Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

72 Posts

Aug 11, 2009 06:50 am

Are these two panels compatible?

Evergreen ES180 RL/SL 180W 18V Solar Panel
http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Panels/150-Watts-Up-Solar-Panels/Evergreen-ES180-RLSL-180W-18V-Solar-Panel/p4410/
and
SUNWIZE Solar Panels & Component SW100C 100W 18V Nominal Solar Panel
http://www.altestore.com/store/Solar-Panels/100-to-149-Watts-Solar-Panels/SUNWIZE-Solar-Panels-Component-SW100C-100W-18V-Nominal-Solar-Panel/p5882/

I have four evergreens, two per string, and want to add a 'skinny' panel to the pole in between the evergreens.

The panel needs to be 24-26 inches wide, at any length. This is to 'fill the center gap' ( in between 4 evergreens) on top of a pole mount.

and ideally would be able to tied in to one of the two evergreen strings.

Can the sunwize safely be included?

If not, what's a good way to use the new 'skinny' panel's output?
or
What's the cheapest way to to include it?

In case it matters .... I currently have an mppt 60 controller.

James Cormican

578 Posts

Aug 11, 2009 10:33 am

Re: Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

the evergreen has 108 cells, 54 in series, whereas the sunwize has 48. the other issue is then you will have two uneven strings attached to the same controller, and this is more of a problem than if they "match". one string of three and one string of two will not be useful for your mppt.

if i were you, and you needed more energy production, i would start a new array on a new controller.

james
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Keith Birchfield

72 Posts

Aug 11, 2009 10:56 am

Re: Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

putting the new panel on a new controller may work fine for this situation.

Question though ... since I'm doing this partially for cosmetics, I will have the single panel on the pole mount ... potentially going back to a new controller.

What happens if I decide to get, lets say, three more of these panels, and place them on a shed roof ... about 20 feet away .. will it still be safe to wire all four together, to the new controller?

second question, will the second controller work ok with the mppt? or do the contrllers need to be matched too?

James Cormican

578 Posts

Aug 11, 2009 11:23 am

Re: Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

unless your top of pole mount was designed to have something in the middle, i would not put something there, as it increases weight and windload. i have seen folks put plywood that they paint whatever color they like, or pegboard to let the wind through and not add weight, but if it were me, i would leave the pole mount alone.

if you want to add another array to charge the same battery bank on the shed roof, then it does not matter what controller you select, as long as it is appropriate for the job. it will not interfere with the existing pole mount array. the new array however, will need its own disconnects and potentially gfp protection.

james
altE staff

AltE
"Making Renewable Do-able"
http://www.altEstore.com/

Tel: 877.878.4060 x107 or +1.978.562.5858 x107
Fax: 877.242.6718 or +1.978.562.5854

Keith Birchfield

72 Posts

Aug 11, 2009 12:46 pm

Re: Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

Excellent feedback, Thanks.

I'll need to consider the wind load, and see if I can find something that fixes the appearance, without causing problems.

One of my concerns was leaving the top of pole fully exposed ... allowing rain water to accumulate inside of pole.

Have you seen solutions for this?

James Cormican

578 Posts

Aug 11, 2009 01:05 pm

Re: Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

everything from tarp, to duct tape, to platic jugs, to aluminum foil, to custom welded tops, or old coffee cans.

not all of those are necessarily suggested . . .

but something is likely better than nothing

james
altE staff

AltE
"Making Renewable Do-able"
http://www.altEstore.com/

Tel: 877.878.4060 x107 or +1.978.562.5858 x107
Fax: 877.242.6718 or +1.978.562.5854

Keith Birchfield

72 Posts

Aug 11, 2009 07:41 pm

Re: Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

Thanks for the feedback, it has helped.

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Can I tie these modules together? ES180 and SW100C

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