Solar setup from the dealer - 2 different wattage panels?

JA

JayCee123

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May 8, 2024
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Hello all.

I purchased a 2024 imagine XLS 17MKE from a dealer in May of this year and have been camping with it multiple times this past season. I had an upgrade from the dealer that added an extra 200W solar panel to the 165W panel that the was installed from the factory. My question here is: Is this setup good? I had also upgraded to 2 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries at purchase. The system works good enough and I survived the summer. The battery bank lasts a little more than 2 full days (12V fridge in use and hot temps to about 35C/95F) without needing to use a generator and sun-strike on the roof of the trailer at about 50% or the day on a completely sunny day (due to shade from trees)

The thing is that I have read that mixing solar panels may diminish the charging efficiency. Can I continue with this setup? Am I damaging the system with this setup?
If I replace the 165W panel with another 200W panel - same as current 200W - will I notice a big difference in performance?

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks!
 
Mismatched panels won't harm your system, you just won't get the full power of the higher wattage panel. If you want to add a third panel, probably best to go with another 200W panel, the 165 watt panels are very expensive.

Frankly it sounds like your system is doing well. The 12 volt frig uses a lot of power, two days on 200 Ah of storage is good.
 
I use two solar systems on my trailer. The first is the standard roof mounted system. The second I have ground deployed panels I can use to chase the sun. If the trailer is in the shade I can move them out into direct sun light. and If I don't need them on a particular trip, I can leave them at home saving weight on the trailer or tow vehicle
 
JayCee123 said:
Hello all.

I purchased a 2024 imagine XLS 17MKE from a dealer in May of this year and have been camping with it multiple times this past season. I had an upgrade from the dealer that added an extra 200W solar panel to the 165W panel that the was installed from the factory. My question here is: Is this setup good? I had also upgraded to 2 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries at purchase. The system works good enough and I survived the summer. The battery bank lasts a little more than 2 full days (12V fridge in use and hot temps to about 35C/95F) without needing to use a generator and sun-strike on the roof of the trailer at about 50% or the day on a completely sunny day (due to shade from trees)

The thing is that I have read that mixing solar panels may diminish the charging efficiency. Can I continue with this setup? Am I damaging the system with this setup?
If I replace the 165W panel with another 200W panel - same as current 200W - will I notice a big difference in performance?

Any advice appreciated.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
If you are happy with the performance, leave it be.

Mismatched panels do reduce the output. If you have the specs of the panels, and know how they are wired. it is possible to calculate the loss. I doubt that it is much in your case.
If you decide to increase your solar, it would be prudent to do the math then
 
Lippert charges $700 per panel. which is 3x what it should cost. your dealer saved you some $$$$$$
 
The basic rule for mismatched panels is, if connected in series, the panels amperage rating should be as close as possible (within 5% or so). The array amperage will equal the lowest of the connected panels.
If connected in parallel, the panels voltages should be as close as possible. The array voltage will equal the lowest of the connected panels.
Regardless, unless wildly mismatched, no harm should be done. You will just see a reduction in performance.
Can you post the specs of the individual panels?
 
KamFlyer said:
If connected in parallel, the panels voltages should be as close as possible. The array voltage will equal the lowest of the connected panels.
Click to expand...
This is what I was told by Jaboni. I have a single 300W panel. Jaboni changed their panel a bit so that the new panels are 330W. If I added a 330W panel, I'd only get 300W total, or the lowest A/V of the two.
 
If you have a panel that produces 30V and a panel that produces 35V, my understanding the system voltage drops to the lower of the two. Mixing and matching is best left for the solar professionals or your expectations may not be met.
 
The experts want you to think you need them. get it close. 200 and 250.watt no problem. 12 volt and 16 volt no problem. get it close and it is fine.

I have a mash up of panels and battery's in my workshop and it functions just fone
 
BoredWeasel said:
I use two solar systems on my trailer. The first is the standard roof mounted system. The second I have ground deployed panels I can use to chase the sun. If the trailer is in the shade I can move them out into direct sun light. and If I don't need them on a particular trip, I can leave them at home saving weight on the trailer or tow vehicle
Click to expand...
I'm thinking about doing the same thing with ground deployed panels in addition to our rooftop panels as we like to camp in National Forest campgrounds and will need to chase the sun in many of our favorite locations. How did you connect the ground panels to your trailer? I've seen setups where people put in a sidewall port on the trailer, wire in a second charge controller, and then run the output wires from both charge controllers into a combiner box, and then connect that to the trailer wiring that runs to the battery bank. Sounded complicated. I was thinking of getting a 200W suitcase setup with a charge controller built in and run wire directly to my battery bank. (Positive line will be fused of course).
 
I mounted the ground solar controller on the ceiling in the cargo pass thru beside the roof controller. I just pass the wires in through the water hose port as needed.

KISS is your friend.
 
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