I've been exploring off-grid solar setups and stumbled upon a new product from a small company called OptiSolex. Their controller, the SolexBrick S1, claims to allow mixing different types and sizes of solar panels without harming overall system efficiency. Traditional MPPTs usually require closely matched panel specs to avoid efficiency drops. This product seems to independently manage each panel, which could be a game-changer for those of us looking to upgrade or reuse older solar gear. However, since it's still a Kickstarter project, I'm wondering if anyone else has looked into this or found similar products that actually deliver on their promises?
2 Answers
It sounds a bit like a DC optimizer, which can be really useful if you're dealing with shading issues. I like how they’re trying to innovate in this space, so I'll check it out!
From what I gathered, it has four input channels, so it can connect four different panels. That flexibility is appealing, assuming you're mindful of the voltage between the panels. Mixing them in parallel can work if they're closely matched, but I imagine you'd run into issues if you face major mismatches in orientation, like one panel facing north and another south.
Exactly! If the panels get similar sunlight, you can parallel them based on voltage. But for series connections, it's all about the current, not the voltage between them.
Yeah, I saw that it's pitched similar to a microinverter, but the specs are a bit confusing. They say it can handle inputs up to 50V but then require 60V minimum for 48V batteries. An interesting choice!