Solar panel exceeding controller rating

 
 
 
 
 
 
RGIvy
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Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 04.11.2020  ·  #1
Hi folks

If I have a 20A MPP solar regulator and on a very sunny day my panels produce 350w (21A), will I simply lose the extra to never-never land or will it potentially damage my controller?

TIA
Rog


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Re: Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 04.11.2020  ·  #2
Quote by RGIvy

Hi folks

If I have a 20A MPP solar regulator and on a very sunny day my panels produce 350w (21A), will I simply lose the extra to never-never land or will it potentially damage my controller?

TIA
Rog


Have you measured the 21A? The risk with overcurrent is excess heat.


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Re: Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 04.11.2020  ·  #3
Quote by <BM>

Have you measured the 21A? The risk with overcurrent is excess heat.


No, not measured it. We're changing over to LifePO4 and want to change the charging system to compatible kit. I'm simply not sure at this stage if I'll upgrade my panels, and wanted to future-proof just in case and if feasible.


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Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 04.11.2020  ·  #4
Quote by RGIvy

Hi folks

If I have a 20A MPP solar regulator and on a very sunny day my panels produce 350w (21A), will I simply lose the extra to never-never land or will it potentially damage my controller?

TIA
Rog


where are you getting the 21amps from?
How many and what are the panels rated at, how are they connected?.
what output voltage are you getting and from where?


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Re: Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 04.11.2020  ·  #5
Quote by sprinter

where are you getting the 21amps from?
How many and what are the panels rated at, how are they connected?.
what output voltage are you getting and from where?


I currently have three 100w panels, but as they are 10 years old I'm considering upgrading to newer and more efficient panels, and possibly bigger capacity or more of them.
The 21amps is just a theoretical figure I picked from the air.

I asked in some other places and the basic answer I got was that it depends on the regulator (i.e. safety cut-offs etc) in order to protect the actual hardware, but that one should really have a regulator capable of handling a maximum wattage/amperage.

So I've gone with a "Epever MPPT Solar Charger 12/24/36V/48 V, 40A, Input 150V, LCD UI (XTRA4415N)"
That 40A should give us a bit of leeway.


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Re: Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 04.11.2020  ·  #6
Where are you to be getting 21A at this time of year?

In all honesty my view would be that the controller has not been up to the job at all as a 20amp controller should be matched to 200/250 watts of panels and for your 350watts you should have a 30amp controller. Going with LifePO4 power may mean a complete change of controller and charger anyway.


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Re: Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 04.11.2020  ·  #7
3 X 100w panels will normally only produce in the high 200's even in the south of Spain in the summer. How can they produce a figure in excess of their rated maximum during an Irish winter, something is seriously out of kilter.

Example, my 200w of solar will only achieve 180w or thereabouts in mid-summer in southern Europe and struggle to 70w or 80w during the winter here and that's considered normal.

Liked by: panda, sprinter

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Re: Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 05.11.2020  ·  #8
Quote by baguette

3 X 100w panels will normally only produce in the high 200's even in the south of Spain in the summer. How can they produce a figure in excess of their rated maximum during an Irish winter, something is seriously out of kilter.


As I stated above: "I'm simply not sure at this stage if I'll upgrade my panels, and wanted to future-proof just in case and if feasible."
So I may decide to upgrade the panels. Possibly to a 450w. I was toying around with the idea of 2x450w but that may be overkill, even for Ireland.


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Re: Solar panel exceeding controller rating

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Posted: 05.11.2020  ·  #9
Quote by RGIvy

I was toying around with the idea of 2x450w but that may be overkill, even for Ireland.


If you have the space and controller to handle it....Why not :up:


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