Nice, just built one, but it's only 2000w 2500wh mounted to be moved with dolly. Right now mostly planning on powering a shed for tools and such, but considering making interchangeable battery "packs" quick connect with anderson connectors. One question I have if you have experience with mixing solar pannels of different wattage. I have 4 165w panels and was considering buying a few 330w panels wire the 165s in series for 2 330w or 4 for 660 and 2 330s for 660 and then connect to a 60A charge controller. I know it may sacrifice some efficiency to lowest voltage or lowest Amperage. I'm sure the best choice would be to buy all the same panels, but half the parts are just what I already had so trying to keep it somewhat affordable, but still effective if that makes any sense? Cool build, I like the idea of a wheeled somewhat water resistant housing.
Yes, matching panels are ideal. I understand why you want to use what you have. I would too. Tonuse the panels you have and the panels you want to buy, you would wire the following manner. Take 2 old panels and wire them in series so they sum up the volts and Amp which would calculate the watts. Remember that Amps x Volts = Watts. Then take the wires from those 2 panels in series and use "Y" connectors to add a new panels in parallel. Do 2 sets of that and use "Y" connectors to join the 2 sets in parallel to the solar controller. There is a video someone already made describing this. It is called "Wiring Mismatched Solar Panels To Get The Most Power" Series is like making a loop. So take the positive of panel 1 and connect it to the negative of panel 2. Take the positive of panel 2 and the negative of panel 1, connect it to the "Y" connector. Parallel is bringing 2 positives together into 1 and the same for the 2 negatives. Hope this helps.
Nice, just built one, but it's only 2000w 2500wh mounted to be moved with dolly. Right now mostly planning on powering a shed for tools and such, but considering making interchangeable battery "packs" quick connect with anderson connectors. One question I have if you have experience with mixing solar pannels of different wattage. I have 4 165w panels and was considering buying a few 330w panels wire the 165s in series for 2 330w or 4 for 660 and 2 330s for 660 and then connect to a 60A charge controller. I know it may sacrifice some efficiency to lowest voltage or lowest Amperage. I'm sure the best choice would be to buy all the same panels, but half the parts are just what I already had so trying to keep it somewhat affordable, but still effective if that makes any sense? Cool build, I like the idea of a wheeled somewhat water resistant housing.
Yes, matching panels are ideal. I understand why you want to use what you have. I would too. Tonuse the panels you have and the panels you want to buy, you would wire the following manner. Take 2 old panels and wire them in series so they sum up the volts and Amp which would calculate the watts. Remember that Amps x Volts = Watts. Then take the wires from those 2 panels in series and use "Y" connectors to add a new panels in parallel. Do 2 sets of that and use "Y" connectors to join the 2 sets in parallel to the solar controller.
There is a video someone already made describing this. It is called "Wiring Mismatched Solar Panels To Get The Most Power"
Series is like making a loop. So take the positive of panel 1 and connect it to the negative of panel 2. Take the positive of panel 2 and the negative of panel 1, connect it to the "Y" connector.
Parallel is bringing 2 positives together into 1 and the same for the 2 negatives.
Hope this helps.