Fitted the wrong solar controller ----Dammmm

iana · Guru

Fitted the wrong solar controller ----Dammmm

Jaahn · Guru

iana wrote:
OK you guys, I have a PMT regulator in one hand, and a 60 amp MPPT regulator in the other, we need to capture as much sun power as possible, and need to be able to get out batteries up to full charge. Do I fit the PMT with the panels in parallel, or the MPPT with the panels in series. Simple question, I have both solar controllers.

Ok Iana smile

Use the MPPT regulator if it is a good brand that works as it should. It will harvest the most power IMHO. Whether the panels are best in parallel or series or a combination of both will depend on the panels and voltages. But I just see you posted that information. So just put them in parallel. Gives best outcome if there is any slight shade on one panel. cry

That is what I would do.

I had a GSL house battery 240 charger and DC power supply in my previous MH and it was 15+Y old and had a problem caused by a silly mistake. An electronic tech I knew was very impressed with its quality and thought it was better than any new ones he had seen. So had it fixed and it was good again. I have had no experience of a GSL MPPT reg.

Jaahn

-- Edited by Jaahn on Thursday 18th of April 2019 12:22:37 PM

T1 Terry · Guru

iana wrote:
The PWM controller is a Projecter SC245 45amp. The MPPT controller is a GSL 60amp, and the panels are 22.5v, 3 x 145w

My guess is the 22.5v is the open circuit voltage. 3 x 22.5 = 67.5vdc. The GSL should be able to handle that voltage, so connect them in series.

Can you tell us the Imp of each panel marked on the label on the back of the panel please? It will be interesting to see the total Ah or Wh harvest over the full day recorded over 7 days to see it if comes to more than the Imp x 3 x 5 peak sun hrs each day.

T1 Terry

iana · Guru

"It will be interesting to see the total Ah or Wh harvest over the full day recorded over 7 days to see it if comes to more than the Imp x 3 x 5 peak sun hrs each day.", smile The what ???? the controller doesn't have all of those fancy figures, in fact it has no figures at all.

Have it installed, but not finished off, need to install shunt etc. Separate volt & Amp meter.

But I will have a good Projecta 45A controller for sale.

T1 Terry · Guru

iana wrote:
"It will be interesting to see the total Ah or Wh harvest over the full day recorded over 7 days to see it if comes to more than the Imp x 3 x 5 peak sun hrs each day.", The what ???? the controller doesn't have all of those fancy figures, in fact it has no figures at all.
Have it installed, but not finished off, need to install shunt etc. Separate volt & Amp meter.
But I will have a good Projecta 45A controller for sale.

If you do not have a Victron BMV or similar, how will you know if it works at all? Any monitoring equipment should be independent and not part of any charging device. Too easy to fudge the figures and make it look like the unit works far better than it really does. Tested 2 USA manufactured MPPT controllers and both of them exaggerated their output by a neat 20%. The screen read 20 amps but the clamp meter and Victron BMV showed 16 amps, at 10 amps on the controller the clamp meter and Victron showed 8 amps, so a neat 20% across the range. When I attempted to push the 20 amps it was supposed to be rated for through the units, one got really hot and I stopped, the other one simply failed. I won't name and shame, but the name had the second letter and the last letter of the alphabet, just so you know what to look out for when shopping.

T1 Terry