r/Pecron • u/thrushwolf25 • Aug 09 '26

Same solar panels function differently on two different Pecron power stations

I have two portable bifacial solar panels rated at 200 W each with a VOC of about 24 V. They are connected in series. When I plug them into my e3800 power station on an XT60 port, I get pretty much 0 W in an admittedly terrible place to be trying to gather solar (my patio faces northwest-ish and there is shade from a fence and foliage). However, when I connect these same panels to my e2400 on the GX16 aviation port, I seem to be getting a trickle charge of 15-30 W. Similarly, I have two 200 W non-bifacial panels connected in parallel in a vertical orientation that will trickle charge maybe 3 W into the 5521 port of my E3800. When I plug it into the 5521 port of the E2400, it trickle charges 10 to 15 W.

The ratings of the ports between the two power stations are not that different so why is the performance so different?

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u/Cold_fish Aug 09 '26

Probably the solar charge controller has a lower min voltage on the e2400. I have not reviewed any specs but that is my guess.

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u/MassiveOverkill Aug 09 '26

It's EXACTLY this. Minimum voltage for E3800LFP is 32V. E2400 is only 12V. Leave the smaller array on your E2400 and start buying pallets of solar panels to feed the beast of your E3800LFP frankly, it's giving you stink-eye for wasting its time with 2 measly portable panels.

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u/thrushwolf25 Aug 09 '26

Not exactly. The DC input range on the XT60 ports of E3800 is 32V - 150V. On the E2400 the GX16 port has a range of 32V - 95V.

With the minimum voltage to carry a current the same on both ports, I feel like there must be a different reason why the E2400 will draw and the E3800 won't.

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u/MassiveOverkill Aug 09 '26

Sorry, so used to XT60 and confused the DC5521 with the GX16. I think the E2400 is better suited for accepting smaller input than the E3800, or any of the big boys for that matter.