Do i need solar?

[Dellmassive]

Thanks. That sounds a bit "once started - no going back" lots of problems.

So from the top surface of the pop top to the bottom of the void underneath it, I would need about 40mm.
Will have to see what I can work out at the weekend.

That will depend on you're panel...

Mine was around 35mm from the underside of the panel to the bottom of the rear gland with the radius of the cable.

 

[TallPaul_S]

Just look at all this lovely free* energy you'll be missing out on with no solar...

95w and it's not even 9:30 yet!


*Not including the cost of the panel, MPPT, wiring, installation costs, bribes to the other half

 

[EdH]

Hi Guys,

Can Victron Energy BlueSolar MPPT 75V 15A charge controller work with the Renogy 200W Portable Solar Panel (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Renogy-Portable-Waterproof-Foldable-Charger/dp/B0CNPHD4VY/ref=pd_ci_mcx_mh_mcx_views_0_title?pd_rd_w=rpwZt&content-id=amzn1.sym.d63274d0-bf52-45e7-ae69-2bcf85c5865c:amzn1.symc.ca948091-a64d-450e-86d7-c161ca33337b&pf_rd_p=d63274d0-bf52-45e7-ae69-2bcf85c5865c&pf_rd_r=RT71SYA7TSD4SKGWS1YA&pd_rd_wg=pDqHx&pd_rd_r=a4e729e7-fd3a-435d-bace-bea9c387684e&pd_rd_i=B0CNPHD4VY&th=1)

Thinking of an upgrade from Lensun 100w Potable SP to Renogy 200W, and I already got Victron 75v 15a MPPT

 

[roadtripper]

Do you have the BlueSolar or the SmartSolar? Rather confusingly the "BlueSolar" one is the one without Bluetooth...

For solar you need to look at what total Watts the MPPT can handle and the maximum voltage - the Open Circuit Voltage.

So that listing has 200 watts and 23.40 volts.

Looking at the SmartSolar MPPT 75/15:



So you are comfortably under the 75 volt limit, but quite close to the 220 watt limit - given most panels never reach the rated output in real world conditions you're probably fine

 

[TallPaul_S]

The max wattage doesn't actually matter, so long as the other parameters are met. You can use a bigger wattage panel, it just means you'll get to the max amps output sooner and get more solar power at all times except for when the panel is maxing out - which lets face it, is almost never!

 

[roadtripper]

The max wattage doesn't actually matter, so long as the other parameters are met. You can use a bigger wattage panel, it just means you'll get to the max amps output sooner and get more solar power at all times except for when the panel is maxing out - which lets face it, is almost never!

It somewhat depends on the design - voltage is the really critical one as that can pretty much instantly fry the silicon device controlling the current - but heavily overloading the input can cause those devices to overheat and fail as well in more, shall we say, economically designed controllers.

It's less important, but I'd be wary of connecting anything substantially over the documented wattage.

 

[EdH]

Do you have the BlueSolar or the SmartSolar? Rather confusingly the "BlueSolar" one is the one without Bluetooth...

For solar you need to look at what total Watts the MPPT can handle and the maximum voltage - the Open Circuit Voltage.

So that listing has 200 watts and 23.40 volts.

Looking at the SmartSolar MPPT 75/15:

View attachment 281415

So you are comfortably under the 75 volt limit, but quite close to the 220 watt limit - given most panels never reach the rated output in real world conditions you're probably fine

This is the one that I have currently

 

[TallPaul_S]

It somewhat depends on the design - voltage is the really critical one as that can pretty much instantly fry the silicon device controlling the current - but heavily overloading the input can cause those devices to overheat and fail as well in more, shall we say, economically designed controllers.

It's less important, but I'd be wary of connecting anything substantially over the documented wattage.

Victron say 30% over panelling is perfectly fine and recommended, in fact it's included as a parameter on the Victron calculator.

Matching solar modules to MPPT charge controllers - Victron Energy

Life used to be so simple; in a 12V battery system you took a ‘12V’ solar module, watched carefully that the maximum PV current would not exceed the charge controller maximum current and the system would work. Unfortunately due to the fact, that with PWM controllers the PV module is not feeding...

www.victronenergy.com

So for a 75/15 that would be up to a 285w panel. Provided, of course, it doesn't exceed all other requirements.

 

[d8smt]

Question @The Flying Scotsman if you don't mind - your 360W Victron solar, is that the one that can be bought from Splitcharge? Interested in one because it's almost the right width for the roof tracks already attached to my poptop, which would be a lot easier installing and removing to use a topbox.

Also, if it is this panel, I notice it's 24v. Do the MPPTs automatically step down the 24v input to 12v output, if so which one(s) are you using? I notice for example the Renogy 30A MPPT supports 24v/12v automatic panel detection on input, but it doesn't say anything about output.

many thx

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

Question @The Flying Scotsman if you don't mind - your 360W Victron solar, is that the one that can be bought from Splitcharge? Interested in one because it's almost the right width for the roof tracks already attached to my poptop, which would be a lot easier installing and removing to use a topbox.

Also, if it is this panel, I notice it's 24v. Do the MPPTs automatically step down the 24v input to 12v output, if so which one(s) are you using? I notice for example the Renogy 30A MPPT supports 24v/12v automatic panel detection on input, but it doesn't say anything about output.

many thx

I got my panel off eBay
Here’s the link

Pardon our interruption...

It’s a big victron 100/30 MPPT that I use. I’ve not had to change any settings with the panel being 24v. The MPPT takes care of it.

 

[roadtripper]

All MPPT are essentially DC-DC chargers - what they do is vary the current flowing through the solar panels (which will also vary the voltage) to find the best point for maximum power generation for the conditions at that moment - hence Maximum Power Point Tracking.

For the input what you need to check is that the Open Circuit Voltage of your panel (or arrangement of panels) is below the input limit for the MPPT - the OCV is the maximum voltage a panel can theoretically get to. If the voltage is to high it will damage the input side of the MPPT - essentially it will break down the silicon components that are controlling the input current.

For the output you need to check that the settings are correct for the battery being charged, just like any other DC-DC charger.

Generally MPPT input needs no configuration it's the charger output that does, and many try and auto sense what that is if the battery is connected on first power up.

 

[d8smt]

thanks, much appreciated

 

[The Flying Scotsman]

All MPPT are essentially DC-DC chargers - what they do is vary the current flowing through the solar panels (which will also vary the voltage) to find the best point for maximum power generation for the conditions at that moment - hence Maximum Power Point Tracking.

For the input what you need to check is that the Open Circuit Voltage of your panel (or arrangement of panels) is below the input limit for the MPPT - the OCV is the maximum voltage a panel can theoretically get to. If the voltage is to high it will damage the input side of the MPPT - essentially it will break down the silicon components that are controlling the input current.

For the output you need to check that the settings are correct for the battery being charged, just like any other DC-DC charger.

Generally MPPT input needs no configuration it's the charger output that does, and many try and auto sense what that is if the battery is connected on first power up.

Knew someone with far more knowledge than me would chip in

 

[Drive Wayne]

First full day with the Victron 270 watt rigid panel on the roof of the van. Mixed day weather wise, sunny, cloudy, bit of rain, still collecting rays now, 1010wh or about 76Ah.
Pleasing!

 

[soldas]

1010wh under a roof is pretty impressive...

 

[Drive Wayne]

1010wh under a roof is pretty impressive...

Nah, it's on the drive, promise.
And very subtle, you'd never notice it, unless you had eyes...