Hello all,
First post here and looking for anyone using a Morningstarr MPPT-60 to charge a LifePo4 12 volt house battery bank setup .
I found this forum when I googled "Morningstar MPPT-60 charging LiFeP04 batteries"
I have read everything here and see that the exact same question was asked before and I fear no one is doing this with this equipment, but there is a strong collective knowledge base of hands on solar people here, so comments appriciated.
When I get to the boat and put everything together I will figure it out wiith the help of others more intelligent than me, however I was hoping to get a jump on the learning curve if someone has already done this
I will install this spring May 2014 and wanted to get some first hand help if possible.
The custom settings using the downloadable software via MS VIEW from morningstar is where I need guidence.
I do not have a pc with me here so I cannot see the possible options I may use to set the MPPT-60 to charge to my requirements.
Even if I did I would need hand holding to get my mind around it, I am from a steel fabrication background and not electical/electronic.
A quick description of my solar system to be installed is the following...see more detail in the below links if interested;
3 sets of kyocera solar panels located in different shadowing conditions. One set made up of 2 x 220 watt and one 215 watt panels. Two other separate sets made up of 2 X 250 watt panels. Each set will be connected in series at the panel location and then run +/- 55' in set of # 4 awg cables, into each sets dedicated MPPT-60 controller. From each controller 2 cables will be run max 15 feet to the main buss bars on the house bank...also using # 4 awg cable.
Thank you for your help, and the warm welcome to this site,
Best Regards,
Pete
Please see the below links, I know it is some reading , but if you want a complete picture it is there.
A quick description of what I have LiFeP04 wise;
I already have 84 only used 60 amp LiFeP04 GBS batteries installed in my boat ( under my bed !!! I am a believer ).........4 banks of 21 batteries in Parallel ....then these banks are hooked in series .....to give me my + 12 volt house battery of 1260 amps.
They stay in balance quite well. They get topped of to 3.55 volts each when hooked to shore power or if i want to run my Gen set..which i really do not..using individual balancing boards that bleed off incomming charge to the "quick to charge" batteries allowing the slower ones to catch up and all balance within +/- 30 min at low amps on top end. I now have 13 of these balance boards (Model # BL40 total 52 ) equally distributed in each parelle row of 21 batteries...they only work at top end, At less than 10$ each are a simple efficient way to visually see the batteries topping off.
I have a simple BMS that displays on a 15 " screen the temperature, the capacity%...(SOC), the total pack voltage, and the individual 21 in parellel voltage. Its prime function is to display these things as well as act as a high and low level disconnect . I watched it for many many hours and frequently turned it on from my bed at night to see just where my SOC was at and my battery voltage.Simple and works good but probably more involved than most would like in an off grid system. On a boat you get in tune with all the noises and often find yourself checking these and all your gauges , the electrical system just becomes part of this routine. Personally I enjoy the independance from everything.
I traveled with the boat for many weeks last summer and was blown away from the difference compared to my old system.My total time with the batteries was only a 3 months last season and they are being stored in my garage at approx 50 % capacity till the boats go back in the water next April. It gets real cold here and I erred on the side of caution to remove them and am happy I did.
Link to original post re my system on Cruisers forum;
complete info on what I have to work with . see post #2944
My incomming SOLAR equip....see post # 1
a picture of my house bank
First post here and looking for anyone using a Morningstarr MPPT-60 to charge a LifePo4 12 volt house battery bank setup .
I found this forum when I googled "Morningstar MPPT-60 charging LiFeP04 batteries"
I have read everything here and see that the exact same question was asked before and I fear no one is doing this with this equipment, but there is a strong collective knowledge base of hands on solar people here, so comments appriciated.
When I get to the boat and put everything together I will figure it out wiith the help of others more intelligent than me, however I was hoping to get a jump on the learning curve if someone has already done this
I will install this spring May 2014 and wanted to get some first hand help if possible.
The custom settings using the downloadable software via MS VIEW from morningstar is where I need guidence.
I do not have a pc with me here so I cannot see the possible options I may use to set the MPPT-60 to charge to my requirements.
Even if I did I would need hand holding to get my mind around it, I am from a steel fabrication background and not electical/electronic.
A quick description of my solar system to be installed is the following...see more detail in the below links if interested;
3 sets of kyocera solar panels located in different shadowing conditions. One set made up of 2 x 220 watt and one 215 watt panels. Two other separate sets made up of 2 X 250 watt panels. Each set will be connected in series at the panel location and then run +/- 55' in set of # 4 awg cables, into each sets dedicated MPPT-60 controller. From each controller 2 cables will be run max 15 feet to the main buss bars on the house bank...also using # 4 awg cable.
Thank you for your help, and the warm welcome to this site,
Best Regards,
Pete
Please see the below links, I know it is some reading , but if you want a complete picture it is there.
A quick description of what I have LiFeP04 wise;
I already have 84 only used 60 amp LiFeP04 GBS batteries installed in my boat ( under my bed !!! I am a believer ).........4 banks of 21 batteries in Parallel ....then these banks are hooked in series .....to give me my + 12 volt house battery of 1260 amps.
They stay in balance quite well. They get topped of to 3.55 volts each when hooked to shore power or if i want to run my Gen set..which i really do not..using individual balancing boards that bleed off incomming charge to the "quick to charge" batteries allowing the slower ones to catch up and all balance within +/- 30 min at low amps on top end. I now have 13 of these balance boards (Model # BL40 total 52 ) equally distributed in each parelle row of 21 batteries...they only work at top end, At less than 10$ each are a simple efficient way to visually see the batteries topping off.
I have a simple BMS that displays on a 15 " screen the temperature, the capacity%...(SOC), the total pack voltage, and the individual 21 in parellel voltage. Its prime function is to display these things as well as act as a high and low level disconnect . I watched it for many many hours and frequently turned it on from my bed at night to see just where my SOC was at and my battery voltage.Simple and works good but probably more involved than most would like in an off grid system. On a boat you get in tune with all the noises and often find yourself checking these and all your gauges , the electrical system just becomes part of this routine. Personally I enjoy the independance from everything.
I traveled with the boat for many weeks last summer and was blown away from the difference compared to my old system.My total time with the batteries was only a 3 months last season and they are being stored in my garage at approx 50 % capacity till the boats go back in the water next April. It gets real cold here and I erred on the side of caution to remove them and am happy I did.
Link to original post re my system on Cruisers forum;
complete info on what I have to work with . see post #2944
My incomming SOLAR equip....see post # 1
a picture of my house bank
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