Can a charge controller efficiently convert 24v in from panel then 12v out to batteri

[foo]

I have been reading reviews differ for the following product because I am looking to change out my PWM controller with a MPPT controller:
Renogy® Tracer 4210 40 Amp MPPT Charge Controller 12/24V 100VDC Input

http://www.amazon.com/Renogy%C2%AE-Tracer-Charge-Controller-100VDC/dp/B00E7NI9PE/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t

I have more panels than my current PWM controller can handle in amps(30) thus I'm not using them all.
I was hoping that I could use a charge controller like the linked one so that it would allow me to use all of my panels without having to purchase any more hardware; the inverter(12v). But the only way that can work is if I can string the panels in series(24v) to drop the amount of amps to below 40.

The cheapest solution I can come up with since I have been wanting a MPPT controller was if there was one that could do the conversion. But reviews I have been reading have been noting that there would be wasted power as heat.

Thanks in advance for any explanations.

[Sunking]

With PWM charge controller Current In = Output Current period.....
With MPPT Output Current = Panel Wattage / Battery Voltage period....

Any questions?

So if you have a 1000 watt panel operating at say 100 volts @ 10 amps (100 volts x 10 amps = 1000 watts) into a 12 volt battery, you have 12 volts x 10 amps = 120 watts.

Take the same 1000 watt panel and a 80 amp MPPT Controller and Output Current = 1000 watts / 12 volts = 83.3 amps

Any Questions?

[Mike90250]

A good quality MPPT charger like my Morningstar 60A MPPT, is in the >95% efficient ballpark. Not sure what quality the Traces is.

[northerner]

I have more panels than my current PWM controller can handle in amps(30) thus I'm not using them all.
I was hoping that I could use a charge controller like the linked one so that it would allow me to use all of my panels without having to purchase any more hardware; the inverter(12v). But the only way that can work is if I can string the panels in series(24v) to drop the amount of amps to below 40.

The cheapest solution I can come up with since I have been wanting a MPPT controller was if there was one that could do the conversion. But reviews I have been reading have been noting that there would be wasted power as heat.

Thanks in advance for any explanations.

Read the reviews of that CC, especially the negative ones. I would steer far clear of that product! Looks like quality is an issue and plus it puts out high RF emissions. The best economy is to buy quality products to begin with, especially when dealing with electronic equipment.

I would be looking at increasing your battery/inverter voltage, as that would allow for a larger current. Otherwise you will need a larger CC.

[SunEagle]

Read the reviews of that CC, especially the negative ones. I would steer far clear of that product! Looks like quality is an issue and plus it puts out high RF emissions. The best economy is to buy quality products to begin with, especially when dealing with electronic equipment.

I would be looking at increasing your battery/inverter voltage, as that would allow for a larger current. Otherwise you will need a larger CC.

Where did you get the information concerning RF transmission from the Tracer CC?

I am researching PWM and MPPT type equipment to see exactly how much harmonic distortion and RF distortion is being generated from the equipment and if the manufacturer is doing anything to mitigate that distortion.

[northerner]

Where did you get the information concerning RF transmission from the Tracer CC?

I am researching PWM and MPPT type equipment to see exactly how much harmonic distortion and RF distortion is being generated from the equipment and if the manufacturer is doing anything to mitigate that distortion.

Go to the Amazon site where it is sold and click on the reviews. It was from a posting by a ham radio operator George M. "n1naz"

Great MPPT charge controller, However it does put out a lot of RF hash. If you're an Amateur Radio Operator or a shortwave listener avoid this unit. I tryed type 31 ferrites on all the inputs and outputs with no luck. The heat sink is the problem, Pulse width modulation artifacts From 1 MHz through 10 MHz. Asked Renogy tech support about this, their answer was we do not test these for RF EMI radiation.

[Sunking]

Go to the Amazon site where it is sold and click on the reviews. It was from a posting by a ham radio operator George M. "n1naz"

All controllers generate RFI. Especially grid tied inverters. Since very few people listen to radio now days, no one complains. Only tight wad ham radio operators who buy cheap junk complain.

Drive up and down California Hwy 101 and try to listen to AM radio. Cannot be done in most locations, solar wiped out commercial broadcast AM radio. Ham radio operators are throwing a fit onto death green ears. There are only two charge controller out there ham radio operators like. but they are too cheap to buy them. Morningstar TriStar MPPT and Midnight Solar as they can have some simple filtering added externally to quite them down to tolerable levels.

[thastinger]

All controllers generate RFI. Especially grid tied inverters. Since very few people listen to radio now days, no one complains. Only tight wad ham radio operators who buy cheap junk complain.

Drive up and down California Hwy 101 and try to listen to AM radio. Cannot be done in most locations, solar wiped out commercial broadcast AM radio. Ham radio operators are throwing a fit onto death green ears. There are only two charge controller out there ham radio operators like. but they are too cheap to buy them. Morningstar TriStar MPPT and Midnight Solar as they can have some simple filtering added externally to quite them down to tolerable levels.

Is this a filter you make or buy? Got a link?
I have a Classic 200 and I'd be interested in filter for it.

[SunEagle]

Go to the Amazon site where it is sold and click on the reviews. It was from a posting by a ham radio operator George M. "n1naz"

Ok. I saw that posting but I usually do not take a single person's perception as gospel. Big issues are usually noticed by a lot of people giving reviews.

I thought there might have been something in another specification on that CC showing a range of RF the device could generate and at what power levels.

Thanks for getting back to me.

[Sunking]

Is this a filter you make or buy? Got a link?
I have a Classic 200 and I'd be interested in filter for it.

Home brew Pi Low Pass Filter. I use Balanced Ladder Pi filter. PM me if you need details.

[Bucho]

I have been reading reviews differ for the following product because I am looking to change out my PWM controller with a MPPT controller:
Renogy® Tracer 4210 40 Amp MPPT Charge Controller 12/24V 100VDC Input

One thing about that charge controller, you can't do much in terms of setting how it works, you've got 3 option "Sealed, Gel, and Flooded". So if you want absorb to be say higher than 14.6v this isn't the right controller.

[RodK]

If the op gets the new tracer 4215bn , it is now fully adjustable and has a better heatsink design.

[bcroe]

Is this a filter you make or buy? Got a link?
I have a Classic 200 and I'd be interested in filter for it.

Its hard to completely suppress noise from a PWM controller, because the input and output
are big pulses. A filter will be stressed by these pulses, and a really effective filter may
overheat itself and/or the PWM.

A MPPC controller is basically DC in and out; the radiation leaks out from the high frequency
switching inside. The good news is, you can do a very effective filter system. Basically you
put the system in a metal box and heavily filter the input and output wires. Smaller systems
can use off the shelf filters from sources like CORCOM, big ones might be available but quickly
get expensive. The budget approach is use just enough filter to be effective in your app.
Bruce Roe

[Sunking]

Its hard to completely suppress noise from a PWM controller, because the input and output
are big pulses. A filter will be stressed by these pulses, and a really effective filter may
overheat itself and/or the PWM.

This is true, and the offender is the input side from the panels. You cannot put a filter on the input because it would likely render the controller inoperable interfering with it LC network switching frequency.

Of course the other issue most controllers can be made to be fairly quite. But that requires more components and thus higher manufacturing cost. Manufactures can get away with it because hardly anyone today actually listens to AM or FM radio, or picks up TV OTA. Thus not enough complaints to the FCC to justify any actions. Only folks complaining are ham radio operators whose numbers are dwindling in a dying hobby. Go to any ham radio club meeting and you will see what I mean. A few old fossils hanging around with oxygen tanks. Cell phones killed ham radio.

Compounded most of this stuff comes from Chi-Coms and you get what you pay for. Cheap junk, and ham radio operators are a bunch of cheap SOB's. Yes I am a ham radio operator. Just not on oxygen yet