Steca Controller Question

System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Off Grid Solar & Battery Systems #1
I have a Steca PR 3030 Solar Charge Controller. Can I connect my inverter, a Xantrex Prowatt SW1000 to the load connections on the controller? I would like to take advantage of the load monitoring available on the controller. Everything I've seen has the inverter connecting right to the batteries. Any Idea what the load limit would be going through the controller? Thanks
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  • stephendv
    stephendv Solar Expert Posts: 1,571 ✭✭
    #2
    Re: Steca Controller Question

    Steca have a website where you can download the manual and data sheets.
    http://www.stecasolar.com/index.php?Steca_PR_10_30_en

    The 3030 has a 30A output limit.
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  • KeithWHare
    KeithWHare Solar Expert Posts: 140 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Steca Controller Question

    With a 30 Amp output limit on the Steca PR 3030, , if you have a 12 volt battery system, your limit is approximately 360 watts (30 * 12). If you have a 24 volt battery system, your limit is approximately 720 watts (30 * 24).

    Both of those numbers are significantly lower than the 1000 watts the Xantrex Prowatt SW1000 supports.

    So, yes, you could hook your inverter to the load side of the Steca, but it will support significantly less power than the inverter rating.

    The next question is will anything break if (when) you overload things? I don't know the answer to that question.

    Keith
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  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #4
    Re: Steca Controller Question

    Thanks, I guess that was the basic of my question....is the output limit on the controller also 30 amps and what would happen to it if that rating was exceeded.
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  • niel
    niel Solar Expert Posts: 10,300 ✭✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Steca Controller Question

    on that particular kind of controller you cannot exceed the current rating to its input that the controller is made for. this is a shunt style controller and can't send a larger amount of power to ground for regulating than it's made for without being damaged. that means if you have say 29a of pv and you get an edge of cloud magnification of the solar intensity that this controller's ratings can then be exceeded and blow it out. this can apply to reflections or any other sources that would magnify the output of the pvs over the 1000w/m^2 ratings giving a higher current.

    on a series type the input current can be higher, but would be limited to its rated current on the output so there's no damage. this is the better type to have as one can safely exceed its current ratings without damage as it will only output what current it is rated to.
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