Hi,
I realize that this question was asked and answered a few years back however I am confused by part of the accepted response:
"Any MPPT (or PWM) solar charger, has a limit to how much Wp it can handle, eg. the max Wp of a 100/150 or 100/250 SmartSolar is 5 800Wp.
It also does not have to be the same size MPPT's, or the same size panels.
But make sure that all the panels on a single MPPT, is the same size. You don't want to mix sizes in a single array, as they will all be derated to the smallest panel. Eg, 2 x 150Wp, mixed with 2 x 250Wp in same array, will all be derated to 150Wp. As if you had 4 x 150Wp."
Regarding the underlined part, is there something special about Victron MPPT controllers that do not allow mixed wattage panels in parallel? To be more specific, in my case, I have 3 x 170W (8.6A ea.) and 1 x 100W panels and they are all 12V (the 180s are fractionally lower in V than the 100). I was planning to hook two 170W panels together in series and feed my 200Ah LiFEPO4 battery via a Victron 20A SmartSolar MPPT controller then run the 3rd 170W and the 100W panels together in parallel through a 15 A MPPT to the same battery. Is there any problem with that? What derating would occur?
As a less preferred alternative, can I not hook them all up in parallel and use a 35A controller?
Any help with this would be appreciated,
Thanks
