Having some rabbit hole problems with intended plan, partly greedy installers, partly my roof space…
at the moment the best idea is. #1 move my current 3 x 330w series panels from top large space North facing roof to on top of the garage., #2 source/install BIG wattage panels on top North facing roof, as 3 x Xw series #3 Leave my 2p3s of 6 x 330 East where they are.
At the moment my 3 x 330w North is on a 150/35 BlueSolar
At the moment my 6 x 330w East is on a 2nd 150/35 BlueSolar.
I now have a 250/85 Smart Solar available.
Which has 3 potential inputs.
I’d like to connect each of these planned streams to a input on the SmartSolar.
and then remove the 2 x 150/35’s.
Option B might be
Consolidate the 2 current 330w strings onto the 250/85 => East: 2p3s and North 3s.
leaving one open port.
and then use one of the 150/35 for a new 3 x 600W in series.
I’ve been hinted that also… but then that does not make sense considering you need allot of surge protectors and fuses and isolating switches between the panel arrays the the charge controller.
if that was the case then they could be consolidated on the db boxes and then one wire into Charge controller.
I don’t know how the internal fusing works but you would need to fuse each string and have a DC disconnect for each string anyway before the MPPT. Then 1 DC disconnect/fuse between MPPT and the battery. This is where you save the money and complexity.
The 450/100 has 2x trackers and the 450/200 4x trackers.
only going to make this one reply/comment on your post.
panel is R1650 Cost… their price was R2k. - happy with that…
At the end of the install the avg cost is R7k / panel. R35k+ quote
There is already 2 wires down, I’m doing the MPPT,
They were to run 2 more wires down, to combine them on Db box.
this was fit of new frame on roof + 3 panels, fit of frame on side of wall 3 panels.
=> install 6 panels.
CoC excluded as my sparky was going to do that.
G
You have mentioned that your roof is a terror and the previous installer sweared the whole day while they were in the roof.
Now what is a fair price for installing six panels on a tiled roof pulling the wires and getting out of there in under 3 hours vs mounting the same 6 panels on your roof and against the wall making sure no water can get through the holes and spending a full day or more. Should the cost be the same? What else is on the quote, what rails/mounting structure do they use. Deduct all the materials and what do they charge for the labour alone and how long will it really take? I can’t say if they are expensive without seeing the complete quote. And then again, there is the I know someone cheaper part, that won’t ensure that there is no leaks, use the correct rods through the wall that will not rust away over time landing your panels on the ground one morning when you wake up and 1000 other shortcuts. Are they still expensive? I can truly not comment as I haven’t seen the site.
George … take 10 deep breaths.
Two whiskeys, or whatever you like.
The whole time contemplate every single option you have slowly, detailed.
Remember, as I say:
You can go left around the obstacle.
Or right around it.
Or you can climb over it.
Or dig underneath it.
… or just blow it up and “built a freeway”.
i’m on the 3rd whiskey and world is starting to look very nice…
looking at whats pretty much a run away cost vs original plan…
#1 return mppt. #2 look at panels that will fit top north roof. #3 go sleep and return later… #4 this will mean moving that 3 x 330’s to garage roof.
just a total new plan, eventually.
the original idea got fckd when my buddy decided to change from me getting 8 x X from him to be configured as 2ps4 and 5 of that 8 on the wall of the house.
this house was not build for solar vs my neighbour… even considered telling neighbour. i will give you your internet link in house, you give me access to your roof… TTT thats the house to the south of me on the corner, seeeeee that huge north facing roof. it’s like heaven he even have a huge east and huge west roof…
Sometimes it is prudent to get rid of what you have and start from scratch…‘mossie nes’ does not really work
Same situation…had two connected systems (also roofs into play)…when the batteries gave the ghost, it was more prudent to throw out the old and start afresh
Yeah, I get it, funds…that thing that makes the world go round…
mmaritz offered the solution…those pesky 450/100 & 450/200’s
One guy on the forum was extremely lucky to log onto a local online shop a few months back only to find Victron Smart Solar 150/100 Canbus MPPT’s for R1000 each. He knew something was wrong with the pricing but still placed an order for two and made the payment. Deal went through. He logged back in to place another order and the prices were back to the normal appr 8K. The Mppts were then delivered to his home, 2 of them delivered for under 3k. We suspected it was old stock but the Serial numbers shows they are both 2023 models.
I was thinking of getting some changes made to my system. The main idea was to get some panels facing west (because I often have overcast mornings and then clear afternoons), or just to use the existing locations but get panels with a bit more oomph.
I don’t know what I was expecting, but the quoted amount did make my eyes open wide.
I queried this and observed that it’s almost like doing the job from new. The installer said, well yes it is. Because I have to give you the same warranty and support I would on a new install, so I can’t use cables and other components that are five years old now.
Of course if I hunt around I’ll find somebody who’ll do what I ask (even if he thinks that my idea is stupid) at a lower price. And he probably won’t be around in six month’s time or is only interested in doing installs because nobody makes money out of support.
There’s at least one cheap company operating in my neck of the woods - or so I assume. I say this because I’ve seen three or four new installations now that shared a common feature: South facing panels. The panels always get moved after a couple of weeks, but I can’t help thinking that this smacks of shoddy work and making a quick buck. It is possible that whoever is doing these installations is not actually that cheap.
And whether this was for relocation of some existing panels and how many, or whether this was for new panels to be installed and how many.
I’d like to compare with my recent relocation of 16 panels. R22K - also new cables and mc4 connectors used with mounting brackets this time which was not there before.
