Too much Input Power for my Charge Controller?

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Comments

  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    EP does make 150 volt controllers. If you have decided on a Midnite Solar brand you cant go wrong there.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,431 admin
    Other vendors have similar websites (Outback for one?).

    Please feel free to ask about controllers and the various positives and negatives about them.

    Midnite is a great company, very good support, and lots of features. They do, however, have loud fans (hot room, mid-day sun, etc.). You don't want to put this in your living area (i.e., office) if the daytime fan noise would bother you (just an FYI).

    We want you make informed purchasing decisions.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    I'm still curious about system voltage?
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
  • jmbljb1
    jmbljb1 Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Oh man, I see that the Classic 150 is 650 dollars.  I can buy another EPEVER 4210 Charge controller and hook up two PV panels to one controller and two pv panels to the other controller for a lot less than the Classic 150.  That's including the additional fuses and breakers and wires.  I don't know.  I think I might just purchase another EPEVER and setup a two charge controller system.  Any thoughts or considerations that I may have forgotten?
  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Heck, if it's a 24 volt system, you can buy cheap PWM charge controllers. 
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
  • jmbljb1
    jmbljb1 Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Photowhit said:
    Heck, if it's a 24 volt system, you can buy cheap PWM charge controllers. 
    No, I don't have anything requiring a 24 volt system.  12 volts will run everything I'm using this for. That's a good thought thou.
  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,002 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited June 2018 #38
    jmbljb1 said:
    Photowhit said:
    Heck, if it's a 24 volt system, you can buy cheap PWM charge controllers. 
    No, I don't have anything requiring a 24 volt system.  12 volts will run everything I'm using this for. That's a good thought thou.
    Well if you go back to the beginning, I noted that the 40 amp charge controller was considerably under sized for the solar array. If you have a 4 - 325 = 1300 watt array on a MPPT type charge controller, you should expect it to produce about 75% of it's panel rating (NOCT value) 1300 watt array should produce about 75% of it's panel rating or 975 watts. 975 watts divided by 14.5 volts roughly the charging voltage for 12 volts = 67 Amps! This would make a 40 amps CC really too small, a 60 amp might be reasonable if it can handle the over paneling, most MPPT types can...

    Midnite classic 150 is about $600 through NAWS (our sponsor)
    https://www.solar-electric.com/mnclassic.html

    There is also a Classic SL made for solar only, it also has some other reduction of features, but would save another $50;
    https://www.solar-electric.com/midnite-solar-classic-150-sl-charge-controller.html

    An Outback FM 60 would handle most of the current and I think it wouldn't have a problem with over paneling, It might be yur cheapest alternative at $430. It's big brother the FM80 is $480. I think you would only have minimal settings without another piece of equipment. Neither come with a battery Temperature Sensor (BTS) which you will want.

    Northern Arizona Wind and Sun typically has close to if not the least expensive prices on Midnite gear....

    ...but if you are still looking around over July 4th, they might have a 5% off sale, though they might wait until later in the year.




    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Using multiple controllers can work fine. There can be an issue with units not designed to network where one sees slightly different voltage than the other and might be in a different charge stage than the other at times, but that usually isn't a huge issue.

    Networked controllers, such as MN classics, will all go to (eg) absorb at the same time.

    An advantage to multiple controllers is when one fails you may be able to limp by with the working twin while getting the dead one repaired/replaced.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jmbljb1
    jmbljb1 Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Estragon said:
    Using multiple controllers can work fine.
    An advantage to multiple controllers is when one fails you may be able to limp by with the working twin while getting the dead one repaired/replaced.
    And both controllers can feed power to one battery bank, right?
  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Yup. My 48v bank has 3 controllers (2 classics and a Morningstar 45a PWM) and an inverter-charger feeding it. No problems, except the Classic and Morningstar don't speak to each other so can be in different charge stages.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jmbljb1
    jmbljb1 Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    edited June 2018 #42
    Photowhit said:

    Well if you go back to the beginning, I noted that the 40 amp charge controller was considerably under sized for the solar array. If you have a 4 - 325 = 1300 watt array on a MPPT type charge controller, you should expect it to produce about 75% of it's panel rating (NOCT value) 1300 watt array should produce about 75% of it's panel rating or 975 watts. 975 watts divided by 14.5 volts roughly the charging voltage for 12 volts = 67 Amps! This would make a 40 amps CC really too small, a 60 amp might be reasonable if it can handle the over paneling, most MPPT types can...
    Now that I have purchased a second EPEVER 4210 charge controller (40 more amps), I have split the four panels into two sets of two.
    As I was connecting the wires, I was wondering if I should go to a larger size. The 12 awg cables on the back of the panels are rated for 20 amps, so I purchased 10 awg cable extensions, but I see that they are rated for 30 amps.  So should I go to 8 awg since the charge controller is rated for 40 amps?  I don't want the cables to melt or anything if 40 amps is pulled through them.
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    If series wired you will only have the amps of the single panel rating flowing but at higher voltage of the series pair. You will need larger wire from the CC to the battery.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    40a is the output of the controller at charging voltage. The input current will be the combined Imp of the parallel connected panels at higher string voltage, which should will be well under the output current.

    Generally, getting a wire sized for acceptible voltage drop over the distance from array to controller will need a wire big enough that ampacity isn't a problem.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jmbljb1
    jmbljb1 Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    If series wired you will only have the amps of the single panel rating flowing but at higher voltage of the series pair. You will need larger wire from the CC to the battery.
    Is there a need to put the 40 amp breaker/fuse from the panels to the charge controller since the wire is only rated at 20/30 amps?  Won't the wire give out before the breaker/fuse? Should I use a breaker/fuse rated for less amps?
  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,036 ✭✭✭✭✭
    That's correct. If anything you want a smaller fuse/breaker than the ampacity of the wire. Its job is to protect the wire after all. That breaker would work on the output, provided the wire was sized to handle 40 amps.

    2.1 Kw Suntech 175 mono, Classic 200, Trace SW 4024 ( 15 years old  but brand new out of sealed factory box Jan. 2015), Bogart Tri-metric,  460 Ah. 24 volt LiFePo4 battery bank. Plenty of Baja Sea of Cortez sunshine.

  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    OCP (breakers/fuses) should be sized to protect the weakest part of the circuit. In the case of pv circuit, the panel is generally weakest, so OCP in the panel spec (often 15a) is used.
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jmbljb1
    jmbljb1 Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Estragon said:
    Yup. My 48v bank has 3 controllers (2 classics and a Morningstar 45a PWM) and an inverter-charger feeding it. No problems, except the Classic and Morningstar don't speak to each other so can be in different charge stages.
    I have my two 40 amp EPsolar 4210 charge controllers hooked up to my 12v 300 a/h battery bank and like you said, I don't think they are communicating, but they are working to charge the bank.  However, I have all the CC positives going to battery #1 (pos) and all the CC negatives going to battery #3 (neg).  What I was wondering is can I now hook my AC/DC power inverter in reverse to the battery bank and have equal draw? ie hook my Inverter positive cable to battery # 3 (pos) and my Inverter negative cable to battery #1 (neg) and have it draw equally from the battery bank.  (My battery terminal screws are short and I'm running out of room on the two main terminals)
    Does it even matter? Thanks for your help.

  • Estragon
    Estragon Registered Users Posts: 4,496 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Rather than trying to cram too many connections on a battery post, IMHO you should make or buy a pair of bussbars for +ive and -ive connections, and make a single connection to the bank.

    For parallel wiring batteries and reasons to do it in a particular way, you may want to check out:
    http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/batt_con.html
    Off-grid.  
    Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
    Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
  • jmbljb1
    jmbljb1 Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭✭
    Estragon said:
    For parallel wiring batteries and reasons to do it in a particular way, you may want to check out:
    http://www.smartgauge.co.uk/batt_con.html
    I viewed the diagrams on this webpage and my battery bank is setup like the second diagram. Numbers 3 and 4 may be perfectly balancing the batteries, but incur more money in the beginning and only seem to be redirecting 2 or 3 amps towards each battery.
    Perhaps once these 3 (100 a/h) batteries go down in 10 yrs or so, I'll be able to change up my setup. Thanks so much for the help.