Help choosing a charge controller

Hey all. Been reading for a long time. First post.
Looking for a charge controller suggestion.
I have 7ea Renogy 270w panels coming and I am trying to choose a charge controller. I have a 24 volt battery bank.
I am drawn to the Schneider electric products but I’m not sure if their charge controllers are worth the price.
Any suggestions? I use an old Xantrex SW4024 with an Outback Autotransformer for 240v. To this point I have only been using it for backup.
I’m in Florida.
Thanks again!
Looking for a charge controller suggestion.
I have 7ea Renogy 270w panels coming and I am trying to choose a charge controller. I have a 24 volt battery bank.
I am drawn to the Schneider electric products but I’m not sure if their charge controllers are worth the price.
Any suggestions? I use an old Xantrex SW4024 with an Outback Autotransformer for 240v. To this point I have only been using it for backup.
I’m in Florida.
Thanks again!
Comments
7 is a very ugly number for panels. It's prime so you can run them all in parallel, which you can't because the voltage is to low or you can run a single string of 7 panels, which would require a high voltage charge controller which will cost big bucks. Hopefully you are in south Florida and are buying the panels from Sun Electric in Miami and can just go down and pick up 1 more panel and run 4 strings of 2 panels. Though I haven't seen any Renogy panels there in quite a while.
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
Either case would put the VOC of a string of 6 panels above the safe operating range of most charge controllers. 6x38=228 volts and 6x45=270 volts. Only reason to run them in a single long string and pay the price for a high voltage charge controller would be if they will be a long distance from the charge controller.
Lots of good choices, you will have an array of 270 x 6= 1620 watts so an effective potential of about 1620/29=56 amps, so pretty much any 60 amp or higher charge controller would work.
I have used Midnite Classics and like them, you can create triggers to turn on loads once it reaches a certain point in it's charging. It will also leave you some room for expansion being able to handle around 94 amps depending on configuration. Schneider makes good products. As does Morningstar and Outback.
Midnite Classic (about 92 amp at 24 volts) $550;
https://www.solar-electric.com/midnite-solar-classic-150-sl-charge-controller.html
Outback FM80 (80 amps) $500 (requires addition equipment for some programing);
https://www.solar-electric.com/outback-power-flexmax-fm80-150-mppt-charge-controller.html
Morningstar MPPT 60(60 amps), $550;
https://www.solar-electric.com/motr60ampmps.html
Schneider Conext MPPT 60(60 amps), $546;
https://www.solar-electric.com/xaxwmp60amps.html
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
...Or you could run 3 strings of 2 panels, which would allow the charge controllers to run more efficiently but require a combiner box at the panels.
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
Specifications
Maximum Power: 270W Maximum System Voltage: 1000 VDC (UL)
Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp): 31.40V Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc): 38.60V
Optimum Operating Current (Imp): 8.60A Short-Circuit Current (Isc): 9.03A
Maximum Series Fuse Rating: 15A Weight: 42.8lbs
Dimensions: 64.96 x 39.25 x 1.57 inch
How do I decide the wiring configuration that is right for me? How many panels in a string?
|| Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
|| VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A
solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,
You can look at voltage drop for different wire sizes at
https://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html
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
Second system 1890W 3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.
5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.