Hi
I recently updated my solar setup I now have five panels ranging from 395 to 435W total power just over two Kw. Also updated my inverter from 1500W to a Edecoa 3Kw Hybrid unit. it all seems to work OK and Ive seen 1.82Kw under a totally clear sky which in the UK this time of year is as good as I can expect.
The inverter will run most of the stuff in the house but until I find someone who is paper qualified to fit it, my 100 A automatich change over switch is sat in its housing on my bench. Very annoying because I am capable of doing it I've spent my life in industrial electrics and electronics. Including 11,000V variable pitch pumps which you do carefully, but I don't have the relevant paper work for domestic work.
I had an electrician look but didn't have a clue and left saying "I just wire houses up".
A strange thing ive noticed that early in the morning when the sun is off the side of the panels I get a steady output of around 400W then as the sun comes round onto the face of the panels the output drops to around 180W. Bit of head scratching and investigation and I notices the last panel I fitted was in shade where the other four are in bright sun. onto the roof of my workshop and disconnected it reverting to the original circuit... Back up came the power to just over 400W. I've now fitted a switch to disconnect it and revert to the old circuit, when to sun comes onto the panel I flick the switch over and i deffinitly get the benefit of the extraa panel. The MPPT voltage of the hybrid inverter is 50 to max 450 so I cant put them in parallel where it would have little effect.
A thing Ive also noticed is the more power you have, you can always use more. More batteries is my next move but be 24V I have to buy them two at a time, you can find over purchased panes cheap but batteries are always top price.
Brian
