How Much Current from Four 200w Solar Panels

[WarrenK]

I am about to take delivery of a caravan that has 4 X 200 watt panels. The trouble is they split the feed from the panels. 2 panels in parallel feed into a 30a solar controller which is part of a Projecta power controller and 2 panels in similar configuration into the solar input of a DCDC charger (Projecta IDC25L ) They are hoping to get max output from the solar panels without clipping. I am going to remove all that wiring from the panel and install a VICTRON 100/50. I know it says a max of 700w of solar, but I don't think the 800w of solar will reach their max output even if it did under Ideal conditions it would not be long the small amount of reduction would not be much. That is a question for the people who know more about solar than me(most people). Is my assumption correct and 100/50 Victron will be suitable.

[T1 Terry]

The 200w solar panel can produce 200w when tested for 5 secs on a light box in a controlled temp of 25*C. If you can find a way to get the maximum output from the solar panel, in full sun at the perfect angle to get maximum output .... and, keep the internal temperature of the panel at 25*C or less, for all 4 panels, the Victron 100/50 will clip the last 100w input, bt if the open circuit voltage goes over 100vdc, it will simply shut down until the voltage drops below the 100vdc threshold.

In other words, the total watts is not the problem, the total voltage is, so the series string can't add up to 100vdc open circuit, best to hold 10vc n reserve, so the pen circuit voltage should not exceed 90vdc in a series string being fed into a 100vdc max MPPT controller ....... and that is why the 150vdc and higher MPPT controllers are so much more expensive to buy.
It comes down to the economics of a single higher voltage controller, or 2 x 100vdc controllers ..... and in the case of lithium batteries, plus the cost of the two BMS driven control units to shut the Victron MPPT controllers off if a cell goes over voltage .....

And .... you can't just run 2 panels in series and 2 strings of these in parallel, you will end up with the output of 1 pr of panels and 1 destroyed panel ......

If it was easy, anyone could do it

T1 Terry