I've recently set up a blue Victron 100/20 charge controller with five Renogy 50W panels wired in series. Although I'm measuring around 100 volts at 2.8 amps (which is about 280 watts), my Victron app only shows a voltage of 36 volts and current around 1.2 amps, consistently under 100 watts. I'm curious if anyone has experienced something similar and what might be going wrong?
1 Answer
It sounds like you're pushing the limits of your Victron charger. While the 100/20 can handle up to 100V, it's generally risky to max out the input. If you're using 12V panels, they might have a Voc higher than typical, which can exceed the controller's safe limits. It's crucial to check for things like shading or bad connections since those can really affect performance—low angles or just dirty panels can also play a role. Also, if your battery is already full, the controller will limit the power output to prevent overcharging. Have you double-checked everything?
There's definitely no shade! It's been full sun out, and I'm measuring 100V and 2.8 amps. I’m mindful of the angle too—trying to optimize it for both summer and winter.