Upgrade existing solar to this panel?

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rackline

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Fluid Motion Model
C-288 C
Hull Identification Number
FMLT1912K809
Non-Fluid Motion Model
17' Finestkind, previous 35' Friendship Sloop
Vessel Name
Headway
I'm electrically challenged and curious if this panel would be a "plug and play" upgrade for the Kyocera 130 W panel on my 2009 Ranger 29. For $75 it seems like an inexpensive way to significantly increase the solar output. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Sunpower-SPR210-WHT-U-Solar-Panel-Ready-To-Ship-/264277662499 Comments on one site state that the increased output for the size is because it requires positive grounding. So, concerns are Positive Grounding, is the output ok for existing Morningstar Duo Controller, and does it look like an easy connection to the existing wiring at the roof rack?
Here's a link to the full datasheet:
http://static1.squarespace.com/stat...0/Datasheet-SPR-230-WHT-U.pdf?format=original

Thanks for any thoughts!
Chris
 
If you purchase this panel, buy a Victron MPPT controller from Peter Kennedy Yacht Systems to use in place of your Sunsaver Duo controller. It will convert the approximately 40 VDC to the appropriate charging voltage for your house battery bank. The Blue Seas ACRs will distribute the current to the engine and thruster batteries when the voltage on the house batteries rises to a sufficient level. Since the current from the solar panel is about the same as for your existing panel, you will not need to pull wiring with a higher ampacity between the panel and the controller. You WILL need fatter wire from the MPPT controller to the battery. Since these (and most other) controllers only operate in the "Bulk" and "Absorption" stages and have no "Float" stage, you need a way to disconnect the controller from the battery when your battery is fully charged and you are not pulling any current. Otherwise, you will cook your battery. I just pull the protective fuse between the battery and the controller. The Victron controller will connect to your smart phone via Bluetooth and provide a plethora of information regarding voltage, current and power at the present time and historically. Make sure that no shadows fall on the panel or you will get minimal power output.

Barry Thompson
TOUCAN
 
Barry,
Ok, you mentioned that most controllers don’t have a float capability.
I have a Victron SmartSolar MPPT 100/20 controller and it says here
https://www.victronenergy.com/live/vict ... archargers
that this controller does go into a float mode once the battery is fully charged.
If my batteries are fully charged are you saying that the controller will cook my batteries unless turned off?
 
Thanks, Cutwater28GG. Sorry about the link to the link to the 210. I was looking at so many I grabbed the wrong one. What I'm really looking at is a 230 locally on Facebook Marketplace, so maybe negotiable and no shipping.

Barry, I've always heard the Victron products are excellent. Once Cutwater28GG told me I'd need to upgrade I found this Morningstar MPPT and thought it might be cost-effective and also still be able to use the existing remote display. https://www.solar-electric.com/mosu...3iH6SyT2z4RhKciwkqMPWXFeL98rpumBoCdxAQAvD_BwE Has anyone upgraded to an MPPT and used the existing display?

Any thoughts or comments about the "Positive Ground" requirement and what that might mean? https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/10786/sunpower-230-solar-panel

The bigger questions is why you California and Washington owners are on Tugnuts on a Saturday afternoon instead of out on the water. it's 30 degrees here and out boat is shrink wrapped!
 
Rackline,

I know nothing about Morningstar MPPT controllers or about "Positive Ground" requirements. Since the MPPT controllers are DC-to-DC power supplies, they may not care. Check with your potential panel manufacturer and MPPY manufacturer/distributer to see if this is a problem.

When our boat was out of the "barn" and I monitored the battery voltage, I had about 14.4 volts volts with minimal current going into the batteries. That means it was past time to go into "float" stage.

To answer your second question, we live next to China Lake in the California desert. It has been a dry lake since Pleistocene times. At the moment, we are away from home. I will be working on the boat and Income Tax returns when I return. When that is all done, then we can go somewhere on the boat.

Barry Thompson
TOUCAN
 
Personally I would buy the 100/20 victron mppt with Bluetooth and use this panel.
 
Chris,

When you say “upgrade” do you mean to replace your existing panel or to add to it? While you cannot add the panel identified using the existing SunSaver Duo controller, I believe you can use both panels in series (not in parallel) if you use the appropriate MPPT controller. Then you will get the advantage of using the power from both panels.

Curt
 
Curt,
I now see I wasn't clear in my post. The proposed panel would replace the factory one, though I like your idea and would love all that power. Our boat lives on a mooring and I wish we could leave the fridge on while away during the week. Unfortunately, having two panels would take up too much real estate on the rack needed for toys and a cargo box.
Chris
 
Hi

I was also concerned with the solar panel taking up valuable real estate so I used two flexible panels and mounted then on the canvas.


Pickles
 
Red Raven":x6lsupbg said:
Chris,

When you say “upgrade” do you mean to replace your existing panel or to add to it? While you cannot add the panel identified using the existing SunSaver Duo controller, I believe you can use both panels in series (not in parallel) if you use the appropriate MPPT controller. Then you will get the advantage of using the power from both panels.

Curt
Click to expand...

Curt, please clarify. It is my understanding that when joining batteries in parallel you get double the amps and the same voltage. When you join them in series you get double the voltage and the same amps. With that line of thinking wouldn't the same hold true with the solar panels? Don't you want more amps going to the batteries and the same voltage, hence join them parallel? Or does the controller handle all that?
 
Hi Mike,

You are correct in that the solar panels are like batteries, a parallel connection males double the current with the same voltage, a series connection makes the same current at twice the voltage. However, this only true at the panel output. The controller output to the batteries is different with a MPPT controller.

An MPPT controller includes a voltage converter to adjust the panel voltage to the optimum (Max Power Point [MPP] voltage for charging the batteries. While the current coming from the series panels doesn’t change, the converter converts the excess voltage into added current. By using higher voltage panels (e.g., two 12 volt panels in series) you can better ensure that the controller will always have sufficient voltage to convert to the optimum charging voltage hand current) with no power lost.

In short, an MPPT controller ensures all available power from the panels is converted into charging current. An MPPT controller can be used with either a parallel or series array (depending on the ratings of the controller). There are, of course, pros and cons to the series or parrellel format. The Sunsaver Duo PWM controller is limited to the Parallel format only.

Curt
 
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