What Charge Controller?

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  • MambaJack
    Member
    • Sep 2018
    • 51

    What Charge Controller?

    Just purchased 6 335 Watt panels for my bus to charge 8 6v 235ah lead acid batteries setup in a 24v bank.
    Was looking at an outback fm80 for a charge controller, would this work well, or is there a batter option?

    Also, the reason for that much panel is not just to charge the bank, but to run my 12k btu minisplit ac during the hot hours of the day.

    Thanks,
    dave

  • nwdiver
    Solar Fanatic
    • Mar 2019
    • 422

    #2
    Originally posted by MambaJack
    Just purchased 6 335 Watt panels for my bus to charge 8 6v 235ah lead acid batteries setup in a 24v bank.
    Was looking at an outback fm80 for a charge controller, would this work well, or is there a batter option?

    Also, the reason for that much panel is not just to charge the bank, but to run my 12k btu minisplit ac during the hot hours of the day.

    Thanks,
    dave
    If you're running those panels in series (which you def should) and you don't need a lot of bells and whistles with your charge controller there's a strip down midnight classic on sale at sun elec and renvu for $360 and $290. Seems like an unbeatable deal.

    Comment

    • nwdiver
      Solar Fanatic
      • Mar 2019
      • 422

      #3
      Originally posted by MambaJack
      Just purchased 6 335 Watt panels for my bus to charge 8 6v 235ah lead acid batteries setup in a 24v bank.
      Was looking at an outback fm80 for a charge controller, would this work well, or is there a batter option?

      Also, the reason for that much panel is not just to charge the bank, but to run my 12k btu minisplit ac during the hot hours of the day.

      Thanks,
      dave
      If you don't need a lot of bells and whistles the Midnight classic 250 is on sale at renvu for $290.

      Comment

      • MambaJack
        Member
        • Sep 2018
        • 51

        #4
        Originally posted by nwdiver

        If you're running those panels in series (which you def should) and you don't need a lot of bells and whistles with your charge controller there's a strip down midnight classic on sale at sun elec and renvu for $360 and $290. Seems like an unbeatable deal.
        Cool, I will take a look?

        Couple questions,
        I definitely run them in series

        Comment

        • MambaJack
          Member
          • Sep 2018
          • 51

          #5
          Originally posted by nwdiver

          If you're running those panels in series (which you def should) and you don't need a lot of bells and whistles with your charge controller there's a strip down midnight classic on sale at sun elec and renvu for $360 and $290. Seems like an unbeatable deal.
          Thanks, I will take a look.
          Couple questions:
          What is the reason that i should run them all in series?
          Are any of the stripped down components of the controller big deals?
          Characteristics of this SPECIAL EDITION:

          Comment

          • MambaJack
            Member
            • Sep 2018
            • 51

            #6
            Thanks, I will take a look.
            Is there a specific reason i should run them all in series?
            Are there any of the stripped down components that I will miss not having.

            THanks,
            dave

            Comment

            • nwdiver
              Solar Fanatic
              • Mar 2019
              • 422

              #7
              Originally posted by MambaJack
              Thanks, I will take a look.
              Is there a specific reason i should run them all in series?
              Are there any of the stripped down components that I will miss not having.

              THanks,
              dave
              Not that I can really think of... it doesn't do boost so your string needs to have a higher voltage than the battery... I don't understand how that would really be useful...

              Comment

              • Mike90250
                Moderator
                • May 2009
                • 16020

                #8
                Originally posted by MambaJack
                Thanks, I will take a look.
                Is there a specific reason i should run them all in series?
                Are there any of the stripped down components that I will miss not having.

                THanks,
                dave
                For simple usage it's fine. I bought one as a spare for my classic 200
                Has ethernet, can use the Local App for control / viewing status.
                Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | 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

                Comment

                • littleharbor
                  Solar Fanatic
                  • Jan 2016
                  • 1998

                  #9
                  Nice that you can run high voltage into it if you need to. If you don't need the high voltage input the regular Classic 250's are pretty pricy compared to the 150 and 200. The thing I don't care for is the 55 amp charging limit @ 48 volts.
                  2.2kw Suntech mono, Classic 200, NEW Trace SW4024

                  Comment

                  • MambaJack
                    Member
                    • Sep 2018
                    • 51

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Mike90250

                    For simple usage it's fine. I bought one as a spare for my classic 200
                    Has ethernet, can use the Local App for control / viewing status.
                    This seems like a great option. however midnites sizing tool is saying that the 2010 watts is excessive.
                    I wonder if this would ever actually be an issue with panel inefficiency, and the fact that i am mounting them all flat on a bus roof.
                    Thoughts?

                    Comment

                    • Mike90250
                      Moderator
                      • May 2009
                      • 16020

                      #11
                      yes, the midnight sizer can't anticipate panel losses in bus roof mounting, so you are likely OK. Also, with 24V battery, don't wire panels for more than 55V or so, that will keep conversion losses down. (and less heat in the controller)
                      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | 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

                      Comment

                      • MambaJack
                        Member
                        • Sep 2018
                        • 51

                        #12
                        Ah cool. Thanks for the advice. So my panels are VOC 41 and VMP 34.5. Does this mean running all 6 panels parallel into a combiner box?

                        Comment

                        • Mike90250
                          Moderator
                          • May 2009
                          • 16020

                          #13
                          Originally posted by MambaJack
                          Ah cool. Thanks for the advice. So my panels are VOC 41 and VMP 34.5. Does this mean running all 6 panels parallel into a combiner box?
                          What's your charging voltage for a 24V bank ? About 32V for an EQ cycle. On a sunny day, your VMP is going to be only 33V. That's not enough for a MPPT to work well, so I'd think you have to have 2 in series. Your panels are an unfortunate voltage. Run the Midnight sizer again with higher ambient temps, and see if a single panel is enough voltage. I think it's marginal for hot weather, and you risk not fully charging when hot. So you would need a generator to top off for the last 2 hours daily in heat.
                          Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | 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

                          Comment

                          • MambaJack
                            Member
                            • Sep 2018
                            • 51

                            #14
                            Originally posted by Mike90250

                            What's your charging voltage for a 24V bank ? About 32V for an EQ cycle. On a sunny day, your VMP is going to be only 33V. That's not enough for a MPPT to work well, so I'd think you have to have 2 in series. Your panels are an unfortunate voltage. Run the Midnight sizer again with higher ambient temps, and see if a single panel is enough voltage. I think it's marginal for hot weather, and you risk not fully charging when hot. So you would need a generator to top off for the last 2 hours daily in heat.
                            Yea, if .i put a single panel into the calculator, it shows all green.

                            Comment

                            • MambaJack
                              Member
                              • Sep 2018
                              • 51

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Mike90250

                              For simple usage it's fine. I bought one as a spare for my classic 200
                              Has ethernet, can use the Local App for control / viewing status.

                              Thanks Mike, Is there a way to confirm that this model has ethernet?

                              Comment

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