12 volt solar plan change

[Kappy]

Hi, been off grid of late, had a little health hiccup but getting back into it.

I had been researching and had planned a quality Lithium system, but recent events have forced me to rethink things (budget etc)

So probably will stick with AGM's

I have 14 x 100 watt panels wired in parallel and in 2 banks coming into a junction box set up.

My panels potentially produce 79 amps, that impacts on the type of solar controller/s that can be used.

A neighbour has stepped in to assist me and has suggested I have 12 x 100 watt panels wired in parallel producing approx 68 amps connected to a Plasmatroics PL 80 controller and the remaining 2 x 100 watt panels wired in series producing 5.7 amps connected to my current Steca solar controller and wired to my Bus 24 volt batteries to trickle while parked up.

I think a Lifepo system is better, but as as mentioned before due to recent events and future uncertainty will have to stick AGM.

Also been suggested having less batteries in a bank is better so planning on 2 approx 260 aH batteries.

Cheers

[Barboots]

I hope things stay on the up for you Kappy. [emoji106]

I'm part way through a smaller upgrade... smaller due to roof size... however I thought I'd chime in and cast a vote for the SSR based set-up. The scalability would suit a large system such as yours, and the redundancy of having a few SSRs doing the work would be reassuring when away from things.

I'm using a Plasmatronics Dingo 2020N as referred by Mr. T1. You'd possibly end up with spare change if you had to change controllers, but perhaps the PL80 has the same capability.

An alternative might be to switch off a few panels via a relay (etc) controlled by a thermal switch on your PL80's heatsink?

Cheers,
Steve

[bagmaker]

How did you figure the 79 amps Kappy?

[Kappy]

Thanks Steve,

I'm not sure the Dingo 2020N would handle the current my panels produce without the addition other hardware.

According to Plasmatronics the PL 80 will handle the current of 12 panels, maybe even 14 but that right on the limit.

Hoping to keep things real simple, its taken ages for me to get my head around things thus far.

If anyone can assist with any info using the Dingo 2020 I'm all ears, but simple language is the key.

Cheers

[Kappy]

How did you figure the 79 amps Kappy?

Maximum Power Current (Imp) 5.7A x 14 panels = 79.8A

[Barboots]

Not complex, but I guess it's also not simple. Depends on perspective [emoji6]

Terry had some component value alterations, and will be well able to confirm that the PL80 can do this... I believe it can.

Cheers,
Steve

[bagmaker]

I would have thought 14 x 100w panels would give you 1400 watts nominal, 116 amps at 12v.
Using the fully gauranteed ozrvnews 80% rule a good day should see you with around 93 amps.

And using the above system a Dingo 20 will do the whole 93 amps as well, albeit PWM.

cheers

[Jon and Kay]

I would have thought 14 x 100w panels would give you 1400 watts nominal, 116 amps at 12v.
Using the fully gauranteed ozrvnews 80% rule a good day should see you with around 93 amps.

And using the above system a Dingo 20 will do the whole 93 amps as well, albeit PWM.

cheers

12v nominal, but panels actually deliver at closer to 18v, so 1400/18=77A Kappy is correct, if it's summer, if the panels are tilted to the sun etc, etc. More likely he will see less than 70A

[Busman]

And if ALL the planets are aligned !

[Kappy]

I would have thought 14 x 100w panels would give you 1400 watts nominal, 116 amps at 12v.
Using the fully gauranteed ozrvnews 80% rule a good day should see you with around 93 amps.

And using the above system a Dingo 20 will do the whole 93 amps as well, albeit PWM.

cheers

Yes Bagmaker 1400 watt, however the label on the back states 5.7 amps max.

Terry was gonna fit the Dingo 2020 with the planned Lithium install with some other hardware.

Will need to research this SSR.

On its own I think a 2020 can only handle 20 amps.