Victron MPPT 100/30 MAX Solar Input ?

[RAW]

So by my reckoning P=IV where the Victron MPPT = 30A (Bluesolar 100/30) and the Van System is 12V with the current solar panel having a Max Output of 285W
P = 30 x 12 so P = 360W
To my mind then the MAX Solar Power Input to the Victron 100/30 would be a 360W yield on Solar at the very optimum condition
In the UK and with the Panel pretty much flat on the roof of the Van I do not think that ever the MAX of 285W would be produced as a yield from my current solar set-up and Panel. NB though one day Sylvia might venture as far as Bulgaria and/or Spain..... (I personally have no experience of possible Solar yield in those locations)
If I were to add another 100W Solar Panel into the Mix then do you think I am in danger of damaging anything ?
285 + 100 = 385W and Max Input = 360W (above)
TIA
Robert

 

[SquirrellCook]

From my bad maths you'd have a few watts to spare, from experience the hotter the panels get the worse they perform.
So I think you'd be safe.
My best solar yield has been in the UK.

 

[Deleted member 4404]

I thought the Victron would regulate the input and not accept more than it's rating?

 

[SquirrellCook]

It does warn in its spec not to exceed 35amps stall current, but I thought it only loaded the panels for how much current it wanted?

 

[RAW]

I thought the Victron would regulate the input and not accept more than it's rating?

If power in were to exceed the Spec of the Victron MPPT Charge Controller then I suspect it would blew an internal fuse and have to be returned for service at cost....

 

[Deleted member 4404]

Victron data sheet

If you look at the small print near the bottom, it says it will limit the input?

 

[wildebus]

So by my reckoning P=IV where the Victron MPPT = 30A (Bluesolar 100/30) and the Van System is 12V with the current solar panel having a Max Output of 285W
P = 30 x 12 so P = 360W
To my mind then the MAX Solar Power Input to the Victron 100/30 would be a 360W yield on Solar at the very optimum condition
In the UK and with the Panel pretty much flat on the roof of the Van I do not think that ever the MAX of 285W would be produced as a yield from my current solar set-up and Panel. NB though one day Sylvia might venture as far as Bulgaria and/or Spain..... (I personally have no experience of possible Solar yield in those locations)
If I were to add another 100W Solar Panel into the Mix then do you think I am in danger of damaging anything ?
285 + 100 = 385W and Max Input = 360W (above)
TIA
Robert

The rules are that you must not exceed the INPUT parameters. So no more than 100V and no more than 30A IN.
This actually means you COULD have an input power of 3000W without any damage if you ran both at the maximum (but you wouldn't do that of course).
The actual rating of the 100/30 controller is 440W on a 12V system (remember that it doesn't output at 12V but more like 14.4V typically and can be set at up to 16V)

As long as when you setup your panels you will not exceed either parameter in , you have nothing to worry about. I have 4 X 100W panels and could configure them as all series or all parallel as either way I will be within max volts (86V in series) or current (23A? in parallel). This means doing the maths, I could safely have 4 times the panel count, with 4 parallel sets of 4 panels in series for 1600W incoming. But the controller will cap the output at 440W.

That is an extreme example and no one would do that, but it is not uncommon for some people to oversize their arrays beyond the controller output rating to get better harvesting in winter and not worry about waste in the summer as they have enough at that time..

NOTE: All the above is in direct reply to the use of a Victron MPPT controller! Other controllers may be - and almost certainly ARE - different. I know a batch of controllers I have in for evaluation at the moment have a maximum specified input rating of around 150% of the Max output rating.