I have two separate strings of solar panels located at different angles - one facing East and the other West. I'm considering using two inexpensive MPPT controllers to keep these strings separate, and then connecting them to my main, more advanced MPPT controller. Is this a viable setup?
1 Answer
Using two separate MPPT controllers for your solar strings is definitely doable, but you can't just plug them directly into your main controller. Each MPPT will optimize the input from its respective string and then output the higher battery voltage. Basically, they work independently, which means you won’t be able to combine their outputs directly into the main one. Think of it like having separate management systems for each string!
I'm looking at my current MPPT system, and it can track and report all the solar data. If I switch to those cheaper units, would I end up losing that capability or making things more complicated?