How I got 6000W of panels on one charge controller!
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- Опубликовано: 5 ноя 2022
- Featuring: Victron Energy MPPT RS 450/100
Important Please note: the 100 in the product description refers to the current limit of both combined arrays AFTER the voltage has been stepped down by the charge controller. For example: I have two strings of 12 panels that are listed at VMP 30.1 volts and IMP 8.3 amps. Both strings are wired in series so the amps of each string is around 8 amps. However, the charge controller steps down the voltage to charge the 48v system and may then send up to a max 100amps to the battery bank. In my system I have seen over 70amps coming from the controller, but AGAIN the solar panel strings themselves are only pushing around 8 amps through the solar wire! 450 is the voltage limit of each array. 100 is the TOTAL current limit of the charge controller after voltage is stepped down. 
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In reading the Victron 450/100 data sheet, it indicates that each mppt tracker can handle 18amps normal operating, 20 amp open circuit. So that would mean a total of 40 amps split evenly between the 2 trackers. If you were running at 450v at 18amps normal, that would be a 8100w solar array per tracker. If you are running at around 260v that would mean 260voc x 20amp = 5200 watts you have on each tracker. So your system pv loading is fine from what I can see- but you can't put 100 PV amps into the controller from the solar array. The 100 amps is the max output to a 48v (57v at bulk) battery bank so 100 amps x57v = 5700 watts into battery bank and maybe a bit more. Others have thought the 2 numbers on a MPPT are the PV input max #s (Volts and amps), but they relate to PV voltage max and the output to battery amperage max.
Yes, I think it confuses people that the first # (450) refers to the voltage max of each solar array but the second # refers to the max amperage the charge controller can push to the batteries (after the voltage is stepped down) Thank you for contributing. People should also keep in mind that very cold temperatures can create voltage spikes and therefore one should not try to push the voltage of each array right up to 450v. Both my trackers run slightly above 400v and I have seen around 70-80amps coming from the controller. If that kind of amperage was coming from the panels my 10 gauge solar wire wouldn’t last long! Thanks again!
There is additional limits not obvious from the spec sheet. Each tracker is limited to a maximum of 4000 watts and confirmed by Victron on their forum. Even though it says maximum 450V maximum open circuit voltage it can handle that is purely theoretical. If you review the manual it states you are limited to 8 times the float voltage of your 48V nominal battery bank. So with a 48V LiFePO4 bank that would typically be around 429V (3.35V/cell * 16 * 8).
Also note the true open circuit amperage limit is 30A not 20A. If you review the manual 20A is the limit it can protect against reverse voltage. So as long as you verify before connecting your panels to the controller they are not reversed you are allowed to connect up to a maximum 30A .
That's what I got out of the manual.
Thanks for the info. I'm setting 24 PVs on an off grid application near "Mayberry," NC. Your mounting system is the best I've seen.
Good luck on your project and thanks for the feedback!
The 100AMPS on the charge controller has nothing to do with the solar panels....The 100 AMPS is what the charge controller is able to supply to the batteries, an MPPT charge controller only takes the current it needs to provide 100 AMPS to your batteries. It really worries me that so many people that deal with high voltage no nothing about what they are doing and is how people get hurt or burn down their home. Take your 6000 watts and divide that by your pack voltage, I'm assuming its 48 Volts, that end sup being 125 AMPS. The MOST that charge controller will provide at its peak is about 4,800 Watts to your 48 nominal Volts system at 100 AMPS. Over Paneling is common and is not somethin new, as long as the supplied voltage does not go over the charge controllers rated voltage, because the charge controller will take whatever voltage you give it. The current on the other hand as I mentioned is what the charge controller regulates. Think of it like plugging in a 12 Volt 5 AMP power brick and you have one device that runs at 12 Volts 1 AMP and another that runs at 12 volts 5 AMPS. the power brick is not going to PUSH 5 AMPS to both devices, it will only push the current the devices are asking for, in this case 1AMP and 5 AMPS respectively. Now if you connected a 24 Volt power brick to either of those items, it would explode, or short etc, because the voltage is constant. But just wanted to put this out there it scares me that so many people that are messing with high voltage that think they know what they are doing and do not. If this was in a residential place it would need to be checked to ensure its up to code, since you are running voltages over 100 Volts. Think about it.
You are correct. The 100 amps refers to the current limit after the voltage is stepped down by the charge controller. This is not the first time this has been brought up. I must have not worded this correctly in the video. The whole point of the charge controller is to run low amps and high voltage to minimize wire size etc. I will write a note in the video description. However, remember that a 48 volt system charges at a voltage above 48v. My controller has supplied over 6100 watts to my batteries at one point as recorded by the controller. The controller can absolutely put out more than 4800W.
would it work out better to have the different facing arrays hooked up to just one tracker in parallel? like 8 panels west in parallel with 8 panels east on one tracker? freeing up another tracker for more perhaps over paneling?
So this charge controller, wont work unless you ground your solar panels?
Are you getting the voc, or imp voltage rating?
Thank you for this video! What size PV wire are you running to your victron?
Good question. I am using 10 gauge solar wire from the panels to the charge controller. You should really always be able to use 10 gauge. If you need a larger wire because you are running more amps you should reconsider your setup. Check out this video for an explanation ruclips.net/video/JW0vrTAa50s/видео.htmlsi=TpDk306Ch2E1O3WU
@@idunasorchard thank you! I am just getting into this and decided to run 10 gauge vs. 12 gauge because I figured I'd be pushing more power than not. Appreciate the answer!
Where did you get your Victron 450/100 charge controller?
Northern Arizona Wind and Sun. I ordered @ their online store.
www.solar-electric.com/victron-smartsolar-mppt-rs-450-100-tr-charge-controller.html
would have more strings with east and west facing
That’s the great thing about this controller. You can have one string that just faces the rising or setting sun if you want more power at those times!
Must be a low VOC on those panels as most 250 watt panels series at 12 panels would be over 450 volts.
VOC : 37v
Hopefully I’m not cutting it too close for cold weather. I have seen slightly over 450v on really cold morning but it hasn’t cut out so the unit must have a bit of a buffer on Vmax. If I have problems I’ll just disconnect one panel from each string for the winter, but so far so good. Any voltage spike over 450 should be very transitory and only due to very cold conditions.
@@idunasorchard If I remember right Victron has protection for over voltage so it doesn't break just shuts down for a while. Cloud edge on a cold morning will produce very high voltage, the other disadvantage IMHO is the shade on long string size but whatever works for you is the way to go.
@@idunasorchard I would be concerned about your high voltage. Northern Arizona Wind and Sun where you purchased it even has in red text now how you must not have your VoC higher than 8 times your battery float voltage. That's a pretty expensive piece of equipment to have it configured well outside of its published limits which for your system would be well under the 450V limit. I would lower the voltage by one panel at least for the winter months.
@@davidb.5544 So my float is set at 56.9V If you multiply by 8 that’s 455V, which is more than the VOC of my series strings, which would be 37.2V X 12 = 446.4 so technically I am within the specified limits. I’ve run the same configuration all through the winter without a problem. So 2 strings of 12 250w panels. Now my voltage may occasionally have exceeded 455V but probably for only a few milliseconds with edge of cloud. Anyway I’ve never had the unit shut off nor triggered my battery BMS or any other signs of problems…
@@idunasorchard we are starting out with (12) QCell VOC @ 48.48. We gave a Conext SW4048 inverter and prewired Midnite Solar CL150 charge controller. I am thinking to switch this controller out for an MPPT100-48HV EG4 Solar Charge Controller. The battery bank that we have is 48v/2,000Ah Absolyte GX.
Is it 450v per string or 225. ?
It’s 450v for each string.
To be super clear it is actually 8 times your battery float voltage per string, not 450V.