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duncangardiner avatar image
duncangardiner asked

Maximum input Amps each solar channel of the MPPT RS 450/100 can handle

I have a question re the MPPT RS 450/100 charge controller. What is the Maximum input Amps each array of solar panels can pass into each channel on the charge controller? The documentation is not clear. From a data sheet I found it looks like the max amps should be 18A, but that is not clear if that is the total for both channels or for each channel, or some other number.

I am trying to confirm that each channel on the MPPT charge controller can accept 10 solar panels that are 540Watts with a max output of 41.64V at 12.97A each. My math looks like this, 10 panels in series should equate to 41.64V x 10 = 416.40V at 12.97A, which means I should be able to have 2 arrays of 10 panels, one into each side of the MPPT RS 450/100?


Thanks Duncan

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Jons Collasius avatar image
Jons Collasius answered ·

Max. PV operational input current 18 A per tracker

Max. PV short circuit current (2) 20 A per tracker

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers/smartsolar-mppt-rs-450-tr#datasheet


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duncangardiner avatar image duncangardiner commented ·
Thanks for the confirmation. so my math seems to be fine based on this document.
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JohnC avatar image
JohnC answered ·

Hi @Duncan.Gardiner

Run your figures through this.. mppt.victronenergy.com/

But please don't use Vmp for the voltage, use Voc plus Temp Compensation. Maybe you'll get 8 panels in each of the 2 strings.

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duncangardiner avatar image duncangardiner commented ·
This calculator deos not cover panels of my size nor the MPPT RS 450/100
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nickdb avatar image nickdb ♦♦ duncangardiner commented ·

If you select "custom module" you can enter any panel specs.

Add multiple trackers and the calculator happily suggests the RS450 models

screenshot-2023-03-21-at-172457.png


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screenshot-2023-03-21-at-172457.png (273.9 KiB)
Alexandra avatar image
Alexandra answered ·

@Jons Collasius

Maximum amps is 30A. But the caveat is anything above the short circuit rating of 20A already mentioned by others is not covered by warranty when a mistake is made.

https://www.victronenergy.com/media/pg/SmartSolar_MPPT_RS/en/installation.html#UUID-a96ec91b-a21c-0536-1a40-278fd7f9410d

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-brian avatar image
-brian answered ·

I am having some related issues with the MPPT calculator for the 450|100. I have attached a screenshot. Can anyone tell my why MPPT max. output current is shown as 80 A, which in my application would preclude me using 2 strings? I would prefer to configure my system that way (2 strings) because of shading and space constraintsvictron-mppt.png


victron-mppt.png (127.3 KiB)
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Alexandra avatar image Alexandra ♦ commented ·

@_Brian

It tracks up to 80A per tracker (4000w)

4x 580w is 2320W. So you are halfway there.

Make you string longer (no parrallelling the Input current will kill it) and have partial shading detection on. There have been alot of improvements lately on that.

Or put it on a separate tracker

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