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Forum Index : Solar : Looking to add panels - advice please
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Spook Newbie  Joined: 17/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 9 |
Hi, I have a stand alone system equipped with a 600AH battery bank at 24 volt and fed by 24 Unisolar US64's connected in series to give me 12 x 24 volt 3.88 amp charging panels. I have a Plasmatronics PL60 controlling the input and want to lay in some more charge capacity. I'm thinking I need to almost double panel capacity but I'm not sure what specs to look for in new panels. Obviously I don't want any more Unisolars given their substantial cost compared to others available. The Unisolars were originally bought for a marine installation (houseboat) and utilised instead on my home. I also don't understand the pros and cons of Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline. All help appreciated. Normal? Me?.......I don't think so! |
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| Spook Newbie Joined: 17/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 9 |
I don't believe that out of 80 viewers there is not one person who has the knowledge to help me. Normal? Me?.......I don't think so! |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Its that time of year Spook. Only suggestion i have is to buy solar panels for off grid, not grid connect. Grid connect panels have a lower max voltage, even though they are rated the same running voltage. That means for battery charging, they would give less in low light conditions. For grid connect, it doesn't matter. Google may help with the pro/cons of mono/poly. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| VK4AYQ Guru  Joined: 02/12/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2539 |
Hi Spook What I would suggest in your case is a split system using a separate regulator and set of panels to existing set up, then you can use whatever panels you can get at a reasonable price, 250 watt 24 volt panels at a $1 a what is fairly common now. On the poly and Mono situation there is very little difference in the efficiency now and as for life span they are much the same also, the thing is in an ideal situation stick to the one type for your system, but in saying that you can also mix them in a system providing you do not series them, as the slightly different resistance of the two types will lower your output. As Glenn says use charging panels rather than grid connect panels as they are better in a stand alone system,you can use grid connect panels as long as they are separate systems do not mix types, they will give slightly less output but they do work OK. In the real world we never get maximum efficiency so if you use what you can get at a reasonable price it will work and in the longer term you will have power and forget any slight theoretical difference. I have both types in my system with no problems just running on separate regulators. All the best Bob Foolin Around |
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| Spook Newbie Joined: 17/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 9 |
Thanks fellas. Would it pay me to use an MPPT controller? This has been suggested to me ostensibly to cope with different voltages, up to a practical limit of course. I built my original system but the technology in that is straight forward, to me at least. Normal? Me?.......I don't think so! |
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norcold Guru Joined: 06/02/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 670 |
Perhaps to give a more complete answer, why is it you wish to double your solar input? What is your average daily use in Kwhrs, and your locations average daylight hours? or under present load when do the batteries reach float voltage each day? Also how much battery capacity is used overnight? We come from the land downunder. Vic |
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| upwind Newbie Joined: 13/06/2015 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Perhaps there is 80 + 1 other peeps looking for the same solution to your query!!. Any 1 suggest a good / reasonable place to purchase said charging type panels ? If it can't be fixed with a hammer and chisel it's probably electrical !! |
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rustyrod Senior Member  Joined: 08/11/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 121 |
Solar Panel 250 w 24 v Always Thinking |
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| Spook Newbie Joined: 17/12/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 9 |
Oops....forgot to get back. I finished up ripping out the Unisolars and used 7 x 320 watt 24 volt panels and retained the PL60 for now. Normal? Me?.......I don't think so! |
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