The battery bank has been wired in parallel with system connections at the closest battery. This creates an unbalanced load on the bank.
The modification: instead of direct wiring to the closest battery, one connection to the closest battery (+) and one connection to the most distant battery (-).
The ideal arrangement would be separate connections to the system for each battery, a radial configuration.
I finished the installation of the replacement lever actuated terminal connector WAGO 2606-1103.
This afternoon, I had occasion to run the inverter/generator. I plugged the unit in while the Xantrex inverter was on. The system was maintained. Notably, the RPPi4 experienced no discontinuities in the data stream.
I count this as a success.
There was a brief lapse in the lightiing, about 1/3 second, but this was partly due to a setting on the iniverter. The transfer is set up for APL, appliances, but could be set up for sensitive electronics. The second option warns against transfers with inductive loads such as electric motors (water pump, fridge) running.
I have discovered the reason why my charts never rise above 560W in delivered power in my 1kw system.
My system has 24v panel system and 12v battery system. The charge controller can handle both but the inverter only takes a 12v input.
If I want to get the full 1 kw power delivery, I need to replace the 12v inverter with a 24v inverter. Then the charge controller can run at maximum capabilty. I will be able to charge the 5kw battery bank in 5 hours on a sunny day. Since the bank is never drained completely, the time will be significantly less.
I have received the WAGO 221-412 and 221-2401 connectors in the mail. Those have replaced the wire nuts traditionally used to tie two household grade wires together, typically 12/2.
I have removed the connector sub-pcb and unsoldered and removed the damaged connector using the solder iron, solder, solder sucker and flux paste.The pcb is ready for the new WAGO 2606-1103 connector. I added two push-fin cable strain relief clamps for the AC connections.
I received the new connector a couple of days ago. Preparations included setting up the new soldering iron plus solder, sucker and flux paste. The replacement went smoothly. After the replacement, I re-assembled the unit and removed the 1200W unit. I attached the 2000W unit to the wall after attaching the AC and DC cables.
I started the unit this morning and all is well.
The final test will be the attachment of a running inverter/generator like the Predator 2000 to test shore power detection and switching.
google AI: Is there a way to balance the voltages in a prallel array of PV panels
Yes, you can balance and manage mismatched voltages in parallel solar panel arrays. Left unmanaged, parallel panels force the entire array to drop to the voltage of the lowest panel, which severely limits your total power output. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Here are the most effective ways to balance voltages and maximize your yield:
1. Use DC-to-DC Optimizers (Best Solution)
Installing smart module-level optimizers (like those from Tigo Energy
or SolarEdge
on each panel conditions the voltage of individual panels before they combine. This allows every panel to operate at its maximum power point (MPP) independently, completely eliminating the voltage penalty.
2. Independent Charge Controllers
If your panels have vastly different voltages (e.g., mixing a 12V panel with a 24V panel), the best approach is to wire them into separate, dedicated charge controllers. Route each panel or string to its own MPPT Charge Controller
before connecting them to the battery bank.
3. String Inverters with Multi-MPPTs
If you are using a grid-tied string inverter, look for a model that features multiple Maximum Power Point Trackers (MPPTs). You can wire your mismatched strings to separate tracker inputs, allowing the inverter to individually balance and optimize the voltage for each parallel group. [10, 12, 13, 14]
4. Direct Diode Protection (Emergency Use Only)
In a pinch, if you have two panels with similar but slightly mismatched voltages, you can use blocking diodes (or Schottky diodes) on the positive lines. This prevents the higher-voltage panel from "dumping" current into the lower-voltage panel. Keep in mind that this is not recommended for permanent setups, as the lower-voltage panel will still fail to produce its maximum potential power. [12, 15]
Rules of Thumb for Parallel Arrays
• Keep them close: If you must wire panels directly together in parallel, ensure their $V_{mp}$ (Voltage at Maximum Power) ratings are within $0.5\text{ to }1.0\text{ Volts}$ of each other.
• Match series strings: If you are building parallel strings (multiple panels wired in series, and then paralleled together), ensure every single string is identical in both panel count and model type. [11, 13, 16, 17]
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://www.reddit.com/r/SolarDIY/comments/1dqtao7/can_i_connect_different_voltage_solar_panels_in/
[3] https://www.facebook.com/groups/447643471600275/posts/682772848087335/
[5] https://diysolarforum.com/threads/unbalanced-pv-in-series.64527/
[6] https://diysolarforum.com/threads/can-shading-be-dealt-with-by-parallel-strings.54317/
[7] https://solarpowernation.com.au/power-optimizers-explained-enhancing-solar-system-performance/
[9] https://www.anernstore.com/blogs/diy-solar-guides/rapid-shutdown-strings-microinverters-optimizers
[10] https://diysolarforum.com/threads/volts-series-amps-parallel.10654/
[11] https://diysolarforum.com/threads/solar-panels-with-different-voltage.75463/
[12] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnV8UYBqzD4
[13] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2H8vpj8rQg
[16] https://solartechonline.com/blog/how-to-wire-solar-panels-in-parallel/
[17] https://www.facebook.com/groups/2573968699280898/posts/8156362984374747/
