Renogy Eclipse panels?

[WalkaboutTed]

I just bought an eclipse. Didn't have time to wait for a sale because I will not be able to install it unless it's first, before all the other panels. I have a space that's about 40 inches and the regular 100w panels are 47". I may or may not be able to squeeze in another with the other 540 watts on my trailer roof. I need to get up there with some tape to mark it all out. But the eclipse will have its own charge controller. I like the Blue Sky one that gives you a nice readout of what's going in. Any increased performance is quite welcome.

My aim is to be able to run the furnace, even with days of crappy weather without having to hook up to shore power. Everything else is gravy.
Ted

 

[highdesertranger]

the efficiency rating is about how efficient the panel is at turning sunlight into electricity. a 100 watt panel is a 100 watt panel. but the more efficient one should have a smaller footprint. highdesertranger

 

[tx2sturgis]

You beat me to it sir!

For HB's question:

Yes, efficiency is a measure of how much surface area of this type of material, vs that type of material, to make electricity from the sunlight.

But, a 100 rated watt panel makes 100 watts (in the lab or in ideal solar conditions) no matter the efficiency. The power rating is the wattage that you can expect from the panel, (again in ideal conditions). Usually, a high efficiency panel simply means it will be a bit smaller in physical size, since it needs less sunlight to make the same power.

There are slight differences in the final ratings, called 'power tolerance' but for our normal use and at normal dollar amounts for vans and RVs these ratings don't matter that much, usually just a few percent. 

Different panels might respond differently in cloudy conditions or with partial shading, but again, for our normal or modest setups, it's just not that much of an issue.  

If you were going to buy 1000 panels to power an office building or a warehouse, then the small differences in efficiency and power tolerance would be cumulative and matter a lot more.

For us, what matters most is usually cost, durability, warranty, overall size, and sometimes, weight.

 

[GotSmart]

The Eclipse panel will harvest electricity in conditions where the others won’t.  Such as dusk and moonlight.  I have had nothing but happy people when I install them. 

Over the life of the panel, they will more than pay for themselves.

 

[HumbleBeginnings]

Now that I understand efficiency is more about the required size to get a certain output, I'm mostly just concerned with which size panel fits on my roof.

I measured yesterday, and the regular monocrystalline panels fit perfectly between the sides of my maxxfan and the ends of my cross bars. So, I can fit 4 x 100w panels up there pretty easily.

My plan is to wire them so that I have 2 pairs in parallel with each pair in series with an mppt controller.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[galladanb]

Don't quote me on this, but my nderstanding is that the Eclipse panels are smaller than their opposites...

On my 3500 extended rooftop, two 100w panesl look so tiny...
I could actually put more panels than I can afford up there!! Really!

 

[Cammalu]

FYI

Renogy Eclipse 100 watt. Product Dimensions 40.8 x 1.4 x 20.7 inches

Regular Renogy 100 watt 47 x 1.4 x 21.3 inches



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[HumbleBeginnings]

Yep, and I've got 23" on either side of my roof van. So the regular mono work out perfectly and save me a ton of money. I was originally going to get two panels, now I'll be going with four so I'll be looking for extra devices to power!

 

[rvpopeye]

And the Renogy 100watt poly panel is about 40 X 26.7 .......

 

[John61CT]

No actually useful amps are "harvested" by any panels from streetlamps or moonlight.

Fact they might show some voltage is meaningless.

 

[Cammalu]

Maybe you should test that theory John


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[rvpopeye]

John
Do you actually own a panel ??

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah you actually DO get a little charging. not much but some. highdesertranger

 

[jimindenver]

Efficiency is output vs footprint. So the same power in a smaller footprint is more efficient. Should footprint not matter then you move onto other considerations like production in sub par conditions, cost and availability. Also to consider is what type of system they are being run on. On a PWM system higher voltage and lower amperage just means more voltage is loss and fewer amps are delivered. On a MPPT system all of the voltage is used so the difference in amp output is minimal.

As far as seeing output under extreme low light conditions goes, seeing it can be a factor of what controller you are using. Park under a street light or full moon and test the Voc of your panel/s while disconnected and you will see a rise in voltage. Whether or not it is enough power to wake up the controller is a different question. My 250w panels would show output in low light conditions if connected to a Eco-worthy MPPT controller but do not on my Morningstar controller. The Morningstar does not see it as enough to even wake up.

 

[John61CT]

yeah you actually DO get a little charging. not much but some. highdesertranger

Keywords highlighted below

No **actually useful** amps are "harvested" by any panels from streetlamps or moonlight.

And yes, next set of eclipses I install, if a clear night with a full moon happens while I still have access, I'll measure actual charge output at the battery, which is what I'm talking about.

 

[GotSmart]

Keywords highlighted below

And yes, next set of eclipses I install, if a clear night with a full moon happens while I still have access, I'll measure actual charge output at the battery,  which is what I'm talking about.

Have you any experience with the Renogy Eclipse panel?

 

[HumbleBeginnings]

On a MPPT system all of the voltage is used so the difference in amp output is minimal.

So would it be bad put my panels in series/parallel if I have an mppt controller? (Two panels in series, in parallel with two other panels in series. 40 Voc, ~10 Amps)


Would it be better to have all four in series for max voltage? (80 Voc, ~5 Amps)

 

[HumbleBeginnings]

FYI - I emailed Renogy tech support about series vs series/parallel for my intended setup and their only response is that both are valid, and they don't recommend one over the other. So unless I hear new information to dissuade me I plan to use the series/parallel setup.

 

[galladanb]

Aaron, if your going to get four panels, I might suggest a cross wiring pattern.
By that I mean left front to right rear and right front to left rear...

As has been said before, if one is in shade or blocked, both are rendered out.
Does that make sense? Or am I over thinking it?

I only have 2 - 100 w Eclipse panels, and I think mine are wired in parallel so that if one gets blocked, the other still works great! I'm wanting to add one more in the future. More than 300 and I will need another mppt controller! Lol!

 

[John61CT]

Depends on the MPPT controller. For sure anything under 30V won't get much extra efficiency from most, they need a wide possible V range to work their magic.

The Victrons for example have a lot of headroom for voltage, and I believe best efficiency requires higher than 40V.

Best would be to actually A/B test it yourself with your hardware combination: given pretty stable conditions, switch between e.g. 2s2p and 4s1p to see with an ammeter which config results in higher output - **charging amps** at the battery bank.

Ideally leave a flexible wiring setup in place so you could switch back to see in different conditions, easily add or replace panels, use portables easily etc.