mppt charge controller - ZLPOWER ??

[Sunking]

tonigau,,, did you know that you also can parallel these to 80A, 120A
and so on.

Well I am convinced now, the product is a fraud. You cannot parallel MPPT controllers. Case closed.

[Mike90250]

----------------
...did you know that you also can parallel these to 80A, 120A
and so on.
John.....

Uh, MPPT controllers cannot be paralleled, they will sit and fight each other, trying to get the most out of the panels. Not even the "big" ones can do this, each MPPT controller needs it's own PV array. Another indicator this is only PWM or simple switching controller.

Any battery bank can have several controllers connected to it, and be fed from different sources.

[conntaxman]

mppt

Hi John,
From reading user manual & other information These charge controllers definitely appear to be genuine MPPT. I ordered some & am waiting for delivery. Confirm the temperature sensor is included as it is stated as an option in the manual, it would operate without the sensor. (just to be sure)
There is an isolated RS232 port on the side of these for data logging. But I am having some trouble getting any detail on the com port & data structure.


>>"Simple it is false advertising. You cannot have a PWM MPPT CC"

I suspect the manufacturer is meaning that they use PWM to control the battery charging after the MPPT stage of their converter. The 3 large electrolytic caps I would assume to be the output bus from the MPPT, then PWM to charge the battery.

I intend to do some testing when I get my SL-40A's so I will let know the results & confirm other detail.

Toni

----------------
tonigau,,, did you know that you also can parallel these to 80A, 120A
and so on.
John
let me know when you get yours, and I'll do the same

[conntaxman]

your order

Hi John,
From reading user manual & other information These charge controllers definitely appear to be genuine MPPT. I ordered some & am waiting for delivery. Confirm the temperature sensor is included as it is stated as an option in the manual, it would operate without the sensor. (just to be sure)
There is an isolated RS232 port on the side of these for data logging. But I am having some trouble getting any detail on the com port & data structure.


>>"Simple it is false advertising. You cannot have a PWM MPPT CC"

I suspect the manufacturer is meaning that they use PWM to control the battery charging after the MPPT stage of their converter. The 3 large electrolytic caps I would assume to be the output bus from the MPPT, then PWM to charge the battery.

I intend to do some testing when I get my SL-40A's so I will let know the results & confirm other detail.

Toni

..............................
tonigau ....did you order them after reading about them when I put up the spec.
John

[Sunking]

I dont know why some people just auto maticly say its junk if you buy it from over seas,

I am not one of those people. I said being from CHINA makes it very suspect. They do not have a very good track record. China is about where Japan was right after WWII with very poor quality. It took Japan around 25 years to catch up and pass the USA and most other countries.

But answer my question, what voltage and wattage does this so called MPPT/PWM CC have? I do not see it listed in the specs. The answer will tell you if it is MPPT or not. I suspect it is a PWM controller based on the specs I see so far.

Just about every 12/24 PWM charge controller on the market has a maximum Voc of 55 volts. Guess what this controller Max Voc is? 55V. MPPT max is usually 150 Voc.

You might also want to read this thread

[conntaxman]

mppt /algorithm

I have a few. Lexus, BMW, Honda, and a Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel Pick Up in which 2 of them are used for work. The Honda Accord is my everyday vehicle for personal use, and the BMW is the wife's car.

One good clue in the controller spec is the maximum input Voc voltage of 55 volts, which means maximum Vmp of around 40 volts which is exactly what you would want for a 24 volt PWM. MPPT input voltages are usually above 100 volts, and the high quality ones 150. New ones coming out are rated 600 Voc @ 80 amps battery charge current.

The one spec I cannot see is what is the maximum solar panel power input at 12 and 24 volt battery is? That will differently tell you if it is MPPT or PWM.

........
sunkin. myself I buy all american cars. and try not to buy foreign, but If im going to save a few hundred like for this ,I will buy from another country.I drive a cadillac escalade, and have a chev van.
I dont know why some people just auto maticly say its junk if you buy it from over seas, or if you didn't buy something that was Over priced.
I was going to buy a Bluesky, or Rouge , but the price difference was way too much.
John
and this mppt charge controller has alot of features.

[conntaxman]

mppt /algorithm

Hi John,
From reading user manual & other information These charge controllers definitely appear to be genuine MPPT. I ordered some & am waiting for delivery. Confirm the temperature sensor is included as it is stated as an option in the manual, it would operate without the sensor. (just to be sure)
There is an isolated RS232 port on the side of these for data logging. But I am having some trouble getting any detail on the com port & data structure.


>>"Simple it is false advertising. You cannot have a PWM MPPT CC"

I suspect the manufacturer is meaning that they use PWM to control the battery charging after the MPPT stage of their converter. The 3 large electrolytic caps I would assume to be the output bus from the MPPT, then PWM to charge the battery.

I intend to do some testing when I get my SL-40A's so I will let know the results & confirm other detail.

Toni

............................
Hello tonigau. when did you order you sl40? I just ordered it 5/19/2011thursday.I should be getting it in about next week. Did you talk to the girl that handles these?I did, and also I just sent them another email to see if I could talk to an enginer about them. But from what I have been reading and a couple other people said that it is a mppt controller.If you read about the ones made here,Morringstar,bluesky,outback, and others, you will see that they use pwm in theirs also.And if you look up pwm / mppt ,you will see that the NEWER controllers do use a type of pwm system, I guess that is after it goes through the mppt part and then to charge the battery.
Did you see that you can hook this up to a computer also and get more data.
Did you buy it after I showed the pic.
TKS.
john

[Sunking]

sunking. What make of car do you have ?

I have a few. Lexus, BMW, Honda, and a Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel Pick Up in which 2 of them are used for work. The Honda Accord is my everyday vehicle for personal use, and the BMW is the wife's car.

One good clue in the controller spec is the maximum input Voc voltage of 55 volts, which means maximum Vmp of around 40 volts which is exactly what you would want for a 24 volt PWM. MPPT input voltages are usually above 100 volts, and the high quality ones 150. New ones coming out are rated 600 Voc @ 80 amps battery charge current.

The one spec I cannot see is what is the maximum solar panel power input at 12 and 24 volt battery is? That will differently tell you if it is MPPT or PWM.

[conntaxman]

mppt////or ?

True but no PWM controller can do that, only a MMPT controller can, so the test is valid, not conclusive, but valid. As i have said a thousand times with a PWM controller Current Input = or less than Current Output.

Price and country of origin is enough to cast serious doubts and best avoided.

sunking. What make of car do you have ?

[Mike90250]

Wow - it does Ni-Cad too! I didn't spot that before.

I can't say it isn't what it claims to be, and if it only cost's you $100 to try out, and if it lasts you a year, you will have gotten your $ worth.

You have to promise to report back as to how it works out!

(note to self - locate a smiley of eating my hat)

[conntaxman]

mppt /algorithm

I have been reading and reading about all the makes made here in the usa, and most are Also using about the same sys. and all use "algorithm" sys. They use both pwm AND mppt in the controllers.
here are the spec. for the one I bought.And it also uses both sys.
I also know that some people say a product is no good if it dosent cost alot of money, and Many say that if its made in china or anywere out side the usa it is no good. SO go look at your TV,RADIO, COMPUTER'S and most other stuff, Its all made in china, or if it is made here, the Parts INSIDE and made in china.
Im just trying to save a dollar, because Im retired and on s.s.Disability.
I'll test this when I get it, and im going to say it will do what it clams to be. mppt
But thanks for all the info, and come backs.
John

.
Solar System-MPPT Solar charge controller 12V/24V 40A
Product Features

1.High converting efficiency higher than 97%for minimizing energy loss
2.Build-in MPPT tracker for optimizing the power transformation
3.Reversed current protection for preventing equipment damage
4.Automatic battery temperature compensation for long-term reliability
5.Capable of selecting different charging mode for various type of batteries
6.Capable of connecting additional DC load for wider applications
7.Three stage charge control system(bulk,absorption, and float mode)with temperaturecompensation
8.LED indicators display charge status in real time
9.Pulse width modulation(PWM)topology combined with a multi-stage charge control algorithm leads to superior charging and enhanced batteryperformance

Product performance

MODEL SL-40A
Rated Voltage 12/24VDC
Rated charge current 40A
Load current 15A
Input voltage rang 15-55VDC
Max.PV open circuit
array voltage 55VD
Typical idle consumption <10mA
Overload protection
(DC load) 2.0*inom>5s 1.5*inom>20s
1.25*inom temperature controlled
Bulk charge14.6V (default)29.2V (default)
Floating charge 13.4V (default)26.8V (default)
Equalization charge14.0V (default)28.0V (default)
Over charge disconnection 14.8V 29.6V
Over charge recovery 13.6V27.2V
Over discharge disconnection 10.8V(default)21.6V(default)
Over discharge reconnection 12.3V24.6V
Temperature compensation -13.2mv/C-26.4mv/C
Lead acid battery setting Adjustable
Nicad battery setting Adjustable

Load control mode
1. Low Voltage Reconnect (LVR): Adjustable
2. Low Voltage Disconnect (LVR): Automatic Disconnection
3.Reconnection:Includes warning flash before disconnect and reconnect
Low voltage reconnect 12.0-14.0Vdc24.0-28.0Vdc
Low voltage disconnect 10.5-12.5Vdc21.0-25.0Vdc
Ambient temperature 0-40C (full load) 40-0C (de-rating)
AltitudeOperating 5000m,Non-operating 16000m
Protection class IP21
Battery temperature sensor BTS optional remote batter temperature
sensor for increased charging precision

[Sunking]

A dc-dc converter 24V in 12V out would give the same result, but not track the MPP of a solar panel(s).

True but no PWM controller can do that, only a MMPT controller can, so the test is valid, not conclusive, but valid. As i have said a thousand times with a PWM controller Current Input = or less than Current Output.

Price and country of origin is enough to cast serious doubts and best avoided.

[Mike90250]

Well, true enough, but the innards just dont look like there is enough brains to do the MPPT, coils can be noise supression for PWM, they don't prove MPPT.

[tonigau]

Hi Mike,
not trying to sound too disagreeable, but your test would prove "not PWM" rather than "is MPPT" (which is what OP was asking so will do this as a preliminary test)

A dc-dc converter 24V in 12V out would give the same result, but not track the MPP of a solar panel(s).



Toni

[Mike90250]

The simple test, is to feed it a higher DC voltage, say 24V @ 3A, and measure what the amps it's charging the 12V system at.
24V @ 3A = 72w - 5% = 68W @ 14V = 4.8A going into the batteries. That's MPPT

$80 Wsle @ 40A not believable . Along with 97% efficient ?