Matching Solar panel to inverter

[orange_jo0se]

I don't know if this question has been asked, i tried searching but didn't find anything regarding it.

I received a small 1k watt Mecer MPPT Inverter and 200ah lithium battery from work.

Now i know it's a fairly small unit - but as a single guy living on his own i honestly don't need much.

Inverter solar specs below

SOLAR CHARGER
Solar Charger Type - MPPT
Maximum PV Array Open Circuit Voltage - 100Vdc
MPP Range @ Operating Voltage - 15~80
Max. PV array Input Power - 825w
Max. PV array Power to support - 660w
Maximum Solar Charging Current - 55A
Maximum Charging Current (Utility + SCC) 55A

Now looking at the below solar panel specs (just as an example)

- Module efficiency: 17.5%
- Maximum power (Pmax): 350W
- Maximum power voltage (Vmp): 35.5V
- Maximum power current (Imp): 9.87A
- Open circuit voltage (Voc): 43.8V
- Short circuit current (Isc): 10.17A
- Maximum system voltage: 1000VDC(IEC)
- Maximum series fuse rating: 15A

What do i match where?

most are pretty self explanatory - i.e. open circuit voltage, max operating voltage (labelled like this on solar specs - i assume in the inverter specs it would be mpp range @ operating voltage)

My question really comes down to amperage - could my PV amperage be higher than what is supported? I'll spec final voltage to be in spec obviously (less then 100vdc open circuit voltage and less than 80 operating voltage).

Then, if i can have a higher amperage (more than 55A) should i take max wattage into account?

Im confused by whole amperage given the fact that if i have a device that needs 12vdc and 1A input, i could plug in a 12vdc 10A power adapter and the device will only "use what it needs"

lastly what is the difference between Max. PV array Input Power and Max. PV array Power to support.

any advice would be appreciated as im a complete idiot when it comes to the solar side of inverters

TIA

 

[f0Ri5]

correct. your devices draw a fixed number of amps, your power needs to output the same or higher. as for wattage, i wouldnt get too optimistic, ive seen devices spike for a lot of watts, sometimes more than listed and they can and will destroy an inverter. stay away from anything that heats, microwaves, kettles, geyser obviously. fridges and so on can also blow a small inverter. havent had it happen personally but heard stories. stick to lights, TV, wifi, laptop, the usual.

the input watts need to be checked with your panels, dont put on more panels than your inverter can support. so the panel you listed, your inverter can support 2

EDIT: reading it again, you gave the MPPT charge controller specs, not the inverter. unless the MPPT is part of the inverter, the latter will have its own specs you need to consider. Also, I'm pretty sure your devices' TOTAL amps cant be more than the inverter's output.

 

[orange_jo0se]

yeah so I hopped on chat GPT and the robot better explained it to me lol. In my case - using the solar panel i gave as an example - i can only put up 2 in either series or parallel (series would be 71V max, 87.6V open circuit, amperage of 9.87 and max wattage of 700 - parallel would be 35.5V max, 43.8V open circuit, amperage of 19.74 and max wattage of 700 again) both configs well within spec of the MPPT

the MPPT is indeed part of the inverter itself, I have every single electronic device I own running on the inverter with the exception of kitchen appliances. (i guess it also helps that I switch stuff off - whenever I have guests over and more things get powered on I move electronics off of the inverter and put them back on grid power)

Daddy dearest and I ran cables in conduit and trunking to wherever I have "Eskom" plugs and installed dedicated sockets next to it to distribute power from the inverter everywhere....

The inverter is not tied to my DB, it receives power from one of my "Eskom" sockets

unit i have below:

IVR-1200MPPT Mecer 1200VA 1000W 12V DC-AC Inverter with LCD Display & MPPT built in | Mecer PC

IVR-1200MPPT Mecer 1200VA 1000W 12V DC-AC Inverter with LCD Display & MPPT built in for sale in South Africa. Mecer at Best Prices ✔ Best Service ✔ South African online shop - Buy, Rate, Review the IVR-1200MPPT Rated 5/5 by 1 user.

www.mecerpc.co.za