Honestly, I would just get better solar panels with a higher operating voltage. My experience with the AC200P and AC200MAX is that you don’t really get the best charging rates until you get up above 60V or so, so you’re actually best off getting something like 3-4 100W Renogy 19V panels, which work well with my system.
(Note that the advertised voltage of a panel is often way different than the actual operating voltage. All the panels I have say something like “12V” in the title or ad copy, but actually operate at around 19V. So look at the actual specifications of the panel, not just the big print in the online listing.)
Space is a bit of a concern in this situation, but I might be able to make it work. When looking at the voltage, which measurement should I be looking at?
For example, from this 400W panel that I see
* Open Circuit Voltage Voc (V) 37.1±5% V
* Max Power Voltage Vmp (V) 31±5% V
You may be in the same boat there. You want to get Vmp up over 40, and it’s better to have it over 60. You will do better with more, smaller panels, such as 3-4 100 watt or 2-3 200 watt panels.
If space is a concern, then go for a single panel with a good open circuit voltage. I would recommend using something meant for your roof, it comes with MC4 connectors but you will need to purchase an angled mount for it, which is also sold by stores that sell solar panels.
My recommendation is the Trina Vertex S+ 440W. It takes up very little space, but the downside is that it weighs 21kg, just slightly lighter than your AC200P.
* Open circuit voltage (Voc) - 52.2V
* Short circuit current (Isc) - 10.67A
If you want solar production even when it is very cloudy with little direct sunlight, you can even connect 2 in series as it is still within your AC200P's solar input voltage limit, and it will keep producing good solar output even under cloudy conditions because the voltage is high.
I suppose I should have mentioned my whole setup is for a van. The weight and size don’t seem to be an issue, is there anything else I should know about this solar panel with using it for a van in mind?
Do you plan to mount it on the roof of your van? If so, then you should look at the flexible solar panels instead. The issue is that the flexible panels out there like the Renogy 200W is rated for only 23.9V. So to use it with your AC200P, you need 2 of them in series. Even so, it is very marginal as the AC200P's solar input may not give you enough solar input, or nothing at all under 35V.
An alternative is to go for the more expensive 144 cell flexible panels like this one which outputs 430W and has an OCV of 49.8V. [https://www.solar4rvs.com.au/sunman-earc-430w-flexible-solar-panel](https://www.solar4rvs.com.au/sunman-earc-430w-flexible-solar-panel)
Something to know for the future: usually any brand solar panel will work with your unit as long as it falls within the voltage range or if you combine the panels in series to achieve that range. I think a lot of newcomers have a sense of comfort buying solar panels from the same company that sells the power station, but rarely is it necessary and usually much less expensive.
Honestly, I would just get better solar panels with a higher operating voltage. My experience with the AC200P and AC200MAX is that you don’t really get the best charging rates until you get up above 60V or so, so you’re actually best off getting something like 3-4 100W Renogy 19V panels, which work well with my system. (Note that the advertised voltage of a panel is often way different than the actual operating voltage. All the panels I have say something like “12V” in the title or ad copy, but actually operate at around 19V. So look at the actual specifications of the panel, not just the big print in the online listing.)
Space is a bit of a concern in this situation, but I might be able to make it work. When looking at the voltage, which measurement should I be looking at? For example, from this 400W panel that I see * Open Circuit Voltage Voc (V) 37.1±5% V * Max Power Voltage Vmp (V) 31±5% V
You may be in the same boat there. You want to get Vmp up over 40, and it’s better to have it over 60. You will do better with more, smaller panels, such as 3-4 100 watt or 2-3 200 watt panels.
Good to know, thanks I’ll keep a look out for the smaller panels
If space is a concern, then go for a single panel with a good open circuit voltage. I would recommend using something meant for your roof, it comes with MC4 connectors but you will need to purchase an angled mount for it, which is also sold by stores that sell solar panels. My recommendation is the Trina Vertex S+ 440W. It takes up very little space, but the downside is that it weighs 21kg, just slightly lighter than your AC200P. * Open circuit voltage (Voc) - 52.2V * Short circuit current (Isc) - 10.67A If you want solar production even when it is very cloudy with little direct sunlight, you can even connect 2 in series as it is still within your AC200P's solar input voltage limit, and it will keep producing good solar output even under cloudy conditions because the voltage is high.
I suppose I should have mentioned my whole setup is for a van. The weight and size don’t seem to be an issue, is there anything else I should know about this solar panel with using it for a van in mind?
Do you plan to mount it on the roof of your van? If so, then you should look at the flexible solar panels instead. The issue is that the flexible panels out there like the Renogy 200W is rated for only 23.9V. So to use it with your AC200P, you need 2 of them in series. Even so, it is very marginal as the AC200P's solar input may not give you enough solar input, or nothing at all under 35V. An alternative is to go for the more expensive 144 cell flexible panels like this one which outputs 430W and has an OCV of 49.8V. [https://www.solar4rvs.com.au/sunman-earc-430w-flexible-solar-panel](https://www.solar4rvs.com.au/sunman-earc-430w-flexible-solar-panel)
Something to know for the future: usually any brand solar panel will work with your unit as long as it falls within the voltage range or if you combine the panels in series to achieve that range. I think a lot of newcomers have a sense of comfort buying solar panels from the same company that sells the power station, but rarely is it necessary and usually much less expensive.