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Rookie question-I have the Victron Energy Lynx Distributor. Currently I have batteries hooked up to the distributor powered/charged by 6 100 watt panels. I have other panels not being used to charge batteries. Can I hook up panels directly to the distributor? The distributor is hooked up to a Victron Energy - MultiPlus-II 48/3000/35-50 120V
Always need a charge controller!!!
I still don't understand. These panels would not be charging batteries. With them in series, I'd need several charge controllers to handle the voltage output and nothing to charge. With this inverter, can't it run directly from panels and feed output?
One more thing. I do have a breaker between the solar panels and output.
Have you looked at the manuals and datasheet? The one below shows solar panels connected to an MPPT solar charger controller, then to the Multiplus.
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/Datasheet-MultiPlus-II-3kVA-120V-EN.pdf
Maybe the issue here is thinking the solar panels can be connected to anything. There's a description of the role of MPPT controllers here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximum_power_point_tracking
I appreciate the help to get this through my thick head, but perhaps it would help to see my setup? It's at this link. https://lucid.app/lucidchart/103623d8-1f7d-4235-9c83-68843444b0e1/edit?viewport_loc=-3235%2C-203%2C5554%2C2871%2C0_0&invitationId=inv_ce61a669-78a5-4771-aaa8-e543df6d5849
You'll notice the other panels aren't hooked up to anything at this point. Do I need additional charge controllers?
As I understand it, the '48' part of the Multiplus 48/3000/35-50 means that the DC side will be 48v (well, it varies around that depending on whether it is charging the batteries or not). You tell the Cerbo GX the DC side is 48v, the battery is 48v, the solar chargers are then told to output 48v, given they'll be seeing a wide range of voltage depending on where the sun is. The MPPT solar controller is part of enabling all the components to operate at the designated system DC voltage, 48V for that Multiplus.
Here's another schematic where the DC and AC are more clearly separated.
