Q: Bypass charge controller?

VolcanoSolar
VolcanoSolar Solar Expert Posts: 56 ✭
in General Solar Power Topics #1
So I'm all set to fire up my new system, but the display on my MX60 is not working, and I'm waiting for the replacement unit in the mail.

And boy am I impatient; given the holiday and the distance to Hawaii, it'll be middle of next week at the earliest.

Meanwhile -- any harm done wiring 72-volt arrays directly into the 48-volt battery bank?

Given that:
- one can short-circuit panels without harming them;
- the voltage will drop to that of the batteries until they're charged up;
- nothing is being driven off of DC power, except the inverter;
- I'll be monitoring the battery voltage to prevent overcharge.

Battery bank is 24 L16s; panels are 9 Kyocera 175-watt.

- Ted
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Comments

  • Solar Guppy
    Solar Guppy Solar Expert Posts: 1,989 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Q: Bypass charge controller?

    Yes, you can direct connect .. no technical issues at all.

    You must be the charge controller ... so disconnect when the batterys are full ( you can only do Bulk charging ) and disconnect at night to prevent the panels from draining the batterys.
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  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,654 admin
    #3
    Re: Q: Bypass charge controller?

    And you have to be very careful in disconnecting if done under load. DC can sustain some pretty good arcs. You should use a switch rated for the load and make sure that it is not near the batteries (hydrogen gas).

    You could also do a little "diversion loading"--Electric heater on the inverter to draw power roughly equal to the panel wattage...

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
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