How to wire two Classic 200's

[charlespyoung]

I am upgrading a system in Haiti of 12 250w modules 3000W array, a Classic 200, Outback inverter and 16 Rolls S-550's to a 20 module 5000W array, two Classic 200's, Outback inverter and 24 Rolls S-550's. How do you wire the two Classics together?
Thanks

[TomW]

Most folks would split the array into pieces and feed one set of modules to each Classic.

Otherwise, you need to add some power diodes between the Classics if they share an incoming source.  I am not exactly sure on how that works but it has been mentioned.

No problem connecting multiple Classics to the same battery bank at all.

Tom

[ClassicCrazy]

Use the string calculator on the Midnite site and it will give you the best options for how combine the series of  those panels into the two Classics.
http://www.midnitesolar.com/sizingTool/index.php

There is a  Follow Me mode in the Classic to combine two charge controllers. That should be documented in the manual.

You do want to have all the batteries the same age - not add new ones to old ones.

Larry

[charlespyoung]

Thanks for the replies. Big help! However, I will have to add new batteries to the older bank due to the costs of batteries in Haiti. The S-550's are in the $400 a piece range. When I added 8 to the bank a few months ago I did multiple EQ's which help level the system out.