I am really glad im not the only one confused about volts amps watts current resistance and the like! I am really glad to be joining this community of minds and hope someday I can contribute in someway? thanks guys!!
HEY crashguy there is a lot to learn about on here. I just got started 1 year ago and I learn new stuff every day.I am sure you have some things to teach others about already.
These panels give a pretty good output for the price. We used them for a solar robot application. I didn't notice any mention of bypass or blocking diodes in your array.
I don't think one arrangement will have much advantage over the other since it is hooked into the grid and charge time isn't an issue, but without the use of bypass diodes in the array a shadow from your tree on a small area could greatly reduce the power output.
hello there the grid tie inverter cost about 130.00 it plugs right into your wall socket it has islanding protection so when the power goes out it shuts off all of my panels have blocking diodes.I got my inverter off ebay.Check out missouri wind and solar they say he has great deals
hey beler11 I only have blocking diodes I dont know about bypass diodes I just got started last year so I dont know all the little tricks yet TAKE CARE
Here's a little illustration with bypass diodes. If you have a few shadowed cells in a series group, the resistance will shoot up and lower the power across the entire array. The bypass diodes give an alternate path of lower resistance, so if you throw one in parallel every group of 3-5 the shadows won't make you lose so much power.
beler11 all my panels are wired in parallel so I should not need bypass diodes correct .thank you for your advice its always good when other people help out.TAKE CARE
I think the same principle is still going to apply with your setup. It looks like you have groups of 3 wired in parallel, but then you still have those groups of 3 wired in series 25 times so that series group can still run into the same problem. The diodes would have to run parallel to groups of 3/6/9
You can try testing out the array with a cover over a portion of it to see how much of an effect it will have. A current measurement would be the way to tell. The solar cells reach their max voltage pretty easily, while current of the array is what drops.
The effect was quite drastic with the solar cells on our robot. We were charging capacitors. The rate of a capacitor charging depends on the current, while the max capacity depends on voltage.
We had a group of 15 in series on top facing the light and another group of 15 on a side panel not facing the light. The capacitor network would actually charge faster with just the top panel hooked up than with both the top and side panel hooked up. This is because the panel out of the light would have an elevated resistance and kill the current across the entire connection.
This may not matter much if you have the array on a roof or somewhere where its always going to have even light across all of the panels, but the trees blowing in the wind and casting shadows when the sun drops could.
Hey stime64 I just have these cells taped to the plywood and covered with plexiglass.nothing is permanent yet. this is the first attempt so I may need to go back in there several times
Hey mrbuki77 I bought about 100 dollars worth of cells. the 3x3 broken cells are your best bet you can get 25 to 30 for around 25 to 30 bucks. the 1.5 x 3s are not as good.its a fun project.I even have some left over for the next one
Hey, Nice video. I was wondering if you had a smart meter, and if you have actually seen a difference in power consumption when u grid tie...
hotsexybrownguy 10 months ago
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SolarXpert 1 year ago
Your broken cells seem kinda pricey. You can get non-broken cells for the same price, and bigger on ebay!
w3bguru 1 year ago
Awesome setup! I really liked the charge controller, what brand model? Just got my tracking number for my new 80watt panel, cant wait to install it!
loismustdietonight 1 year ago
@loismustdietonight Hey thanks for the comment.the controller is a morningstar pro 30 it works great.TAKE CARE
michael970 1 year ago
I am really glad im not the only one confused about volts amps watts current resistance and the like! I am really glad to be joining this community of minds and hope someday I can contribute in someway? thanks guys!!
crashguy711 2 years ago
HEY crashguy there is a lot to learn about on here. I just got started 1 year ago and I learn new stuff every day.I am sure you have some things to teach others about already.
michael970 2 years ago
how much output does your windmill give you?
water2wine638 2 years ago
How much did it run you to hook up into the grid?
These panels give a pretty good output for the price. We used them for a solar robot application. I didn't notice any mention of bypass or blocking diodes in your array.
I don't think one arrangement will have much advantage over the other since it is hooked into the grid and charge time isn't an issue, but without the use of bypass diodes in the array a shadow from your tree on a small area could greatly reduce the power output.
beler11 2 years ago
hello there the grid tie inverter cost about 130.00 it plugs right into your wall socket it has islanding protection so when the power goes out it shuts off all of my panels have blocking diodes.I got my inverter off ebay.Check out missouri wind and solar they say he has great deals
michael970 2 years ago
Wow that's a lot cheaper than i thought it would be. Do you also have diodes set up to bypass or just the blocking diodes.
beler11 2 years ago
hey beler11 I only have blocking diodes I dont know about bypass diodes I just got started last year so I dont know all the little tricks yet TAKE CARE
michael970 2 years ago
Here's a little illustration with bypass diodes. If you have a few shadowed cells in a series group, the resistance will shoot up and lower the power across the entire array. The bypass diodes give an alternate path of lower resistance, so if you throw one in parallel every group of 3-5 the shadows won't make you lose so much power.
beler11 2 years ago
I guess it wont let me post links. Google "solar cell bypass diode" there's a some simple illustrations.
beler11 2 years ago
THANK YOU
michael970 2 years ago
beler11 all my panels are wired in parallel so I should not need bypass diodes correct .thank you for your advice its always good when other people help out.TAKE CARE
michael970 2 years ago
I think the same principle is still going to apply with your setup. It looks like you have groups of 3 wired in parallel, but then you still have those groups of 3 wired in series 25 times so that series group can still run into the same problem. The diodes would have to run parallel to groups of 3/6/9
beler11 2 years ago
You can try testing out the array with a cover over a portion of it to see how much of an effect it will have. A current measurement would be the way to tell. The solar cells reach their max voltage pretty easily, while current of the array is what drops.
The effect was quite drastic with the solar cells on our robot. We were charging capacitors. The rate of a capacitor charging depends on the current, while the max capacity depends on voltage.
beler11 2 years ago
We had a group of 15 in series on top facing the light and another group of 15 on a side panel not facing the light. The capacitor network would actually charge faster with just the top panel hooked up than with both the top and side panel hooked up. This is because the panel out of the light would have an elevated resistance and kill the current across the entire connection.
beler11 2 years ago
This may not matter much if you have the array on a roof or somewhere where its always going to have even light across all of the panels, but the trees blowing in the wind and casting shadows when the sun drops could.
beler11 2 years ago
thank you very much for all the advice Iwill put it to good use
michael970 2 years ago
If I may ask what did you use to incapsulate your cells in?
Stime64 2 years ago
Hey stime64 I just have these cells taped to the plywood and covered with plexiglass.nothing is permanent yet. this is the first attempt so I may need to go back in there several times
michael970 2 years ago
Very nicely done. How much were the cells?
mrbuki77 2 years ago
Hey mrbuki77 I bought about 100 dollars worth of cells. the 3x3 broken cells are your best bet you can get 25 to 30 for around 25 to 30 bucks. the 1.5 x 3s are not as good.its a fun project.I even have some left over for the next one
michael970 2 years ago