No More JA Solar 490's available

[abeetude]

Hi All,

I bought 12 x JA solar 490's last year. At the time it was all what I could afford thinking come 2022 I will grab 6 more. Now they are not available anymore, what to do?

They are connected 6 in a string to make two strings connected to MPPT 1 & 2 on a SunSynk 8KW respectively.

My aim was to have 18 (9 per string) Any advice?

Where to find second hand maybe?

 

[Drifter]

Google is your friend, I searched

JA Solar 490​

Found 5 sites and on Pricecheck that sell them.

Deals on JA Solar 490W Mono Perc Half-cell Mbb Silver Frame - JAM66S-30-490-MR | Compare Prices & Shop Online | PriceCheck

Deals on JA Solar 490W Mono Perc Half-cell Mbb Silver Frame - JAM66S-30-490-MR | Compare Prices & Shop Online | PriceCheck

www.pricecheck.co.za

 

[DuracellBunny]

Hi All,

I bought 12 x JA solar 490's last year. At the time it was all what I could afford thinking come 2022 I will grab 6 more. Now they are not available anymore, what to do?

They are connected 6 in a string to make two strings connected to MPPT 1 & 2 on a SunSynk 8KW respectively.

My aim was to have 18 (9 per string) Any advice?

Where to find second hand maybe?

Which model of the 490s did you get. The best recommendation which I can give and I have had customers install with no issue at all and degradation. Try to have the panels match up as closest as possible vmpp and impp or even a panel that is slightly higher, "slightly"

Panel models are being refreshed faster than they actually get into the market.

Drop me a dm with the model and I can check up for you which is the closest with the panels that are available

 

[abeetude]

Which model of the 490s did you get. The best recommendation which I can give and I have had customers install with no issue at all and degradation. Try to have the panels match up as closest as possible vmpp and impp or even a panel that is slightly higher, "slightly"

Panel models are being refreshed faster than they actually get into the market.

Drop me a dm with the model and I can check up for you which is the closest with the panels that are available

@DuracellBunny Thank you for your input. Will do

 

[itareanlnotani]

Closest right now will be this.

I'd wait, supplier's will likely get stock of the 490's in a month or two.

 

[DuracellBunny]

@DuracellBunny Thank you for your input. Will do

Your current Panel Values are

VOC 45.33V
Vmp 37.99V
Isc 13.79A
Imp 12.90A

Best panel would be the below that I can see is available

Canadian Solar 540W Super High Power Mono PERC HiKU with MC4-EVO2
VOC 49.2V
Vmp 41.3V
Isc 13.9A
Imp 13.08A

Because everything is connected up in series always try to have the closest match because
the panels will add the additional few volts, in your case depending on the degradation
of the panels cells and what they produced from first day they was connected.
Your Voltage will increase around 2 - 4v but atleast you would still be able to match up the
same current(A) from your panels.

With mixing and matching in series, the system takes on the additional volts but it
will match the lowest produced amps throughout the string. Any panel with a lower imp
than your current panels will derate the entire bang lot on the roof you have.

The below is a nice blog that helped me understand more when the suppliers wasn't able
to give me a direct answer.

Mixing solar panels – Dos and Don’ts • SOLAR POWER SECRETS

Mixing Solar Panels: Discover Now Dos and Dont's of Mixing the Same Types or Different Types of Solar Panels. Act Now to Save Your Money!

solarpanelsvenue.com

Solar Panels Voltage | Solar Panel Output

Why are there so many voltages listed on solar panels? What is open circuit voltage, voltage at max power for solar panel output?

www.altestore.com

 

[abeetude]

Your current Panel Values are

VOC 45.33V
Vmp 37.99V
Isc 13.79A
Imp 12.90A

Best panel would be the below that I can see is available

Canadian Solar 540W Super High Power Mono PERC HiKU with MC4-EVO2
VOC 49.2V
Vmp 41.3V
Isc 13.9A
Imp 13.08A

Because everything is connected up in series always try to have the closest match because
the panels will add the additional few volts, in your case depending on the degradation
of the panels cells and what they produced from first day they was connected.
Your Voltage will increase around 2 - 4v but atleast you would still be able to match up the
same current(A) from your panels.

With mixing and matching in series, the system takes on the additional volts but it
will match the lowest produced amps throughout the string. Any panel with a lower imp
than your current panels will derate the entire bang lot on the roof you have.

The below is a nice blog that helped me understand more when the suppliers wasn't able
to give me a direct answer.

Mixing solar panels – Dos and Don’ts • SOLAR POWER SECRETS

Mixing Solar Panels: Discover Now Dos and Dont's of Mixing the Same Types or Different Types of Solar Panels. Act Now to Save Your Money!

solarpanelsvenue.com

Solar Panels Voltage | Solar Panel Output

Why are there so many voltages listed on solar panels? What is open circuit voltage, voltage at max power for solar panel output?

www.altestore.com

@DuracellBunny much appreciated, thank you

 

[thehuman]

@DuracellBunny much appreciated, thank you

Those 540s is excellent match, they will act like 530w panels with the slightly lower current

 

[abeetude]

Those 540s is excellent match, they will act like 530w panels with the slightly lower current

So I do I:

1: Have 9 x 490's String 1 and 3 x 490's + 6 x 540's String 2 or

2: Have 6 x 490's + 3 x 540's String 1 and 6 x 490's + 3 x 540's String 2

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

So I do I:

1: Have 9 x 490's String 1 and 3 x 490's + 6 x 540's String 2 or

2: Have 6 x 490's + 3 x 540's String 1 and 6 x 490's + 3 x 540's String 2

I'd go with the second option to get the same voltage across each MPPT...

 

[Speedster]

I'd go with the second option to get the same voltage across each MPPT...

Why? There's no reason for the mppts to be symmetric.

 

[thehuman]

Panels in series need same amps , Panels in parallel need same voltage to run optimal

 

[Mike Hoxbig]

Why? There's no reason for the mppts to be symmetric.

Purely from an efficiency POV.

The first option has 5.9 kWp on one MPPT and 3.2 kWp on the other.

Second option has 4.55 kWp on each.

If it's asymmetric and the larger array goes down, you're generating less on on the smaller one. By hedging your bets you're covered the same either way...

 

[DuracellBunny]

So I do I:

1: Have 9 x 490's String 1 and 3 x 490's + 6 x 540's String 2 or

2: Have 6 x 490's + 3 x 540's String 1 and 6 x 490's + 3 x 540's String 2

Either option will work just depends if it requires more work on the first option to move panels or less work on the second option. Would make the install fee cheaper if second requires less work.

If you need a quote on the panels and mounting, drop me a pm. I would highly suggest thou going with the second option thou.

 

[abeetude]

Thank you all for the input & advice received.

I have opted to go with option 2 as:

• Balancing the MPPT's are possible without too much effort
• The 12 x 490's panels on the roof of the main dwelling are already split into 2 equal strings (Used to be MPPT 1 & MPPT 2)
• I will add 6 more 540W panels on the garage roof - 2 strings of 3 x 540's
• I will then bring the wiring together in the garage (inverter position) in a combiner box, to in the end achieve 2 strings of 6 x 490's + 3 x 540's and then connect them to MPPT 1 & 2

NOTES
The cable run on the 540's to the combiner box will be <20 meters.
The cable run from the 490's is between 35 to 40 meters

 

[P924]

The first option has 5.9 kWp on one MPPT and 3.2 kWp on the other.

4410W and 4710W - so not much of a difference.