I recently ordered four Dokio 400W solar panels and I'm planning to set them up in my yard. The plan is to run a long 200-foot cable (10 AWG) to my garage where my Ecoflow Delta Pro is located. My Delta Pro has a maximum input of 1600W and 150V, while the Dokio panels have a VOC (open-circuit voltage) of 37.1V each. If I connect all four panels in series, that gives me a total VOC of about 148V, which is very close to the Delta Pro's max limit. Considering the significant distance, I'm expecting a voltage drop of about 5-6 volts. I'm wondering if this margin is too slim for safety. Would it be better to connect two panels in parallel and then those in series, reducing the VOC but compensating for voltage drop?
1 Answer
It's definitely worth considering that VOC can increase with temperature, sometimes by 10-20% in winter. You might hit the max input threshold of your Delta Pro even on cooler days, especially with the long cable run. I'd be cautious and suggest that wiring two panels in parallel and then connecting those pairs in series could provide a safer option. More flexibility with voltage drop too!
Exactly! This way, you have a more stable voltage and a better safety margin, plus you can still harness a solid amount of power.