600V Charge Controllers Morningstar or Xantrex

mcnutt13579
mcnutt13579 Registered Users Posts: 111 ✭✭✭
in Advanced Solar Electric Technical Forum #1
We have a few jobs upcoming that might benefit from a 600 volt charge controller. 9 or so 72 cell panels in a single string maybe, interacts with other factors. We don't even know anybody that has a 600 volt CC or has used one. Leaning toward the Morningstar for the first job because it is self contained with display and buttons but want to be sure it isn't a piece of junk or anything.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited September 2018 #2
    Both Morningstar and Xantrax are good controllers.   If you are planning on inverter gear, if you use all Xantrex, they will use the Xanbus as a common communications and the Combox (with a computer via ethernet) is a good control & monitor device.


    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || 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 ,

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  • mcnutt13579
    mcnutt13579 Registered Users Posts: 111 ✭✭✭
    edited September 2018 #3
    Likely will be an Outback inverter.  Not going to be Schneider for sure.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    mcnutt13579 said:
    Likely will be an Outback inverter.  Not going to be Schneider for sure.
    I guess you have your reasons, so perhaps the Morningstar with it's meter would be a better choice for you.   I don't know if the 600v version has the web server in it.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || 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 ,

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  • littleharbor2
    littleharbor2 Solar Expert Posts: 2,090 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #5
    mcnutt13579 said:. Leaning toward the Morningstar for the first job because it is self contained with display and buttons but want to be sure it isn't a piece of junk or anything.
    Doubt Morningstar has ever put out a product that was even remotely close to " A piece of Junk"

    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.

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  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #6

    mcnutt13579 said:
    Likely will be an Outback inverter.  Not going to be Schneider for sure.
    Juse curious, is the "Not going to be Schneider for sure " based on experience during the transition period of acusition, or a long term dealing with Xantrex before acusition, there was a period of time when customer service was not the best, or so I understand, currently they seem to be quite helpful, for what it's worth.
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    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.
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  • mcnutt13579
    mcnutt13579 Registered Users Posts: 111 ✭✭✭
    #7
    This job will be perfect for a single FXR, and no 240 is needed. 

    Yes it is true that Schneider went full stupid some years back, and neither us nor our competitors, nor DIYers seem to use them now.  I know of a total of 2 systems and one had full power meltdown and the other had software issues that should never happen on a piece of equipment that is expected to run 24/7/365.

    But those were the previous generation and my current research has led me to believe we will probably be using them very soon again.

    Anyway back to the topic, has anybody used either 600V charge controller or are we just trusting that the company knows what they are doing?
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  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,863 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #8
    I beta tested for Schneider the 600v mppt-80 in 2010. I have installed and sold close to 100 of them. Zero problems! It is about all I use.
     I always use a complete system to enable the user to get data from the home wirelessly or anywhere in the world. I like Outback but the 600cc makes my job very easy. The screen below tells a user in one screen most everything they need.

    Outback will have a 600v all in one inverter and CC out in the next few months.


    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

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