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finalshare avatar image
finalshare asked

Running a MPPT 150/100 at 160 Volt bad?

Hi, i have a Victron 150/100 with 3x LG Neon R 370 watt solar panels rated for 370 watts at 37 volts and 10,01 amps

thing is, that should be 1110 Watts of solar but i often get 1200 and even 1300 watts for more than half an hour thats 120 Volts at 10 Amps

im thinking of putting a 4th panel on the roof

That would be 1480 watts with 148 volts at 10,01 amps


Theoretical ok as datasheet states

but im expecting it would also over-deliver at 160 Volts- 10 amps

thast 10 volts over rated voltage of the expensive Victron Unit.

Will this cause problems?

MPPT ControllersMPPT SmartSolarSolar Panel
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2 Answers
marekp avatar image
marekp answered ·

YES.

This will kill your MPPT.

If you want 4 panels make it 2s2p.

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finalshare avatar image finalshare commented ·
damn... that would be 80 Volts at 20 Amps


now im fearing performance lost with high amps and heat loss also 80 volts will decrease my eficiency i guess.

thats too bad..

could i hook up a Weaker Panel from the Same Brand in series ?
like 3x 40 and 1x 20 Volts to get to a maximum of 140 volts? or will this disturb the panels


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marekp avatar image marekp finalshare commented ·
Panels in one string needs to be identical.

What is your battery voltage?


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finalshare avatar image finalshare marekp commented ·
48 volt pylontech
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marekp avatar image marekp finalshare commented ·

If you have 48V battery why did you buy 100A MPPT?

Did you use this calculator?

https://www.victronenergy.com/mppt-calculator

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finalshare avatar image finalshare marekp commented ·
i had a 12 volt system before and now i upgraded to 48 volts, earlier i needed the 100amps


but now i messured again... seems like i cant even fit the 4th panel . sadly


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marekp avatar image marekp finalshare commented ·

If I were you, I would go now with 2s2p if now you have only 4 panels,

Later I would make it 3s2p. (6 panels)

Further upgrades would have to be 3s3p, 3s4p up to 3s7p.

Only do not wait to long with the upgrade because you might have a problem getting same panels later. They go off the market fast and are replaced with new models.

Edit:

I just noticed that you have no room for more than 3 panels, so my suggestions a useless.

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finalshare avatar image finalshare marekp commented ·
But thanks for your help anyway!


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gro avatar image
gro answered ·

I think any efficiency loss will be more than made up for by the extra energy you will collect with 4 panels.

If you want more panels you can have a 3s2p array.

Don’t play with different panels, it is not advised that you mix panels. I certainly would avoid different wattage panels in a series string.

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finalshare avatar image finalshare commented ·
so you mean 3 panels in series and then the 3 panels + 1 panel in paralel? is that doable?
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kevgermany avatar image kevgermany ♦♦ finalshare commented ·
I think that will kill any output from the single panel.
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