amp discrepancy ?

Battery bank in float mode, inverter and all loads turned off,
trimetric shows .4 amps going in, midnite classic 200 showing 1.6 amps going in.
Out of curiosity I wonder why the difference?
trimetric shows .4 amps going in, midnite classic 200 showing 1.6 amps going in.
Out of curiosity I wonder why the difference?
3310 watts panels, Classic 200 controller, 8 Surette S530's, Xantrex 5548 inverter, Honda EX5500 backup Genny.
Comments
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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.
KID #51B 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
If it is not disconnected from the battery (breaker off) it might still be using some energy. You are trying to track down a pretty small amount of energy @50 watts, it may still be in some sort of idle mode even off while connected, likely only 8-10 watts, but you aren't hunting for a huge amount.
If you don't have the Whiz Bang Jr attached, some of it might be energy consumed by the charge controller since the shunt the Midnite sees would be internal. I think they use @5 watts... but recall they are higher than other charge controllers.
- Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
My trimetrics seem to show some sort of phantom load as well, even with all breakers off. It's on my to-do list to figure out this summer so would be interested if you figure it out first.
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
Yes I was reading the Whiz Bang. I guessed that maybe the CC was using the extra amps.
I do have a problem with CC self consumption as my panels have been had snow cover problems over the last two winters, and logged data is consistent with self consumption of 3-4w on controllers. I'm going to address that by adding winter oriented panels on PWM cotrollers and likely turning off Classics.
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
The current sense in the Classic is very good but it's not perfect and has to be adjusted carefully at the factory... Also, battery current should be a wee more accurate than input PV current.
The internal shunts look at the positive lines where the Trimetric and WB Jr. measures at the negative line into the battery - terminal.
FYI, the common negative line from the Classic terminal, if only one single wire is used to tie to battery negative/common, will show difference between input and output current of the Classic, so just be aware of that. That isn't a problem with the common shunt to battery minus though because the everything else is tied at the battery minus bus.
There IS an adjustment pot accessible but I wouldn't touch that one just yet.
boB