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My plug in solar experience in Md (BG&E territory): Part B
▲ 6 r/pluginsolarusa+2 crossposts

My plug in solar experience in Md (BG&E territory): Part B

You might be curious or be able to learn from my experience…

I failed to recognize matching output voltage of the solar panels (327W) with the input voltage of the inverter. :(

I did not realize the voltage output from the panel will get higher as the weather gets colder. The coldest day around here is -15'C so that would push Voc up to 72V.

https://preview.redd.it/06j1n0xlbsjh1.png?width=364&format=png&auto=webp&s=4516d71006674c6f6c7468c7ae1ff97d6847abc2

And I didn't realize the voltage can not be regulated by shading some of the panel. Now that I'm aware of this problem it is obvious that is what this chart is showing. The voltage output stays high even at very low intensity.

From PV Spec Sheet Sunpower E20/327

I have thought of 2 solutions since I already own the panels and the EcoFlow Stream (max input 60v).

  1. Buy a DC to DC stabilizer or buck boost converter and wire it into the junction of the panels ($30 per panel and effort). The stabilizer is 6A and would drop the input into the inverter to a safe 48V. The rated current (Imp) output of the panel is 5.98 amps. 6A x 48V = 288 watts

Described as waterproof

  1. Solder a piece of wire to drop the voltage of 65 by 1/3 to 43V. Even in the winter time the panels will output less than 60V into the inverter. The yellow would be a solid piece of wire. How many amps would the PV output? How many watts?

PV junction box

Will either of these things work? Thoughts?

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u/NickelCloud — 4 days ago
▲ 23 r/pluginsolarusa

My plug in solar experience in Md (BG&E territory): Part A

You might be curious or be able to learn from my experience…

It is hard to find affordable used PV panels unless you use FB marketplace.  Craigslist was a bust and delivery is unaffordable unless you buy a pallet.

Solar panels can catch a lot of wind.  If you want a nonpermanent installation you can use pallets.  This is a good approach b/c:

-Pallets are free or low cost

-Pallets have some weight and ballast can be placed upon them to add more weight (bricks, stone, jugs of water, logs) to prevent the panel from moving in the wind

-Pallets are readily available almost everywhere

-Pallets are hard wood and slow to rot outside

-Pallets don’t require digging posts or screwing to your house and can be moved

-2x4 can be screwed to the side of the pallet to make any angle you wish

-Pallets can hold 1 or 2 solar panels at a time

I ordered a EccFlow Stream microinverter online.  It should arrive this week.

Part B will have the finished rack.

u/NickelCloud — 10 days ago