Yet another solar question
Been RV'ing for a long time & have been reading ALL solar posts with interest. I was reading a recent solar post and one person brought up Solar Blvd. I visited their web site and ran across this d...
Forum Discussion
I can compare "starting try it out" sets where you can subsequently expand if desired based on some lessons learned :
Two 100w 12v panels and a simple 20a PWM controller ($13) , with
Single 230w 24v panel and a low cost 20a MPPT controller ($102)
(the 230w panel weighs 48lbs, each 100w half that)
The two 100w cost about the same as the single 230 so it is all about the controller costs and practical matters.
The main thing is with the two 100s and the cheap controller, you don't have to buy an expensive MPPT controller up front. You can't choose the low cost MPPT controller either, because it will only run one big panel, so to expand you need another and another. You can have several controllers all at once, but it is easier to run it all with one controller if yiou can get one with that capacity (in max Voc input and enough amps rating)
Instead, you can play with the two light-weight panels and learn how solar works, then if you want to expand, by now you will know by how much and then get the right sized expensive controller ($400 + )
The key to all that is the two 100w 12v panels can be put in series to become like one 200w panel and be run by an MPPT controller. So that would be your first "big panel" in your subsequent solar set up-- so not wasted.
If you ever fry your fancy MPPT controller, then at least you can still do some solar by reverting to just the two 100s back in parallel and the $13 controller (won't run the big panel) till you get back in business with the big set-up
And yes, that 48lb 230w panel is no fun to lug around as a portable, but the little 100w panels are easy doing one at a time.
Two 100w 12v panels and a simple 20a PWM controller ($13) , with
Single 230w 24v panel and a low cost 20a MPPT controller ($102)
(the 230w panel weighs 48lbs, each 100w half that)
The two 100w cost about the same as the single 230 so it is all about the controller costs and practical matters.
The main thing is with the two 100s and the cheap controller, you don't have to buy an expensive MPPT controller up front. You can't choose the low cost MPPT controller either, because it will only run one big panel, so to expand you need another and another. You can have several controllers all at once, but it is easier to run it all with one controller if yiou can get one with that capacity (in max Voc input and enough amps rating)
Instead, you can play with the two light-weight panels and learn how solar works, then if you want to expand, by now you will know by how much and then get the right sized expensive controller ($400 + )
The key to all that is the two 100w 12v panels can be put in series to become like one 200w panel and be run by an MPPT controller. So that would be your first "big panel" in your subsequent solar set up-- so not wasted.
If you ever fry your fancy MPPT controller, then at least you can still do some solar by reverting to just the two 100s back in parallel and the $13 controller (won't run the big panel) till you get back in business with the big set-up
And yes, that 48lb 230w panel is no fun to lug around as a portable, but the little 100w panels are easy doing one at a time.
