Hi, I'm new here and I'm trying to build an emergency solar and battery backup system. Where I'm having trouble is fusing my solar array setup. I have 4 Trina Solar panels, model number TSM-360DE06X.05(II) with the following specs:
Pmax = 360W
Vmp = 37.0V
Imp = 9.74A
Voc = 44.8V
Isc = 10.3A
Max Fuse = 20A
I want to use these panels in a 2S2P configuration since I bought a Victron 100/50 controller. If my math is correct, I get the following:
Pmax = 1,440W
Vmp = 74.0V
Imp = 19.48A
Voc = 89.6V
Isc = 20.6A
I attached a crude schematic. Feel free to critique the design and math.
But I'm trying to figure out where to build in fuses from the solar panels to the charge controller. I think I need 20A fuses on each of the two strings. But when I put these in parallel, what do I do? If I apply a 1.56 safety factor, I have 20.6A * 1.56 = 32.136. Many of the Y branches I've found are rated for 20A. Even the 4 input, 1 output branch is rated at 30A. So I think that's a no-go and I don't feel comfortable with a branch (but I could be wrong). I've seen recommendations for a combiner, but that seems a bit more complicated and cumbersome than I'd like. So, I'm wondering, is it safe to run both strings at 50 feet to bus bars and then fuse it between the bus bars and the charge controller? Is this safe this way? What recommendations do you have? I want this to be as safe as possible. I appreciate it!
Pmax = 360W
Vmp = 37.0V
Imp = 9.74A
Voc = 44.8V
Isc = 10.3A
Max Fuse = 20A
I want to use these panels in a 2S2P configuration since I bought a Victron 100/50 controller. If my math is correct, I get the following:
Pmax = 1,440W
Vmp = 74.0V
Imp = 19.48A
Voc = 89.6V
Isc = 20.6A
I attached a crude schematic. Feel free to critique the design and math.
But I'm trying to figure out where to build in fuses from the solar panels to the charge controller. I think I need 20A fuses on each of the two strings. But when I put these in parallel, what do I do? If I apply a 1.56 safety factor, I have 20.6A * 1.56 = 32.136. Many of the Y branches I've found are rated for 20A. Even the 4 input, 1 output branch is rated at 30A. So I think that's a no-go and I don't feel comfortable with a branch (but I could be wrong). I've seen recommendations for a combiner, but that seems a bit more complicated and cumbersome than I'd like. So, I'm wondering, is it safe to run both strings at 50 feet to bus bars and then fuse it between the bus bars and the charge controller? Is this safe this way? What recommendations do you have? I want this to be as safe as possible. I appreciate it!
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