All things Sunsynk (Deye, Inge, etc...)

[swakop_toe]

Give the standard Sunsynk app a go if you want and make up your mind about Solar Assistant later. Most of us did that. Just bear in mind that anyone with your dongle serial number can make updates to your system.

Did not know this. Thank you.
All I wish for is for the wife to have SoC visibility.
I don't really care how.
PS: more boksies 'an stuffs excluded.
Perhaps pie in the sky...

 

[lkpat]

Did not know this. Thank you.
All I wish for is for the wife to have SoC visibility.
I don't really care how.

Solar Assistant is incredibly easy to set up. The biggest hassle is powering the pi lol. I connected mine directly to the inverter, but you can run it from any 220v outlet nearby. You have the option for RS485 cable or RS232 (uses the same serial port as the dongle that comes with it and it's cheaper). If you're on a 5kw you'll want the wife to be aware of the load as well to make sure it's not overloaded with the kettle, iron, tumble drier and dishwasher
It doesn't take much to get used to checking and being aware.

 

[swakop_toe]

Solar Assistant is incredibly easy to set up. The biggest hassle is powering the pi lol. I connected mine directly to the inverter, but you can run it from any 220v outlet nearby. You have the option for RS485 cable or RS232 (uses the same serial port as the dongle that comes with it and it's cheaper).

Cool.
I have a 3B gathering dust.
A plug near the inverter to power it from.
Will give it a go!
Knowing myself, it will not stop there.

 

[Harmonic]

Its just a way of separating the strings and cabling. There's still only 2 mppts. But you can run one string east and one west on the same mppt as an example.

Or you can run 2 strings to lessen the current on the cabling with both strings facing the same direction.

If you run a string and a string west on the mppt, wouldn't that do something funky with the voltages? Basically as I'm understanding, they're in parallel?

 

[B-1]

If you run a string and a string west on the mppt, wouldn't that do something funky with the voltages? Basically as I'm understanding, they're in parallel?

There are some rules around doing that. The strings need to match exactly. There are also diodes built into mc4 connectors to prevent accidental reverse current into the shaded side. There's a lot of debate on whether they are needed or not though. But yes its a polarising topic.

 

[B-1]

You should definitely NOT run E/W strings on the same MPPT. You can run separate strings with the same size and orienation to 1 MPPT - so 2x strings to the 2x inputs on one MPPT - and then run another completely different size/orientation on the other 2x inputs on the 2nd mppt.

Can you explain the technical reasons why you believe it cannot be done or are you just repeating what you have been told?

 

[lkpat]

I can for sure - many years of experience. Interesting reading to start in the link below - it takes a while - but who doesnt enjoy learning something new?

Solar panel wiring basics: How to wire solar panels

Discover all the solar panel wiring basics from terms, to sequence of operations, you'll discover everything you need to know to wire solar panels.

aurorasolar.com

If you understand the basics of power (V*I = P) - P = Watts - it's Panel Voltage*Amps = watts. MPPT's track and adjusts optimal V levels of PV panels to ensure max P/Watts. Most optimal is when the array is as close in characteristics as possible - so same size and electrical specs, and same orientation. When you mix them depending on series or parallel strings the lowest/worst value is used to determine P. The article above explains it nicely.

Post in thread 'East/West PV Array with 1 mppt?' https://diysolarforum.com/threads/east-west-pv-array-with-1-mppt.33685/post-416219

 

[Speedster]

I can for sure - many years of experience. Interesting reading to start in the link below - it takes a while - but who doesnt enjoy learning something new?

Solar panel wiring basics: How to wire solar panels

Discover all the solar panel wiring basics from terms, to sequence of operations, you'll discover everything you need to know to wire solar panels.

aurorasolar.com

If you understand the basics of power (V*I = P) - P = Watts - it's Panel Voltage*Amps = watts. MPPT's track and adjusts optimal V levels of PV panels to ensure max P/Watts. Most optimal is when the array is as close in characteristics as possible - so same size and electrical specs, and same orientation. When you mix them depending on series or parallel strings the lowest/worst value is used to determine P. The article above explains it nicely.

Putting East/West strings in parallel should not be much of an issue as panel voltage is pretty constant as long as there is some form of sun and since they're in parallel shading (or less direct sun) on one string won't really affect the other. Yes, ideally you'd want them on separate MPPTs, but the losses of paralleling them will be minimal.

Edit: do make sure you have the same number of panels (and hence voltage) in each string.

 

[B-1]

I can for sure - many years of experience. Interesting reading to start in the link below - it takes a while - but who doesnt enjoy learning something new?

Solar panel wiring basics: How to wire solar panels

Discover all the solar panel wiring basics from terms, to sequence of operations, you'll discover everything you need to know to wire solar panels.

aurorasolar.com

If you understand the basics of power (V*I = P) - P = Watts - it's Panel Voltage*Amps = watts. MPPT's track and adjusts optimal V levels of PV panels to ensure max P/Watts. Most optimal is when the array is as close in characteristics as possible - so same size and electrical specs, and same orientation. When you mix them depending on series or parallel strings the lowest/worst value is used to determine P. The article above explains it nicely.

So no then you can't explain why why it shouldn't be done?

 

[swakop_toe]

You can replace the Sunsynk dongle with Solar Assistant and get your stats in a more real-time way. You would need to get a cable for your inverter and the software and a raspberry Pi. They sell it all: HTTPS://solar-assistant.io

FWIW,
This link worked:

Real-time solar monitoring from a Raspberry Pi | SolarAssistant Software

Real-time charts, analytics and power management from via a Raspberry pi - the most powerful, cost effective device on the planet.

solar-assistant.io

 

[B-1]

Have you read the article? Have you spoken to a professional installer? Are you a qualified electrical engineer? Do you have ANY experience with solar installations? It does not seem like you really want to learn anything - just like to argue anonymously with somebody after they tried to help you... All the best with your install - hope it works out.

The article covers solar theory which is basic electronic/electrical theory and I am very familiar with it.
I asked a very simple question. What prevents you from putting a east and west string on the same mppt? This should be easy to answer if there was a reason/reasons.

But instead you are going on tangents. Stick to the topic and prove its not possible or admit you are wrong. Its really not a big deal.

 

[B-1]

You really didn't have to delete your posts. We all make mistakes. Learn from it and move on its not the end of the world.

 

[swakop_toe]

The article covers solar theory which is basic electronic/electrical theory and I am very familiar with it.
I asked a very simple question. What prevents you from putting a east and west string on the same mppt? This should be easy to answer if there was a reason/reasons.

But instead you are going on tangents. Stick to the topic and prove its not possible or admit you are wrong. Its really not a big deal.

I have the same potential scenario.
My north facing roof is maxed out with 6x 465W panels.
Now considering placing 2x 465W on the east facing roof slope and 2x 465W on the west facing roof slope.
I figured, a breaker on a timer.
The time switches between the east and west "strings" at 12pm every day.
My Sunsync 5kW allows for 1x 1+1 string and 1x string on the MPPT.
So, 1x string (6x 465W) + 2x (2x 465W) switched with a timer at 12pm every day.
It makes logically sense, to me.
But to get this working seems much more complex. Even for my cousin who's a qualified electrical engineer (the university type) CEO'ing a big IPP company in Namibia.

But, I posed the challenge to him and he promised to get back to me.
Will revert with answers.

 

[B-1]

I have the same potential scenario.
My north facing roof is maxed out with 6x 465W panels.
Now considering placing 2x 465W on the east facing roof slope and 2x 465W on the west facing roof slope.
I figured, a breaker on a timer.
The time switches between the east and west "strings" at 12pm every day.
My Sunsync 5kW allows for 1x 1+1 string and 1x string on the MPPT.
So, 1x string (6x 465W) + 2x (2x 465W) switched with a timer at 12pm every day.
It makes logically sense, to me.
But to get this working seems much more complex. Even for my cousin who's a qualified electrical engineer (the university type) CEO'ing a big IPP company in Namibia.

But, I posed the challenge to him and he promised to get back to me.
Will revert with answers.

DC is quite difficult to switch at higher currents. Its prone to arcing and degrading the contactor's/breakers etc. There are a number of videos online of solar DC breakers catching fire as an example. You do get proper DC contactor's that can handle that sort of thing but they are expensive and typically have a service life.
Its probably cheaper and less risky for you to use the microinverter input on the sunsynk and add a microinverter to the new panels.

 

[swakop_toe]

DC is quite difficult to switch at higher currents. Its prone to arcing and degrading the contactor's/breakers etc. There are a number of videos online of solar DC breakers catching fire as an example. You do get proper DC contactor's that can handle that sort of thing but they are expensive and typically have a service life.
Its probably cheaper and less risky for you to use the microinverter input on the sunsynk and add a microinverter to the new panels.

That's exactly what he said.
Except for the micro inverter part.
I really like the whole micro inverter thing.
Will do a cost vs. benefit calc., but I suspect it will come down to a "look what I did" scenario.
Thank you your input. Sound and solid.

 

[Koosvanwyk]

Solar Assistant is incredibly easy to set up. The biggest hassle is powering the pi lol. I connected mine directly to the inverter, but you can run it from any 220v outlet nearby. You have the option for RS485 cable or RS232 (uses the same serial port as the dongle that comes with it and it's cheaper). If you're on a 5kw you'll want the wife to be aware of the load as well to make sure it's not overloaded with the kettle, iron, tumble drier and dishwasher
It doesn't take much to get used to checking and being aware.

Or you can just power it from the Battery, by far the easiest.

 

[lkpat]

Or you can just power it from the Battery, by far the easiest.

Not always. Freedom Won Lite is a good example of a properly sealed unit

 

[Speedster]

I have the same potential scenario.
My north facing roof is maxed out with 6x 465W panels.
Now considering placing 2x 465W on the east facing roof slope and 2x 465W on the west facing roof slope.
I figured, a breaker on a timer.
The time switches between the east and west "strings" at 12pm every day.
My Sunsync 5kW allows for 1x 1+1 string and 1x string on the MPPT.
So, 1x string (6x 465W) + 2x (2x 465W) switched with a timer at 12pm every day.
It makes logically sense, to me.
But to get this working seems much more complex. Even for my cousin who's a qualified electrical engineer (the university type) CEO'ing a big IPP company in Namibia.

But, I posed the challenge to him and he promised to get back to me.
Will revert with answers.

Maybe I'm missing something, but why do you want to switch between the strings if you can just connect them in parallel?

Then also 2 panels might not be enough voltage to meet the MPPT start up threshold.

 

[TheJman]

In my "Company " which I set up (Swanson Solar), I created 3 roles: CEO, Installer and Viewer.

View attachment 1511239

Who set your company profile up? Get them to assign access. Here is a listing for my "Viewer" role:

View attachment 1511241

View attachment 1511243

View attachment 1511245

You can also ask them to tick the "Equipment: Settings" box for you.

Thanks bud - I don't even have a "company" tab on my page! hahah!

I'm going to call my installer now to try find out.

Thanks man!

 

[swakop_toe]

Maybe I'm missing something, but why do you want to switch between the strings if you can just connect them in parallel?

Then also 2 panels might not be enough voltage to meet the MPPT start up threshold.

I was led to believe, with the MPPT, when the sun flas on the east facing panels, it will even out the production, reducing it with what the west facing panels is not (yet) producing?
So, basically, to prevent shading/load balancing, do a hard switch between the 2 strings.