Solar Confusion

[davemh]

This thread is for anyone confused or ignorant about solar regulators or panels to ask too many questions.

 

[davemh]

So if you got the box with 200w max, could you still plug in eg 3x80w=240w panels and it would still work ok? Or would this be a total no-no, and cause damage and the unit to overheat etc?

One reason for getting 3 panels would be to try and get decent power output during UK winter, when there's less sun. Hence it wouldn't matter if you were to generate excess power during summer that wasn't captured by the regulator.

I would never ignore the specification and or instructions.

If you want 3x80 just use a quality PWM regulator
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But PWM regulators aren't as good as MPPT?

But I guess 80 quid is a good price if it can handle more panels.

Another option would be to have 2x80 on an MPPT-200

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and then add another 1x80 on a second MPPT-200?

or just get one of the PCM-3012 and put up with some possible inefficiency?

25A mppt solar charge controller regulator 12V battery 15~33V PV panel range LCD | eBay