Ok,
The panels have sequential serial #'s but i tested the open circuit voltage and
current and all 4 were virtually identical.
As far as the blocking/bypass diode setup, I set a blocking diode in all 4 panels and pissed off the bypass diodes alltogether.
I re-wired the boxes on back to the same gauge as i am using to get back to batteries
(about 8-10m). I wired one string directly to the other string via the connection boxes on back of panels seeming they have nice flexible conduits linking all four, this keeps everything neat with just the + and - wires coming out of one panel and down to batteries.
Someone mentioned fusing each string with 10amp each.
seeming ive joined the two strings via the boxes on back I was thinking of just putting an inline auto type fuse of 20 amp on the + wire somewhere down near the batteries.
(mind you, looking at some of the pics here of other people's setups mine seems to need a little work ;p)
As is now there is no fusing on the DC side, only an inline 20 amp on the batteries to inverter + wire. The AC system(all lights and powerpoints) ends in a plug to plug straight in to either inverter or generator and has 40amp breakers on the light string and the powerpoint string.
Is it needed to have fuses/breakers on the DC side
Inverter is 1500watt cont. but rarely if ever gets near that. I also have a little 300watt inverter that i leave on 24/7 so lights etc can be used in middle of night/coming home at night etc.
I currently run an LP-gas powered refridgerater but am considering a DC powered if my system will allow.
Anyone Know approx amp/hour per 24hours consumption of average dc fridge?
In the short term I am considering getting a solar regulater of some type, with cool things like amp/hours in and out, charging current, battery voltage and capacity etc. Also I was thinking maybe to run a couple of fat cables from the battery bank up to a board or something and run all connections from there rather than directly from bank. Some pics of other setups like that look good, i have a mess of wires and cable now.
Thanks to those who offered advice, I now have the panels up and running at 24volt and so far all looks good.
It's about middle of day here and still winter.
I had already charged batteries up to about 85-90% yesterday and hooked up the panels to the batteries this morning. when there is no cloud i can here the batteries bubbling a bit and voltage goes upto about 27-28 volts measured straight off batteries with multi meter. If a bit of cloud comes past you can see the voltage start to come down a bit!
This is starting to get fun ;p