solar wiring question

[gabelivingst]

question about wiring. Can I connect the output of my morningstar tristar inline with my already installed trace 3012 inverter/charger output wires? They are 4/0 wires and it would be a convenient place to install the tristar next to the Trace and minimize the amount of wire needed.
Thanks

[gabelivingst]

Update to the question I asked:
I called Morningstar tech support and they confirmed that I could tie into the 4/0 cable coming from my inverter/charger. It makes it very convenient to mount and use the bolt lugs on the inverter.

[terry735001]

dont see why not add a braker have fun cuting the 4/0 cable

[gabelivingst]

I wasnt planning on cutting it, I was going to just bolt it to the lugs on the inverter

[terry735001]

would love to see pics of your system good thing you dont have to cut it i had to use a power cut off wheel and if you dont do it slow you have a had time getting the 4/0 in side the holes to clamp it in if you do not have a trimaterc 2012 know the spelling not right but it t helps a lot on knowing your amps and amps hrs really helps on the cost of new battery's i been runing just off solar for 3 to 4 years now was my house system but move in to the rv 2 years ago

[gabelivingst]

Yes, I have a trimetric on the way. I'm still in the design stage of my system. I know I need 400+ watts, I'm going to go for 30+ volt system. Solar is prob the most custom, complex and non standard project I've tried to figure out. Everybody has opinions and they are all different!

[terry735001]

just all remember its not NOT about the watts if you want to seal power back as you live in a house you want watts what you want is amps sharp has 80 watt panel made just for rvs they put out all most 6 amps only way to get better is the 120s at 8 amps giving we dont have alot of room on the roof the 80s work really good and can take trees its all about amp hrs at 12v i make over 300 amp hrs a day but i am set for 24v like what you would like to do 2 80s at 17v under load make 34v at 5 amps after the step down to 24v my system pushs 35 to 40 amps giving what type of day it is a hr

solar all ways gets us by big get this 220 watt panel .....and well ... but it only puts out 4 to 5 maps and charger controller only cares about amps so we bye big and find out it dont work like we want it too tit grid well only boot up at 220 watt but we are charging battery's so we want amps its like your cars 12v system its only set and talked about in amps

too make sure your wiring is right i have has 2 small fires with wire size being wrong or to long

all so with your gen its wire for neutral to ground in your auto transfer box make sure you have that right or you well have a gen fire or get a shock every time you touch the out side of the rv

if you still fill you want a higher v panel then go high 48 v and 5 amp if you can fit 2 of them up there the setpdown would be arond 20 amps 400$ good charger controller is a good thing mppt or some thing like that i am sure thats alot to look up if you need any help i am here if you need help installing it i am free to give you a hand have alot of tool if you are down arond FL i love to help ppl get in to solar

[Shadowcatche]

Check out the solar that really works on this forum and for good solar information with very knowledgeable folks Solar Electric Power Discussion Forum by Northern Arizona Wind & Sun

[terry735001]

fond some good info off that site thanks for sending it over some guy had to say


Watts = Gallons per Hour, Miles per Hour
Watt*Hours = Gallons pumped or Miles driven

Watt*Hours (And Amp*Hours) are usually just written as WH and AH.

at the end it comes down to amp hrs
when you get your trimaterc 2012 you well under stand

in the end i could be really wrong but form living off solar for a long time and 5 years looking in to it i am sure to where i can come on here saying how i feel but its all ways bast to look it up i guess

this was my old 48v and 12v system that was running my house in the day

[terry735001]

Maximum Power Point Tracking Charge Controller

i pulled this from the site this is what i was saying on steping down

It then figures out what is the best power that the panel can put out to charge the battery. It takes this and converts it to best voltage to get maximum AMPS into the battery. (Remember, it is Amps into the battery that counts). Most modern MPPT's are around 93-97% efficient in the conversion. You typically get a 20 to 45% power gain in winter and 10-15% in summer. Actual gain can vary widely depending weather, temperature, battery state of charge, and other factors.