Hi Cruisers!
A friend recently gifted me a pair of 12V 50w
solar panels after I complained that my 12V 140W
solar panel just wasn't giving me enough
power to cover my needs. With his addition I would expect to up the wattage to 12V 240W and hopefully get closer to 20 amps instead of 10 amps going to the
battery.
In real world conditions I get about 6-8 amps from the 140W panel so maybe the extra
panels could push that up to 12 to 15 amps?
The
panels are all flexible (Monocrystalline silicone)but have different ratings. I currently have an
mppt charge controller, but it is rated for 10A, So I know I'll have to change this.
My question is: can I just buy an
mppt charge controller which is rated at 20A or even 30A (in case I want to add a fourth panel), AND Is it a simply just a matter of
wiring all panels in parallel to a branch connector?
(i.e. 3 in 1 out on both the + and -)?
This is the spec from the 140Watt panel:
Rated
Power (+/- 5%) - Pmax 140 W
Open Circuit Voltage - Voc 29.5 V
short circuit
current - Isc 5.8 A
Maximum Power Voltage (Vpm) 24.9 V
Maximum Power
Current (Imp) 5.5 A
These are the specs from the 2 50W panels
Rated Power Output: 50W
Open Circuit Voltage [Voc]: 21.2V
Short Circuit Current [Isc]: 3.05A
Optimum Operating Voltage [Vmp]: 17.6V
Optimum Operating Current [Imp]: 2.84A
This is the 30A Mppt charge controller I would like to get:
from Amazon
Any
solar gurus who can give me some
advice?
Thanks!