charge controller

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  • rouge
    Junior Member
    • May 2010
    • 1

    #1

    charge controller

    Hi,

    I am in the process of building a RE system and the only problem that I have left is the charge converter. I need a charge converter than can handle 30-40A but I don't really feel like spending the 150-300 for a commercial one that has all the bells and whistles on it. I just want something simple, could anyone point me in the direction of one thats either much cheaper on the market or something I could possibly build myself?

    Thanks
  • Mike90250
    Moderator
    • May 2009
    • 16020

    #2
    You connect you panels to the battery, and measure the voltage with a meter. Disconnect the panels when the battery is charged. That's the cheapest.

    If your panels are closely matched to your battery voltege, the TRACE/XANTREX C-60 is a well proven controller.
    $190 http://store.solar-electric.com/tracc6060amp.html PWM, not MPPT
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment

    • jamesbrush
      Junior Member
      • Jul 2010
      • 1

      #3
      I feel that there is some problem with charge converter. Try any other charge converter then look the difference between voltage between them.
      [url=http://lcit.co.uk/]SAP Training UK[/url]

      Comment

      • rimpa001
        Junior Member
        • Jul 2010
        • 0

        #4
        Originally posted by rouge
        Hi,

        I am in the process of building a RE system and the only problem that I have left is the charge converter. I need a charge converter than can handle 30-40A but I don't really feel like spending the 150-300 for a commercial one that has all the bells and whistles on it. I just want something simple, could anyone point me in the direction of one thats either much cheaper on the market or something I could possibly build myself?

        Thanks
        I feel the same as James..Try changing your converter..Thanks
        I often answer posts with nonsense answers, maybe because I am trying to get my post count up to evade moderators.
        BEWARE - Watch me

        Comment

        • Mike90250
          Moderator
          • May 2009
          • 16020

          #5
          Originally posted by rouge
          I just want something simple, could anyone point me in the direction of one thats either much cheaper on the market or something I could possibly build myself?
          Thanks
          The C-60 I mentioned earlier, is a solid product. Even a used, working one from ebay shoud be acceptable, insist on a photo of the innards to insure it's not been BBQ'd

          How much will it cost to replace a destroyed battery bank, and the structure that houses it, if a cheap or non-skillfuly made controller fails? The likelyhood of a C-60 failing is very low.
          Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
          || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
          || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

          solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
          gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

          Comment

          • MarineLiner
            Solar Skipper
            • May 2009
            • 656

            #6
            Originally posted by jamesbrush
            I feel that there is some problem with charge converter. Try any other charge converter then look the difference between voltage between them.

            Comment

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