smoking charge controller

[snelbaker]

smoking charge controller

How about the panel polarity. CC's don't like the + & - being reversed.

Do you have fuses for each set of panels before it is wired into the CC? They are cheaper to replace.

I am also a little confused on how your system is wired. You also mentioned a string of 5 panels in series that equal 68 watts total. Is that correct? What is the total voltage for those 5 panels going to your CC?

my panels are 68watts each. the 5 panels should be under the 500 watts the controller is rated. when i put a meter on the wires from the panel one way shows a negative charge so i know that the + and - are switched. also im hooking into the battery at the easiest point where the battery cables connect to the inverter?

[Sunking]

One of three things:

1. Reverse Polarity.
2. I also strongly suspect you exceeded the input voltage of the controller, if not reverse poarity.
3. Battery was not connected before you connected panels.

If you let the magic smoke out, most likely you destroyed the controller.

[SunEagle]

not the first time but it may be too late because i may have ruined the controller. ive got 6 sets of 5 panels in each set. each set runs in paralell to 6 charge controllers inside. after the first one smoked i hooked up the second one by connecting the controller to the battery cable block on the inverter first and the controller read 13volts but after i connected the panels it read no amps from the solar. just started smoking like the first one.

How about the panel polarity. CC's don't like the + & - being reversed.

Do you have fuses for each set of panels before it is wired into the CC? They are cheaper to replace.

I am also a little confused on how your system is wired. You also mentioned a string of 5 panels in series that equal 68 watts total. Is that correct? What is the total voltage for those 5 panels going to your CC?

[snelbaker]

smoking charge controller

Did you first connect the charge controller to a battery?

not the first time but it may be too late because i may have ruined the controller. ive got 6 sets of 5 panels in each set. each set runs in paralell to 6 charge controllers inside. after the first one smoked i hooked up the second one by connecting the controller to the battery cable block on the inverter first and the controller read 13volts but after i connected the panels it read no amps from the solar. just started smoking like the first one.

[SunEagle]

when i connected my solar array to my charge controller it just started smoking? ive got 5 panels in series 68 watts each 16-23 volts 4-5 amps each. ive got a 500 watt 30 amp charge controller (thunderbolt).

Did you first connect the charge controller to a battery?

[snelbaker]

when i connected my solar array to my charge controller it just started smoking? ive got 5 panels in series 68 watts each 16-23 volts 4-5 amps each. ive got a 500 watt 30 amp charge controller (thunderbolt).