3 charge controlles to 1 battery bank

junglejoe39

I have 3 arrays of different solar panels so I believe I will need 3 charge controllers. Can I do this and will all 3 arrays charge bank at same time and how do I connect them

zoneblue

Actually that depends on the panels. If the arrays can be configured within 10% Vmp, then its generally workable to feed multiple arrays into a single charge controller. On the other side, multiple controllers may help with shading issues, or simply expand the overall wattage if the arrays are large, or the system voltage small. Maybe post more details of the arrays vmp, imp.

South Africa

If the controllers can be set to exactly the same specs, than it could be ok.
If they are identical make and models, even better.

I know Morningstar had a email about this, that you can use multiple controllers onto same bank, as they all will follow the same charging pattern.

Dave Angelini

All of the above is very good advice.  The best way to do this is with the same brand and networked so all controllers are in sinc at all times. This is really important in the tropics or when there are clouds. This is even more important with sensitive AGM type batteries in absorption charge to prevent battery damage. Some examples of networked controllers beside morningstar are Schneider, Outback and Midnite.

junglejoe39

I dont have the numbers readily available but I have 4 - 130 w thin film panels and 4 - 100 w mono panels and 3-soon to be 4 - 150 w mono panels

junglejoe39

Oh sorry will have 215 ah 24v battery bank and will add another 215 ah in a few months

mike95490

Even with quality controllers and mixed brands, it only takes a couple days to fine tune all their settings so they track pretty well with each other.

2manytoyz

I've been doing this for years.  As long as each charge controller has it's own solar panels (not shared with another controller), it works fine.  As the battery bank voltage increases, one charge controller may drop back to trickle, while the other two keep charging.  Then another drops out, and just one is charging.  Finally, they all drop back to a trickle/float mode. 

Also, on days with low sun performance, I plug in my Iota 75A charger, which is also tied to the common battery bank.  It will work in parallel with the solar charge controllers.  Each item is self regulated, and can't back-feed another.

littleharbor2

What are the cylindrical things on the solar input of CC #2?

mike95490

littleharbor2 said:

What are the cylindrical things on the solar input of CC #2?

Those look like ferrite cores to try to suppress EMI

BB.

Assuming those are Ferrite cores--You would be better off placing both wires through the same core.

In general, those cores do not work well with pure DC current (on one leg). They saturate and do not do a good job at Radio Interference reduction.

By placing both wires (+ and -), the net DC current is zero Amps--And then the cores will do a much better job at reducing common mode noise (will not do much for differential noise--Keep wires running in parallel, or even twisted to reduce differential noise radiation).

-Bill