and the only adjustable parameter is the Float voltage. Display looks more-less sufficient, though (probably) no backlight.
3) MC 4 in this kit you can and SHOULD upgrade to #10. It's funny that they offer #10 as an "upgrade" to #12. For 200W array I wouldn't even consider #12. But it has to be the right length. Getting 40ft when you need 80ft will likely mean that you will have to buy another roll.
This is how it works: you cut MC4 cable in half, use MC4 connectors for panels, and bare ends - for controller. So their 40ft becomes 20ft. Unless on a very small trailer, 20ft is not nearly enough.
