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Greeting solar gurus -
I am in the process of buying a truck topper for camping. The vendor provides a complete 12V solution, but I am interested in 24V. (There is another forum for RVs but the title says 12V, so I came here.) I am limited to the panels they spec because of space and size constraints. Here are the published specs on the panels:
Maximum Power Output: 265W per panel (2 panels)
Panel dimensions: 880 x 1560 mm
Weight (Per Panel): 15 lbs
MFGR Represented Efficiency: 22.2%
Operating Voltage (Vmp): 31.92V
Operating Current (Imp): 8.31A
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc): 38.3V
Short circuit current (Isc): 8.98A
Questions:
1: using the Victron calculator I need to connect these in series for a 24V system. Does that look right to you? Or can I use them in parallel?
2: If connecting them in series, do I halve the possible charging current? Or does the magic of the MPPT controller give me the full power of the panels (minus losses)?
Related question: I would like to add AC power input capability for charging and appliance power, so when I am parked overnight I can plug into the facility's AC (aka shore power). I think I will need transfer switches or some such, but am having trouble tracking down how to do this. Any thoughts about where to find info on auto-switching of power? Space will be tight and I am trying to keep within a budget, so I am thinking I need to home-brew the solution, rather than buy a COTS system. Should I post in the RV forum?
Thanks!
Ed K
I am in the process of buying a truck topper for camping. The vendor provides a complete 12V solution, but I am interested in 24V. (There is another forum for RVs but the title says 12V, so I came here.) I am limited to the panels they spec because of space and size constraints. Here are the published specs on the panels:
Maximum Power Output: 265W per panel (2 panels)
Panel dimensions: 880 x 1560 mm
Weight (Per Panel): 15 lbs
MFGR Represented Efficiency: 22.2%
Operating Voltage (Vmp): 31.92V
Operating Current (Imp): 8.31A
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc): 38.3V
Short circuit current (Isc): 8.98A
Questions:
1: using the Victron calculator I need to connect these in series for a 24V system. Does that look right to you? Or can I use them in parallel?
2: If connecting them in series, do I halve the possible charging current? Or does the magic of the MPPT controller give me the full power of the panels (minus losses)?
Related question: I would like to add AC power input capability for charging and appliance power, so when I am parked overnight I can plug into the facility's AC (aka shore power). I think I will need transfer switches or some such, but am having trouble tracking down how to do this. Any thoughts about where to find info on auto-switching of power? Space will be tight and I am trying to keep within a budget, so I am thinking I need to home-brew the solution, rather than buy a COTS system. Should I post in the RV forum?
Thanks!
Ed K
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