Solar Panels Brands - does it matter?

It would have not been confusing to me if they listed it like Rogue does:
"480 watts with 12-volt battery" or with 12 volt system.
Learning more just cost me an extra $100.00. Of course it also saved me from frying an insufficient controller:) Thanks, Jeff.

EsoxLucius wrote:
scroller95969, you are right the TS-MPPT-45 is rated for 1200 watts maximum solar array input at 24 volts and two 300 watt 24 volt panels would provide only half of that. The MPPT controller will convert nominal 24 volts (actually up to 40 volts with some panels) from the panel array to accommodate an RV nominal 12 volt system. Even at nominal 12 volts the maximum PV array input rating is 800 watts when using Normal Operating Cell Temperature ratings which is more like real world conditions than the standard test.

Batteries do not provide input power to a solar charge controller, the PV panel array does.

This is confusing. Let's try another approach: From the MS manual.

TS-MPPT-45 TS-MPPT-60
Maximum Battery Current 45 Amps 60 Amps

12 Volt 600 Watts 800 Watts
24 Volt 1200 Watts 1600 Watts
48 Volt 2400 Watts 3200 Watts

The above voltages are for the battery bank and have absolutely nothing to do with so called 12V or 24V panels.

For the typical 12V RV the maximum array wattage is 600W for the MPPT 45. You can use 1200W if and only if you have a 24V battery bank which is rare for a RV.

You can use whatever voltage panel array desired as long as you don't exceed the 150V maximum array voltage input.

Eco-Worthy controller spec says, "Max solar panel power" 300w-12v and 600w-24v

scroller95969, you are right, the TS-MPPT-45 is rated for 1200 watts maximum solar array input at 24 volts and two 300 watt 24 volt panels would provide only half of that. The MPPT controller will convert nominal 24 volts (actually up to 40 volts with some panels) from the panel array to accommodate an RV nominal 12 volt system. Even at nominal 12 volts the maximum PV array input rating is 800 watts when using Normal Operating Cell Temperature ratings which is more like real world conditions than the standard test.

Batteries do not provide input power to a solar charge controller, the PV panel array does.

Ok. I guess what was confusing me was the "maximum solar input" wording. So the 24volt refers to the battery bank voltage and not the solar input voltage. Thanks for the clarification.

Take a closer look at the specifications on the web site .........

Most (there are a very few exceptions) RV's operate with a 12 Volt house battery bank very few with a 24 Volt battery bank - I assume you have a 12 Volt battery bank, if so 600watts of solar array is the MAX Morningstar recommends for the 45 amp controller. Now if you have a 24 Volt or maybe a 48 Volt house battery bank then go for 1,200 or even 2,400 watt PV array.

The specification is for the battery voltage **NOT** the PV array voltage which can be as high as 150 Volts or even 600 Volts on the Morningstar MPPT controllers.

I'm totally confused. If it says for 12V that a charge controller will handle 600 watts of solar input or at 24V that it will handle 1200 watts of solar input doesn't that mean if he is considering 2 300watt 24 volt panels that he would only be at half of the rated capacity? I am wanting to know this because I am in the initial stages of designing my own solar system.

smk

40amps to the loads is common - have not seen 45amps not sure that could happen until I add a few more panels (plan to this winter) have room for two more and the controller capability to add them - "Loads" not battery charging current

Eso

Check out the Moringstar web site .... 600watts is the max they say for their 45amp MPPT controller - Everyone is a bit different and has different requirements / needs - Me personally I would never run at the max rating as a design parameter - I prefer to have headroom for expansion - again everyone does it a bit differently

600 watts of solar panels does not "max out" a Morningstar TS-MPPT-45.

steveexplorer, what is the brand and model of the 300 watt solar panel you are considering?

KJINTF wrote:
560watts of solar, 60amp controller and two GC Batteries (220amp/hr) work great for us.

How often do you see over 45 amps?
What is the max you have seen?