John Anderson's posts

I know that in a series circuit that the curent throught the circuit will always be the same through through all connected panels. What happens in the case of putting the following panels in series, what will the output current be?

Panel #1 100W
Vmp 35 v
Imp 3A

Panel #2 200W
Vmp 35v
Imp 6A

I know the output voltage would be 70 V. But what would the output current be?

How would a grid tied inverter handle determining the Max Power Point.

Thanks for your response

I am looking for a Sunny Beam remote data monitor for use with an SMA 1800u Inverter.I currently have one but the USB port died and I cant log any data. If I can just get the main board that would also be fine.

Thanks/John

Hello folks.

I have one of the original SB1800U and Sunny Beam remote monitor combination. I'd like to get a copy of the software installation CD for my PC and had hoped someone has a copy they want to burn or sell a copy of. This is not the Bluetooth version. I know the drivers are on the Internet but I cant get the right combo of USB drivers and SDC software to work.This did work but my computer went south and I am trying to put it back together again.
I have tired SMA but figured I try here as well.
Thanks
/John

I am weighing that decision. I can rent the unit and purchase the pathfinder plotting software from realgoods at a cheaper rate.I will probably only use a couple of times. I'm just surprised that nobody has a unit they want to sell?I've been hunting for years.

Regards/John

Tim,

Any luck with finding a pathfinder? I did find out that realgoods rents the portable unit for $25/week. I personaly would prefer not have to lay out $300+ for something I might use a few times. Maybe I can buy 1 and resell it?

Regards/John

Thanks all for your help here. I have obtained an additional 2 PW1000 panels and am now in compliance with the SMA suggestion of 6 modules per string. I just need to find a good location to mount these extra 2 panels and I am all set.

Best Regards/John

I'm still hoping to get an additional 2 PW panels. Would PW165 panels at 24 volts be acceptable in the string, i Know higher current but same voltage? PW1000's panels are getting harder to find but I have seen PW165's.

Are strings considered to be in parallel? Could strings be run at different voltages, basic question but I dont know how this inverter is designed.

Anybody know where I could pick up some PW1000's. I've tried E-bay?

There has to be some distributor out there with a couple laying around:)

Thanks Again/John

Thanks for all the good feedback. The 190V startup voltage is out of a SMA brochure. I dont know if this is the VOC or Vmp. If its VOC than 5 panels per string would give me 43x5=215V, enough to start the inverter. If its Vmp than 34.6x5=152V is to low.

Inverter Operating voltage is dependent upon AC voltage. At 105vac than its min is 138Vdc, if its 120Vac than its 158Vdc. I am sitting right on the cusp, giving temperature derating than I will probably be offline more than online.

Now what if I put 9 panels in a single string. 43V x 9 = 387Vdc. Thats really high but in tolerance. 34.6 x 9 = 315Vdc thats within the Mpp range of 139-400Vdc. I really dont like the 400 volts DC. Seems awfully lethal to me.

I guess the proper thing is to get 2 more panels. Only problem is they are hard to find and no longer distributed in USA. What if I found 2 non photowatt panels with similiar characteristics? That way I could use 2 strings of 6 panels!

Any more ideas.

Thanks again for all your feedback
/John

Are there any problem running different voltage panels as part of the same solar string.

I have a SB1800u and 10 PW1000 24V panels. The SB1800 documentation states a 192V startup voltage, does anyone know if this is VOC or VMP?.

Based upon my number of panels what is the best way to configure these panels. 6 of them are switchable between 12(17.3Vmp/24(34.4Vmp) VDC. The other 4 are strictly 24V(34.4Vmp).

I dont believe I have enough panels to support 2 arrays according to the array sizer at the SMA site. But with a single string mixing 12 and 24v panels I can create the 192V startup voltage without exceeding the inverters VOC limit of 400Vdc.

Any help appreciated
/John

Not 100% sure but I have a Brand new Trace c35, and a C40 with digital display. I could give you the specifics if you are interested.

jkaftp @ comcast.net

I have 4 Photowatt 105 watt panels (56" x 26" x 2") I want to ship from Texas to NJ via UPS. I dont have the original cardboard boxes and foam that they were shipped in and was looking for some suggestions or perhaps someone who has some boxes they would like to sell perhaps from a solar installation site?. There are boxes out there like from uline but you have to buy several $100 minimum order.

Any help greatly appreciated
john.k.anderson @ comcast.net

Hello,
 I need 4 of these panels to complete my string. Must be 24V configurable, prefer the 105W variety. I'm located in NJ.

Regards/John

If you have any used panels drop me an e-mail john.k.anderson @ comcast.net

When I saw these I thought my dream had come true. But after speaking with a tech rep and he explained that I would have to run a seperate 240 or 208 line into my home to use the things. I mean there must be quite a bit of a demand for something in the low end at this price , about $200 for this 200 watt inverter? If I recall I thought about actually using a variable step down xformer to match my 120v line voltage but since there were at least 2 phases I gave up.

BTW: Just a thought from an Old time ET. Would a variable step down xformer's(240 to 120) inductance cause an IV phase shift and confuse the inverters lock on the grids frequency. I could just see this thing constatntly going on and offline thinking the grid was out of sync.

Regards/John

Does anybody have or know of a used SB700u 700 watt 120Vacinverter they want to sell. Please contact me at JKAsolar @ comcast.net.

Thank You

 Sorry

prefer unit with base and carrying case