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Solar panel ratings

Cptnvideo
Nomad
Nomad
We have 6 200 watt panels for 1200 watts total. 3 series, 2 parallel.
Yesterday, as I was watching the LFPs get charged, I noticed the Victron 150/100 MPPT controller app showed a max power of 1204 watts.
Have any of you solar people seen a wattage output higher than the rating?

Edit: Maybe elevation has something to do with it. We are currently at 7856' elevation on the Mogollon Rim. Less atmosphere for the sun's energy to travel thru? Is the solar rating for sea level?
Bill & Linda, 2019 Ram Laramie 3500 dually 4x4 diesel, Hensley BD5 hitch, 2022 Grand Design Solitude 378MBS, 1600 watts solar, Victron 150/100 MPPT controller, GoPower 3kw inverter/charger, 5 SOK 206AH LFP batteries for 1030 ah
9 REPLIES 9

3_tons
Explorer III
Explorer III
About ten or so years ago my 22a, 400w MPPT controller was for a short period of time was holding at just over 27aโ€ฆBut strangely, this was on the Northern Calif coast, immersed in a low beach fog on what was otherwise a cloudless summertime day - this, with an โ€˜auraโ€™ of bright but highly diffused sunshine penetrating throughโ€ฆIโ€™ve often since wondered about this curiosity, but can only surmise that the grains of moisture in the air in concert with the sunlight sorta acted like a parabolic mirror - just speculatingโ€ฆ

3 tons

12thgenusa
Explorer
Explorer
It happens quite often in Colorado. The cooler temperatures, higher elevations with less atmospheric diffusion and clear skies are big factors. My controller summarizes the day's output/input with one item being Peak Watts. It is not unusual to see a peak of over 400 watts on a system rated at 370 watts. I don't have the ability to see a graphical presentation of the day's production, so I have no idea of the duration or timing of the peak events, but they do occur. I usually tilt my panels to an "optimum" angle. The panels are now 12 years old.

Two of the standard testing conditions for solar panels are sea level at 25C (77F). Both of these conditions are easily exceeded in Colorado. At 10,000 feet, you are above more than 25 percent of the atmosphere. 7800 feet elevation in Arizona will give you about the same result.


2007 Tundra DC 4X4 5.7, Alcan custom rear springs, 2009 Cougar 245RKS, 370 watts ET solar, Victron BMV-712, Victron SmartSolar 100/30, 200AH LiP04 bank, ProWatt 2000.

valhalla360
Nomad III
Nomad III
It's a standardized rating based on a specific set of test conditions. Exceed those conditions and it can put out more power.

Of course, those test conditions are near (but not at) perfect conditions. On rare occasions, you may exceed those conditions.

And as someone said, exceeding the rating by 0.3% is likely within the margin for error on the rating.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV

2oldman
Explorer II
Explorer II
I've never seen that with my system, but congratulations!
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman

Skibane
Explorer II
Explorer II
Cptnvideo wrote:
I noticed the Victron 150/100 MPPT controller app showed a max power of 1204 watts.


A difference of 4 watts is probably within the measurement margin of error of your controller - not to mention the tolerance of your solar panels' specification.

red31
Explorer
Explorer
'one sun' is 1000 W/m2
this 2013 graph of a seemingly clear blue sky day, may 31, from milford utah, note the peak is over 1000.



Solar irradiance - wiki - Irradiance on Earth's surface
"Average annual solar radiation arriving at the top of the Earth's atmosphere is roughly 1361 W/m2.[30] The Sun's rays are attenuated as they pass through the atmosphere, leaving maximum normal surface irradiance at approximately 1000 W/m2 at sea level on a clear day. When 1361 W/m2 is arriving above the atmosphere (when the sun is at the zenith in a cloudless sky), direct sun is about 1050 W/m2, and global radiation on a horizontal surface at ground level is about 1120 W/m2.[31] The latter figure includes radiation scattered or reemitted by the atmosphere and surroundings. The actual figure varies with the Sun's angle and atmospheric circumstances. Ignoring clouds, the daily average insolation for the Earth is approximately 6 kWh/m2 = 21.6 MJ/m2."

BFL13
Explorer II
Explorer II
You lose about 10% watts from panel heating. To go over you need to be high elevation in ambient cold to make up the heat loss and then some compared with "standard" conditions.
1. 1991 Oakland 28DB Class C
on Ford E350-460-7.5 Gas EFI
Photo in Profile
2. 1991 Bighorn 9.5ft Truck Camper on 2003 Chev 2500HD 6.0 Gas
See Profile for Electronic set-ups for 1. and 2.

pianotuna
Nomad III
Nomad III
Cptnvideo,

Look up cloud lensing and solar panels.

It is entirely possible to exceed the rated output, especially in the first few months of panel operation.

Panel ratings are under PERFECT solar conditions of "one sun".
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.

Lwiddis
Explorer II
Explorer II
Yes. Once. Under close to perfect solar charging conditions, clean panels and with wet batteries at a SOC of 45%โ€ฆ305 watts. Never again.
Winnebago 2101DS TT & 2022 Chevy Silverado 1500 LTZ Z71, WindyNation 300 watt solar-Lossigy 200 AH Lithium battery. Prefer boondocking, USFS, COE, BLM, NPS, TVA, state camps. Bicyclist. 14 yr. Army -11B40 then 11A - (MOS 1542 & 1560) IOBC & IOAC grad