GTI Solar systems are available very cheap or free these days, when installers upgrade they wont use the original system. I was given a 2KW system & only had space on the shed roof for 1.5KW eight panels. This left 2 spare panels, so I decided to re configure them to give about 22V DC. One I made into a portable panel. Heres some pictures of how I did the alterations, using a small Dremel & grinding carefuly through the back of the panel, & splitting the connection in the middle of the string of cells. Carefully soldering wire to run up to the connection box, & sealing the conection with silicone.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 04:26:09 PM
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 04:26:57 PM
Jaahn said
08:42 AM May 19, 2020
Hi DeBe
Great post. That backing material is not hard to remove as you did.
I might point out for others, that you do need to check the panel will have suitable voltages for battery charging when you finish. IE 36.92 VoltsMPV divide by 2 = 18.46 perfect. Amps 5.15 x 2 = 10.3, not bad for a freebee
Good work
Jaahn
Whenarewethere said
12:19 PM May 19, 2020
Love the analogue meter. I have small amp & voltage analogue meters for my setup.
DeBe said
12:34 PM May 19, 2020
Found the meter in a second hand shop recently $10, couldn't leave it there to useful.
Whenarewethere said
01:33 PM May 19, 2020
Just a thought. If you can still get Letraset lettering in an appropriate font, put Discharge & Charge on the panel.
DeBe said
03:43 PM May 19, 2020
Thanks for reminding me, I have a Letraset must do.
Peter_n_Margaret said
07:06 PM May 19, 2020
Good job DeBe.
The other alternative is to use an MPPT with those panel(s) as they are, without modification, even in conjunction wit other panels charging the same batteries via a different controller.
Cheers,
Peter
dorian said
08:29 PM May 20, 2020
If you have an MPPT charge controller, can you just use the panel without modification?
Peter_n_Margaret said
10:02 PM May 20, 2020
dorian wrote:
If you have an MPPT charge controller, can you just use the panel without modification?
The cable from the bottom of the panel to the top only carries 5Amps the other one caries 10A easily.
Whenarewethere said
04:25 PM May 21, 2020
Just mentioned it in case you wanted to squeeze every last drop out of the panel.
I use a 4awg cable which doubles up for my compressors & my jump starting cable has Anderson plugs, a bit physically heavy, but an option for a few extra metres.
Cooch said
02:53 PM May 26, 2020
DeBe has demonstrated just how handy it is to label things so you can see at a glance what is what and what goes where. It's a good practice and saves time if you have to troubleshoot
GTI Solar systems are available very cheap or free these days, when installers upgrade they wont use the original system. I was given a 2KW system & only had space on the shed roof for 1.5KW eight panels. This left 2 spare panels, so I decided to re configure them to give about 22V DC. One I made into a portable panel. Heres some pictures of how I did the alterations, using a small Dremel & grinding carefuly through the back of the panel, & splitting the connection in the middle of the string of cells. Carefully soldering wire to run up to the connection box, & sealing the conection with silicone.
removed !double post
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 04:26:09 PM
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 04:26:57 PM
Hi DeBe
Great post. That backing material is not hard to remove as you did.
I might point out for others, that you do need to check the panel will have suitable voltages for battery charging when you finish. IE 36.92 VoltsMPV divide by 2 = 18.46 perfect. Amps 5.15 x 2 = 10.3, not bad for a freebee
Good work
Jaahn
Love the analogue meter. I have small amp & voltage analogue meters for my setup.
Just a thought. If you can still get Letraset lettering in an appropriate font, put Discharge & Charge on the panel.
The other alternative is to use an MPPT with those panel(s) as they are, without modification, even in conjunction wit other panels charging the same batteries via a different controller.
Cheers,
Peter
Yes.
Look at the Victron models in this link...
https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers
The first number in the model description is the maximum voltage the controller can accept. The second number is the maximum charge rate in amps.
Cheers,
Peter
-- Edited by Peter_n_Margaret on Wednesday 20th of May 2020 10:06:04 PM
The cable off the back of the panel looks a touch light for 10amps.
10 amp current over 5m (10m + & - ). Percentage loss, 12awg 3.84%, 10awg 2.41%, 8awg 1.52%, 6awg 0.95% & 4awg 0.60%.
Just mentioned it in case you wanted to squeeze every last drop out of the panel.
I use a 4awg cable which doubles up for my compressors & my jump starting cable has Anderson plugs, a bit physically heavy, but an option for a few extra metres.