Proposed Solar Install thoughts

Before I comment further could you please tell us what your battery bank will be and if you will be employing an inverter? Battery make and model, how many, and how wired?

Hi,

The Tristar MPPT 60 amp is more fully featured and more efficient.

Are you sure about MPPT?

1000/12v = 83 amps--so you really need to consider a different controller. Midnight solar makes a larger one.

Or

Convert to a 24 volt battery bank.

You need to add a battery(s) monitor to the shopping list you may find you need less power than you think. As pointed out you may be limited as to how many panels you have room for.
http://www.bogartengineering.com or http://www.victronenergy.com/battery-monitors

Part of this equation is energy conservation and measures i.e. LED lights may reduce need. When boondocking we use propane to make coffee, cook...
I have two Morningstar Sunsaver MPPT controllers fed by high voltage panels one a flexible roll it out in the sun on a cord and a 185 66 cell on the roof. What I found was that the single panel works well enough that I do not need the other.
One other resource http://handybobsolar.wordpress.com

Have you measured space needed for 250w panels?

Cut out a cardboard (or 4) and place them on the roof and see what fits. You need to be 12" to 18"+ from tall items like air-conditioner and open vents. Need 4" to 10" from low items such as closed vents and retracted antenna. Or will this be portable?

45w controller is good for about 700w and even that is above MS recommendations. Unless you will have a large 24v battery....

1 panel just get #10 MC4 wire and pull direct to controller.
2 or 3 panels connect in series and do the same. Amps do not increase in series. Bypass diodes minimize effects of shading.
4 panels is too high of voltage in series so you are stuck with parallel and a combiner box etc. You could go series/parallel if you think shade issues will be minimal. Then you would be back to plug and play with MC4 connectors. Can get #8 with MC4 to carry the 16 amps.

With 1000w are you planning 500+ amp hours of battery? Usually 1 to 2 watts of solar per battery amp hour is way plenty.

You have read this thread right?
Forum Members Solar Installations With Pics

240 watts is a pretty large panel. Are you sure that you have a 3' X 5 or 6' long area to put it in?

You might want to try more manageable 120 - 150 watt panels.

Also check out this website. SunElec.com

Fred.

I don't think 45 amps is enough for 1000w. (four 250s in series/parallel? ) Would be over 60a too. You could get another controller for the second string when that happens and put the two controllers in parallel on the battery bank. Must be a hefty bank!

45 amp controller won't handle the 1kW upgrade unless you are planning more controllers in parallel.

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