Why Is Rich Solar's 1600W Kit Built at 24V Instead of 12V?
Summary
Because its charge controller takes only 800 W of solar at 12 V. The RS-MPPT60 in the 1600 Watt 24V Complete Solar Kit is rated for a maximum solar input of 800 W at 12 V and 1,600 W at 24 V, and eight 200 W panels make exactly 1,600 W. The 400 W kit is a 12 V system, and its BRAVO 30 controller is recommended for up to 500 W at 12 V.
What the two kits contain
| Basic 400 Watt Solar Kit | 1600 Watt 24V Complete Solar Kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $799.99 | $4,999.99 |
| System voltage | 12 V | 24 V |
| Panels | 2 × MEGA 200 W | 8 × MEGA 200 W |
| Controller | BRAVO 30, 30 A MPPT | RS-MPPT60, 60 A MPPT |
| Controller solar limit | 500 W recommended (12 V), 1,000 W (24 V) | 800 W (12 V), 1,600 W (24 V) |
| Battery | None | 2 × ALPHA 4, 24 V 100Ah (2,560 Wh) each, 5.12 kWh total |
| Inverter | None | 3000 W continuous, 6,000 W surge, 24 V |
| Daily energy, per Rich Solar | about 1.4 kWh | about 5.8 kWh |
| Mounting | 2 sets of 4 Z brackets | 8 sets of 4 Z brackets |
The controller-to-battery cable is 10 AWG in the 400 W kit and 8 AWG in the 1600 W kit.
Growing the 400 W kit later
The BRAVO 30 auto-detects 12 V or 24 V, and its recommended solar power rises to 1,000 W at 24 V. Adding 200 W panels one at a time on a 12 V bank, the third panel is the one that passes the 500 W recommendation.
The "60A MPPT" on the 1600 W kit's page is not the store's BRAVO 60 (RS-MPPT60P). The BRAVO 60 is a 12/24 V unit recommended for 900 W at 12 V and 1,800 W at 24 V, while the RS-MPPT60 also runs at 36 V and 48 V and accepts up to 3,200 W at 48 V.
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Sources
- Rich Solar — Basic 400 Watt Solar Kit
- Rich Solar — 1600 Watt 24V Complete Solar Kit
- Rich Solar — BRAVO 30 MPPT Solar Charge Controller
- Rich Solar — BRAVO 60 MPPT Solar Charge Controller
- Rich Solar — MPPT Controllers (including the 60 Amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller)
We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.