Hi - I have noticed that in the summer my charge controller is regularly getting over 14 v from my panels which causes it to constantly disconnect (as it should due to the over-voltage protection working) and therefore not charging my battery. Is there a way that I can step down the voltage that they are producing to something usable?
Panels producing too much voltage
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Actually you want 14+ volts Charging your batteries. In a 12 volt system flooded lead acid batteries want up to 14.8 or even more to equalize while sealed lead acid want something in the 14.4 volt range. When your controller is done with the bulk and absorb phases it should float around 13.6 volts.2.2kw Suntech mono, Classic 200, NEW Trace SW4024 -
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Last edited by sensij; 04-29-2017, 10:22 AM.CS6P-260P/SE3000 - http://tiny.cc/ed5ozxComment
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MPPT wil be even higher voltage. You can use 600 volt panels to charge a 12 volt battery. Assuming you have a 12 volt battery panel the voltage on a MPPT controller, panel voltage input will be between Vmp (17 volts) at full power, and goes up to VOC (21 to 22 volts) as charging stops.
PWM input voltage will be roughly the same as the battery voltage at full charge, (battery voltage + 1 volt), and as the battery approaches full charge the panel voltage will go up to Voc or 22 volts.
It is the Nature of the Beast.Last edited by Sunking; 04-29-2017, 04:26 PM.MSEE, PEComment
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It is possible the the OP has a cheap charge controller that will shut down if the input voltage gets above 14volts although most CC's should easily handle the Voc of a battery panel which would be ~22 votls max..Comment
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MSEE, PEComment
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Thanks for the replies all and yes I'm a noob with solar so am not as knowledgeable as I would like so please bear with me.
I made a quick video of what happens here https://youtu.be/0641OPUCAgQ as you can see, the voltage drops to 13.4 v and the panels are connected, it then jumps straight up to 14.2 v and disconnects. It continually does this in a loop. At night, my controller tells me my battery is around 12.8 vComment
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That is what cheap controllers do, by design. Again, get a 3 stage controller with a float function for better results.CS6P-260P/SE3000 - http://tiny.cc/ed5ozxComment
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Thanks - That's what I thought was going on. Any recommendations for a 3 stage controller please?Comment
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Thanks for the replies all and yes I'm a noob with solar so am not as knowledgeable as I would like so please bear with me.
I made a quick video of what happens here https://youtu.be/0641OPUCAgQ as you can see, the voltage drops to 13.4 v and the panels are connected, it then jumps straight up to 14.2 v and disconnects. It continually does this in a loop. At night, my controller tells me my battery is around 12.8 v
If that load is too big it could cause your CC to shut down.Comment
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Sounds like the charge controller is shutting down just like it should when the battery is fully charged.
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OK. I just wanted to eliminate any potential load that might be causing the CC to stop working.
I (along with others) feel the CC is not working properly. It should stay on and continue to charge a 12volt battery at 14+volts if the panel is continuously providing the nameplate Vmp.Comment
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OK. I just wanted to eliminate any potential load that might be causing the CC to stop working.
I (along with others) feel the CC is not working properly. It should stay on and continue to charge a 12volt battery at 14+volts if the panel is continuously providing the nameplate Vmp.
If this is the only controller those batteries have ever seen, they are probably in rough shape, having never been given a real absorb or float voltage (let alone EQ, if FLA). A better controller will help, but new batteries are probably in the OP's future.
An inexpensive controller that would be an upgrade to what the OP has now:
https://www.amazon.com/ALLPOWERS-Con.../dp/B01MU0WMGT
Mppt is worth considering if the system will ever grow, but is not always worth the money for small (<250 W) systems.Last edited by sensij; 05-01-2017, 12:40 PM.CS6P-260P/SE3000 - http://tiny.cc/ed5ozxComment
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