If you look at the specs on that Yeti 400 they show a list of solar panels and the amount of time to recharge that 33Ah battery. All of the research done has been on parallel. Does the whole panel/ system suffer if one small (example 12"x6' glass)part of the panels are sun blocked? For the wire size, use a wire size calculator like this one:  http://nooutage.com/vdrop.htm. Started September 29, By https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G01A51L-5Vc&feature=youtu.be. As mentioned before, a 100W solar panels generates about 5.56A current. It is 1pm PDT on a very clear day and my pair of 325 watt (650 watts for the pair) are attached to my MPPT solar controller. Here's another question. For an excellent example of "shading" for panels w/o the diodes take a look at the link to a video below. Watt’s Law states that current = power ÷ voltage. Even the Boulder 90watt panel lists 9 -18 hours charging time. There is a great deal of difference in solar panels on a house and on an RV. You will need a switch, but that can be sized to little to no voltage drop. Therefore, if the solar array can produce 40 amps of current and the charge controller you’re using is only rated to 30 amps, then the controller could be damaged. Of course use the necessary moisture rated proper connections and prevent the wire from flopping around on the roof. The controller shows that it is putting out: 520 watts. Grape Solar GS-400-KIT 400-Watt Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit. sheldons65 Also, can mc4 connectors be attached to 2 and 4 gauge? Now divide the daily watt-hours by the wattage produced by one solar panel. In general, if you are talking about lead acid you need to keep the charging amps to below 1/5 C; or for a 400ah battery less than 80 amps. A residential system has an average installed price of $3 per watt. Converting watts to amps for a single-phase AC circuit with power factor uses a slightly different formula. Started September 28. . You may want to skip forward to about the 2:30 minuet time to see the last panel go up. I have cut them off and used direct burial rated connections/splices in water tight junction boxes with no problems and believe such to be better then MC4 exposed to water and sun BUT DON'T NECESSARILY DO AS I SAY, DO WHAT THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMEND. Ideal for. If we assume 6 usable hours of sunlight per day, that's 32.58 amp-hours per day, which is pretty close to our ballpark figure of 30 amp-hours per day. Everything thing is 12volt in the van also. 40 Watt, 12-Volt Crystalline Solar Panel. Convert the amps to watts with our electrical conversion calculator, plus learn the formulas for DC, single-phase AC, and three-phase AC circuits. I am using two strings on the coach, one at 120 volts, the other at 60 volts. ALL SUBJECT TO any max input voltage range of your charge controller, although many MPPT have a wide input voltage range maybe even as high as 100 volts or more. Do you have room for two? I know if I shade one small corner I loose 95% or more of the power output. I'm considering two 400 watt panels (41vmpp per panel with mc4) in parallel for a 12 volt system on a van. Been reading and watching videos on the subject. There is room. www.amrutenergy.com I'm running my four RV rooftop "24 volt" panels in series/parallel and in bright sun there's something like 70+ volts at the controllers input and its charging my 12 volt three AGM battery bank. The solar panels come with attached 12 gauge wire with mc4 pre installed connectors. For what it is worth, we are sitting at 44 degrees north (in the mountains near Bend, OR. A 500 amp battery disconnect doesn't have near the resistance as a 50 amp fuse or CB. Paste as plain text instead, × going into the flat battery. I was thinking about cutting the mc4 off and connecting the existing solar panel 12 gauge to the heavier 2 or 4 gauge. I would greatly appreciate your knowledge and experience. Use our electrical conversion calculators to calculate electrical properties given other known values. I … $533.99 $ 533. If you already have the panels, then be sure you test them for shading before making decisions about parallel or series. Caution with cutting off the MC4 connector on the solar panel. Wire them in series and you loose both panels. This state-of-the-art 400 watt solar panel with Pure Black™ technology optimizes power, performance and aesthetics. $614.99 $ 614. I would love to know of a website demonstrating the shadowing of panels, with the diodes, to see the actual measurements. ... Then, divide the battery capacity which is 50 AH by the Ampere per hour rating of the solar panel which is 1.25 amps which will be the Charging Time. And new to solar. On most of the newer, [last 10 years]  panels I have bought, the diodes are in the junction box on the back of the panel where the wires come out. Jason, that DOES NOT mean you cant have multiple solar panels configured in say 24 or 48 or even more volts provided your charge controller allows, and besides the Vmp is higher then the panels nominal (like 24 volt) voltage. Just for a comparison in say January in South Central Florida subject to the suns intensity and angle of course, my flat rooftop mounted 1080 watts of solar might ??? By A 300 watt solar panel on a 12 volt system should have how many amps in it? Empty roof. Amps to Kilowatts (kW) Electrical Conversion Calculator, Capacitance to Charge Electrical Conversion Calculator. Average solar module watt per our and as per standard condition we take 5 hour 150w 4 no. × When a 12V solar panel is rated at 100W, that is an instantaneous rating, if all of the test conditions are met, when you measure the output, the voltage will be about 18 volts and the current will be 5.55 amps. For example, find the amperage of 1200 watts at 120 volts, current = power ÷ voltage For the purpose of calculating estimated space needed, we assumed that 400W solar panels are, on average, 22.75 square feet (6.5’ by 3.5’). It is my understanding that cutting off the MC4 connector will void the solar panel warranty. The solar panel voltage as measured by the controller is 35.4V. A 400watt panel is about 6 feet by 4 feet. Use our kW to amps calculator to solve for kilowatts. PowerXT 400W uses Solaria’s patented cell design, superior panel architecture and innovative assembly techniques to significantly boost power generation, provide superior shading performance, and set the standard for reliability. A switch has just as much of a chance of voltage drop as a fuse. Ive seen people use 4 Gauge in similar current applications since THE BIGGER THE WIRE THE LESS VOLTAGE DROP. I have a 6V 4.5 battery and a solar panel 6V and a trail Camera 1000-2000ma how long will it take to charge the battery or can I put a 12V solar panel on a 6V Battery and the camera will it blow it up or not the 12V solar panel vpm-17.3 VDC VOC-21.3 VDC IMP-0.3 Amps ISC.0.33 Amps the camera 1000-2000 MA converter on it The total watt-hours per day of energy you’ll need: Compile a list of all your appliances and devices and how many hours per day each will be run. how long will this 150 watts last. My concerns are amps through the wire and what gauge wire to use. I have and used 8 awg uv resistant wire from Windy Nation. Total 2400wh. Not clear to me. I have heard about panels with diodes, but have not seen diodes mentioned in the panels specs I have looked at in the past. Truly appreciated. Thanks for the information and the calculator. Not that I have looked at very many panels. #10 is bad enough to work with. You are gonna have a nice system when done.   Your link has been automatically embedded. Define your peak instantaneous power output, measured in watts: Determine which appliances you’ll be running at the same time; add their power draws, in watts. In other words, the current I in amps is equal to the power P in watts divided by the voltage V in volts multiplied by the power factor PF. Renogy for one has a different than standard. Lots of places recommend 2% to 3% loss, however the extra cost of the larger size wire, to go to 1% or less, is minimal compared to what you have invested in the system. I have used #10 wire into a MC4 connector which plugs into the solar panels connector. The panels are 4.5 years old. Solar panels usually range in wattage output from around 250 watts to 400 watts, but some panels exceed the 400 watt mark. Fusing from panel to controller is not needed, and causes an extra voltage drop.   Your previous content has been restored. Solar Charging System: Qty: 1 – 300 Watt Solar Panel – 2 Pack. Trying to bend #8 or larger stranded wire you buy at a hardware store around tight corners is a real pain. Now if it was summer and the sun was bright and direct overhead I'm sure I would harvest more. The controller shows that it is putting out: 520 watts. Interesting read on solar panels and shading, especially the part about bypass diodes. I am concerned about sun blocking/ shade over panels. A 100W solar panel, like the Renogy 100W (I own two of these) generates about 6 amps per hour (6-80 watts) during the peak sun hours of the day. NOTE if the manufacturer recommends bigger wire USE THAT, I'm ONLY saying I see 8 Gauge AS THE MINIMUM but larger to reduce line voltage drop and/or manufacturers recommendations. Item#: 38040. How Many Amps Does a 100 Watt Solar Panel Produce? Parts List: 2 – Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Panel   Pasted as rich text. 1) If your two panels were producing full 800 watts (Yeah right lol) at lets use ONLY FOR AN EXAMPLE  24 Volts (even though it should be higher) 800/24         =   33 Amps, 2) If your two panels were producing 800 watts at 41 volts, 800/41 =   19.5 Amps, 3) Next there will be a line voltage drop from the panels to your solar charge controller which depends on 1) Current 2) Wire size and 3 ) Distance and if its excessive you would increase the wire size, Okay, that all being said and NOT knowing your actual current (depends on sun and panels etc) and NOT knowing the wire length but ONLY what my training and experience has taught me,  if I were doing it and had NO OTHER instructions to follow, I might use a very MINIMUM of say 8 Gauge (subject to length and larger if necessary to reduce line voltage drop) fine stranded copper conductors, Marine grade moisture and UV rated insulation. Here is what conditions the spec sheet states is Nominal, as versus "Standard Test Conditions" which would only happen in a lab environment. Of course from controllers to batteries is  4 gauge on my coach. While the video is about tilting, what is most amazing, is that, not until they tilt the very last of 6 panels do they see the large jump in power output. Get hassle-free estimates from local home improvement professionals and find out how much your project will cost. Been reading and watching videos on the subject. Always round this off to the higher number. 2) Ive observed situations where MC4 connectors on open rooftops (it can get hot up there in bright sunlight) have failed, but perhaps that was due to excess current ??? My concerns are amps through the wire and what gauge wire to use. × sheldons65 Depending on the brand, its efficiency, and the equipment that’s included, prices can … I have heard about panels with diodes, but have not seen diodes mentioned in the panels specs I have looked at in the past. However the panel voltage maybe still 17 volts so out of the panels this would be 5.9 Amps but into the battery would be 12.5 and 8 amps (less losses etc) Because 1 kilowatt is equal to 1,000 watts, it is possible to use the formulas above to also convert kW to amps, but watts need to be converted to kW first. No. Watts to Amps Electrical Conversion Calculator, Charge to Capacitance Electrical Conversion Calculator, Joules to Volts Electrical Conversion Calculator, Volts to Joules Electrical Conversion Calculator, Single-Phase AC Circuit Watts to Amps Conversion, Three-Phase AC Circuit Watts to Amps Conversion, Electrical Property Conversion Calculators, Amps to Watts Electrical Conversion Calculator. I would greatly appreciate your knowledge and experience. yield me 700 watts. I don't think fusing solar panels is necessary. I put 5200 watts on my house in series/parallel and use two sets of 8 gauge wire to bring it down to the solar controllers, can't even imagine the cost and weight of the wiring I would have needed if I had run them all in parallel. Nominal Operating Cell Temperature Conditions (NOCT), https://www.solarchoice.net.au/blog/partial-shading-is-bad-for-solar-panels-power-systems/#:~:text=In conventional solar panel strings,as the shadow sits. Jason, thanks for the update, here's my response: 1) 8 Gauge copper is rated FOR AT LEAST 40 Amps, subject to if jacketed or in conduit or single conductors in open air which makes it even greater, so the possible 15 to 30 amps of current I used above should make it adequate being 15 ft shouldn't cause any excess line voltage drop. IF your charge controller can take 100 volts, why not run panels in series, that way 800 watts at 82 volts would be less than 10 amps and you could use 10 gauge down to controller. HOWEVER that being said let me run a couple calculations FOR EXAMPLES ONLY AND NOT recommendations. Attach each one to your controller put it in full sun and then shade part of the panel. August 3 in Technical Tips and Tricks. Thank you for the information. I will put the switch in. There are two types of mc-4 connectors. 1. if the batteries are FLAT ie under say 12,5 volts then on a good sunny day at the peak of the day you would get say 8.0 amps (100/12.5) based on a 100w panel. haha. Many panels, if you just shade one square section it kills just about all power from that panel. 4.2 out of 5 stars 62. Im considering two 400 watt panels (41vmpp per panel with mc4) in parallel for a 12 volt system on a van. The current I in amps is equal to the power P in watts divided by the voltage V in volts multiplied by the power factor PF multiplied by 3. A 200 watt 54 cell panel produces 7.4 amps. Connecting Solar Panels to Wires going to Charge Controller; Qty: 40 – 10 AWG Black Wire. It’s crucial to ensure your charge controller is matched, compatible with, and properly sized for your panels. It is possible to find the amperage from kilowatts if you know the voltage of the circuit using Watt’s law. New to the site. To calculate the energy it can supply the battery with, divide the Watts by the Voltage of the Solar Panel. 4.1 out of 5 stars 18. Given this, to find amps given power and voltage use the following formula: Thus, the current I in amps is equal to the power P in watts divided by the voltage V in volts. Especially in relation to the total cost of the system. rickeieio Jason, Then add 10% of the Charging Time. --  Also use welding cable for any wire of 8 gauge or larger. Everything thing is 12volt in the van also. The table below demonstrates estimates for solar energy systems using only 400W solar panels. I am running 120 volts on series panels on my coach, and 240 volts on my series/parallel panels on the house. The top panel in the E-Series comes out at a whopping 435 watts. Check Wire, Lug, and Fuse List at Bottom of List Two runs of 10 gauge wire, lot easier to run than 6 or 4 gauge I would need if I was running in parallel. Clear editor. Hello. I cant say. I also have not seen an actual website that has measured  the difference between  shading on parallel compared to series panels, only my own experience getting on the roof and reading the solar controller output in both modes. --  For the wire run to your controller: Measure the distance from the combiner box to the controller, then in the voltage drop calculator use the max amperage & voltage output of both panels, and buy the wire size that gives you less than 1% loss. The very reason I like more solar is we are so often dry camped under a full shade canopy and as you well know that greatly reduces solar harvest. What's your thoughts on the 8 gauge? When it comes to purchasing one, you can either buy just the 100-watt solar module, or you can get the full 100-watt solar panel kit that includes the module, a charge controller, cables, and brackets. It is 1pm PDT on a very clear day and my pair of 325 watt (650 watts for the pair) are attached to my MPPT solar controller. To calculate amps, remember the equation amps x volts = watts. Put these in the sun; Qty: 1 – Solar Panel Mounting Feet. Parallel 600w. To expand to 400 watts, I simply purchased the same items found in the original 200-watt kit minus the charge controller. Depending on the intensity and the hours of direct sunlight received through the day, the panel generates between 20- and 30-amp hours (Ah) throughout the day. Using the 2400 daily watt-hour figure from the above example, you would divide the 2400 by 375 and need 6.4 panels. 120 Watts / 18v = 6.6 Amps Please note that Solar Panels are not 12v, I repeat Solar Panels are not 12v. Started 2 hours ago, By Good information Al, thanks for posting. If you’re unsure what the power factor is then a power factor calculator can help. All home systems run in series or series/parallel at high voltage because it is just not practical to run high amperage cables. I have a bluetooth readout on my phone for the solar controllers, and have shaded panels on the roof with a piece of cardboard, in both series and parallel operation, found very little difference in output, probably because of the bypass diodes. At a full charge, a 100 watt light bulb ( incandescent) lasts less than 2 hours before the inverter shuts down. I do agree, within RV solar systems, that fusing is probably not needed between the panels and the controller. Many home systems run panels in series up to 600 volts, so shading cannot be much of a factor for home installations. The Keocera panels are rated at the following  "nominal" specs: Pmax:  254 Watts  (508 watts for the pair). $40 for 50 ft of 10 gauge,  $100+ for 50 feet of 4 or 6 gauge. This video explains some of it. So shading can not be much of a website demonstrating the shadowing of panels with... Panel/ system suffer if one small ( example 12 '' x6 ' glass ) part of a back-up system. 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Of difference in cost for 20-30 feet of # 8 welding wire compared to # 6 even. Crucial to ensure your charge controller and battery has some losses in the charge is. Daily watt-hours by the voltage of the system nice system when done per our and as used the. Ac circuit with power factor is then a power factor calculator can help the amperage from if. Is just not practical to run high amperage cables Victron SmartSolar mppt 100 | 30, we are about. With mc4 pre installed connectors calculate electrical properties given other known values the mc4 off and connecting the existing panel! Switch, but some panels exceed the 400 watt panels ( 41vmpp per panel with mc4 ) parallel... 200 watts of power – 2 Pack was summer and the controller, with the watt! Bend # 8 welding wire compared to # 6 or even # not! With power factor calculator can help in the sun ; Qty: 1 – watt!