Growatt SPF 5000 ES Inverter - What Solar Panel ?

[Hiedie]

Hi all,
I'm new on this forum and will appreciate your advise.
As an electrical novice I have managed to install the Growatt with 4x 105ah Royal batteries for back-up as load-shedding
was becoming a nightmare. I'm now looking to install some solar panels.
With limited space that I have available , can I install 8 x Canadian 545watt panels on only one string connected in series ?
I will thus be using a 1 in/1 out combiner box ? .. thanks for the advise

 

[Wrath of Khan]

https://www.youtube.com/c/WillProwse

Check out this guys videos, very informative. I do remember watching one about the Growatt or other inverters and him explaining how he connected them. I know the max voltage is 450v so I guess that's the limiting variable here. Please don't listen to anything I say as I'm not an electrician!

I want the same type of inverter, but no batteries for now. I just want to run solar during the day and then Eskom at night for now. I'm using around 75kwh per day so would like to cut that in half with solar. I need a hybrid inverter that will automatically switch over to Eskom when I use too much, but obviously still use the solar panels and the remainder of Eskom (if that makes sense)

 

[Wrath of Khan]

Hi all,
I'm new on this forum and will appreciate your advise.
As an electrical novice I have managed to install the Growatt with 4x 105ah Royal batteries for back-up as load-shedding
was becoming a nightmare. I'm now looking to install some solar panels.
With limited space that I have available , can I install 8 x Canadian 545watt panels on only one string connected in series ?
I will thus be using a 1 in/1 out combiner box ? .. thanks for the advise

I was thinking, your panels are 545w each.. I'm guessing 48v, so 48x8 = 384v (which is lower than the max 450v) that's connected in series, then the rest in parallel with them, thus never going over 384v... I'm not sure if that's how solar panel systems work? just a thought.. but to me your maths with your panels seems good for the inverter

 

[TheChamp]

I was thinking, your panels are 545w each.. I'm guessing 48v, so 48x8 = 384v (which is lower than the max 450v) that's connected in series, then the rest in parallel with them, thus never going over 384v... I'm not sure if that's how solar panel systems work? just a thought.. but to me your maths with your panels seems good for the inverter

Yes, 8 panels will work because it will be under the max VDC and also within the mppt range.

One thing to note is that the inverter has a 6000W max power so I don't think it an take another 8 in parralel, the 8 he has is already over 4000W. Different configurations can work though to make use of the full 6000W.

 

[Wrath of Khan]

Yes, 8 panels will work because it will be under the max VDC and also within the mppt range.

One thing to note is that the inverter has a 6000W max power so I don't think it an take another 8 in parralel, the 8 he has is already over 4000W. Different configurations can work though to make use of the full 6000W.

what happens if you went over the 6000w max power of allowable panels? Does it blow up and leave a crater in the ground, or is it just a waste as you can't utilize the power?

 

[HowTo]

what happens if you went over the 6000w max power of allowable panels? Does it blow up and leave a crater in the ground, or is it just a waste as you can't utilize the power?

Pop inverter I belief. Unless the unit has some sort of protection.

 

[TheChamp]

what happens if you went over the 6000w max power of allowable panels? Does it blow up and leave a crater in the ground, or is it just a waste as you can't utilize the power?

It's said to be a waste as long as the voltage remains under the threshold the extra current would be dumped, but I also think there are limits to that, there must be a good reason why the inverter is limited to a certain amount.

 

[Hiedie]

Th

Yes, 8 panels will work because it will be under the max VDC and also within the mppt range.

One thing to note is that the inverter has a 6000W max power so I don't think it an take another 8 in parralel, the 8 he has is already over 4000W. Different configurations can work though to make use of the full 6000W.

That is my calculation as well, rather be safe than pushing to the limit and be sorry !!

 

[Hiedie]

Ok I will settle with the 8 x 545watt panels. That should at least cut my daily consumption in half.
Thanks guys, yor feedback is much appreciated.

 

[TheChamp]

Th

That is my calculation as well, rather be safe than pushing to the limit and be sorry !!

Well done for the part of the installation already done, in future when you want to expand you still have plenty option, reconfiguration of the panels or adding another inverter in parallel.

 

[TheChamp]

Ok I will settle with the 8 x 545watt panels. That should at least cut my daily consumption in half.
Thanks guys, yor feedback is much appreciated.

Have you already bought the panels? Because you can still make changes to get very close to that 6000W.

 

[Hiedie]

Not yet. I`m limited with north facing space for panels, hence the 8 panels.
What would you have suggested ?

 

[TheChamp]

Not yet. I`m limited with north facing space for panels, hence the 8 panels.
What would you have suggested ?

Okay, if your roof space is limited then there's no working around it, I was just saying you still have an option of two strings of 6 panels each, with slightly smaller panels which would bring you close to 6000w.

There is also option of going slightly higher with your panel wattage to at least get closer to 6000w.

 

[Hiedie]

Noted, thanks

 

[wingnut771]

Hi all,
I'm new on this forum and will appreciate your advise.
As an electrical novice I have managed to install the Growatt with 4x 105ah Royal batteries for back-up as load-shedding
was becoming a nightmare. I'm now looking to install some solar panels.
With limited space that I have available , can I install 8 x Canadian 545watt panels on only one string connected in series ?
I will thus be using a 1 in/1 out combiner box ? .. thanks for the advise

You have to factor in your coldest ever morning.

Measuring the temperature coefficient of a PV module

Each solar cell technology comes with a unique temperature coefficient. The temperature of the cell has direct influence on the power output of a PV module....

sinovoltaics.com

Canadian 545W:


For example, your coldest morning ever is -5. Your rated power for the panel is at 25 degrees. So -5 -25 = 30. 30 x 0.34% = 10.2%

+ 10.2% = 54.44V on a -5 degree morning x 8 panels is 435.5V

 

[wingnut771]

what happens if you went over the 6000w max power of allowable panels? Does it blow up and leave a crater in the ground, or is it just a waste as you can't utilize the power?

As long as it's under the voltage limit, the inverter will limit the current by increasing resistance to keep it to 6000W. So, to answer your question, it will waste the extra power.