I am doing exactly that. I have a DC enhancer connected to the AC input. It allows an additional 500W of PV input. The enhancer is limited to 60V and 10A on the input side and delivers a regulated DC voltage into the AC200Max. I am using it all up with my roof panels and it does indeed deliver 500W when the sun is out. A nice addition to the 900W PV input and improves charging drastically.
Thanks for the info!
I am using (5) 200-watt Rich solar panels on my DC / 900-watt input & works great.
Rich makes the 100-watt panels of the same style also, so would like to stay with the same brand.
The Rich 100-watt panel specs are:
22.1 Voc each, which puts five of them at 110.5 volts
short circuit current is 5.93 amps each
maximum power current is 5.49 amps each
I would wire the 5 panels in series
Would 5 of these Rich panels work in my AC input of the max with the DC enhancer?
thanks
I would love to say that would work but unfortunately that is pushing WAY too much Voltage for the DC enhancer, see stats below. If you put three of them in series it takes your voltage to 66.3V, which you shouldn’t technically reach but might be a bit too high for the charge controller and it might throw an error at you when you have good sun. If you were to put any of them in parallel it would increase your amperage by the number you have in parallel, two would be 11Amps three would be 16.5Amps, and that would cause your charge controller to throttle back the wattage input and thus degrade what you can put into the system. Using the 100W panels it looks like yoru best bet will either be two in series or three in series, depending on how adventurous you feel with the voltage. Please let me know if this makes sense or if more explanation is needed.
Charge Enhancer
Voltage: 12-60V
Max Amp: 10Amp
Hello & thanks
It looks like I need to stay with my (5) 200 watt panels on my 900 watt DC side wired in series & like you said, (2) 100 watt panels, wired in series on the 500 watt AC input.
jeff
daninus1
what panels are you using to get that 1400 watt input? brand & size & model?
thanks
jeff
I am using Trina Solar 255W panels, (bought used ones on ebay). I am over-paneling a bit…
On the main 900W input I am running a 3S2P configuration and for the 500W enhancer 2 panels in series. Total of 8 panels.
So using two of the 100 watt panels would be 44.2 volt (under the 60 max for the enhancer) - but I would be at 10.98 amps, which is .98 over the max (10 amps) for the enhancer. Is it possible that the little bit over in amps there will bring my whole system down?
jeff
I think if I just use another Rich 200 watt panel to go to the enhancer, it would work better for me.
Voltage would be 24.3 & amps would be 9.80
Better than two 100 watt units which push me over a bit.
Over amperage is not an issue. The enhancer will limit the current to max 10A even if you have more available from the panels. The unit is more sensitive to over voltage, which could fault the unit and potentially cause damage.
Going over amerage, while it wont damage the equipment, will drastically limit your wattage input. Yes, over voltage will throw and error and shut things down. Going over amperage can cut your input easily by 25% if not more because it will throttle things back to the appropriate amperage.
Going over amp should not reduce your wattage, in fact, it is often a tactic applied to get better charge rates in less than perfect conditions (not high noon on a perfectly sunny and cold day). I suppose you won’t get the sum of the name plate wattage from your panels, but in practical terms, going over amp by say 30% is totally OK as most panels only get about 75% on a good day. For 100% rated output, you will need tropical sun with artic temps.
I over amp my system by 50% and enjoy a broad power peak across much of the day.
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Put 2 of those Rich 200 watt panels in series. You’ll have 48.6 volts, which is within specs, and you be able to get 400 watts in through the enhancer.
what about the amps?
Will that work? Can’t remember the max on the enhancer
thanks
The amps are limited by the MPPT controller, so you don’t have to worry about having too many on your panels. Actually, over paneling is specifically having more current available than the max allowed so that there are more amps available to charge during less-than-ideal solar conditions. As long as you can get as close as possible to the max input voltage without going over you will be good.
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Thanks again for your valuable input.
Say, I was just researching more information.
I am grounding my solar array with a ground rod, deep into the ground & tying it with a heavy copper ground wire.
Then the wires of course head to the Bluetti Max.
Do I need any kind of surge protection between my panels & the max?
Just ran across some info on that & had not heard about it.
thanks
Jeff
My arrays (I have the AC300, so I’m making 2 solar arrays) will also be grounded, but I don’t currently have anything planned for surge protection and haven’t really looked into that. I will have a 20-amp circuit breaker on each and those will function as disconnect switches as well. The picture shows what I ordered for that. The breakers are specifically for DC circuits, and that is important to handle arcing when interrupting DC current.
Something like this would be compatible with the DIN mounted system (but would have to get a larger box than what I ordered).
on your breaker & box listed above. Are you hooking both arrays into this breaker (4 wires) or are you having 2 of these breakers - one for each array?
I will be having 2 wires coming in from my 1000 watt array & 2 wires coming in from my 400 watt array.
Yes, I suppose that was not clear. I have 2 of the breakers, each of the arrays will have its own, and from there each will go to it’s own MPPT controller in the AC300.
I am guessing, the surge protector would go in line before breaker. I know in regular grid hook ups, the surge protector goes in the panel, tied to the main breaker.
I like the idea of your breaker & the box, will look into that more. I was thinking that maybe I would just mount the box & breaker in the house, right before they go into the MAX inputs. But the surge protector could be installed out by the panels or in the house. Am not sure which would be better. Possibly no difference at all. I guess at this stage, the main purpose would be to protect the MAX.