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  • alterego
    Junior Member
    • Jul 2014
    • 20

    #1

    largest 48 volt charge controller?

    I am looking at putting together a solar array using SolarWorld 285 watt panelsI would like to have an array with 18 panels total so I am in the 6000 watt range I am wondering if there is a solar charge controller for a 48 volt battery system that will handle that much wattage all of the Outback charge controllers that I can find are far short of that there is a company called Magnum that has a 100 - pt unit out there now but I can't find it for sale anywhere that theoretically would handle that much wattage as a single 100 amp unit. Does any one have any ideas on a charge controller that can handle 5130 plus 285 x 18 to 6000 watts.
  • Sunking
    Solar Fanatic
    • Feb 2010
    • 23301

    #2
    Nope largest out there is Midnite Solar Classic Line Up and at 48 volts all they can input is 5000 watts. You are going to need 2 65 amp MPPT Controllers with 3000 watts of panels on each serving a common battery. No way around it that I know of.
    MSEE, PE

    Comment

    • Mike90250
      Moderator
      • May 2009
      • 16020

      #3
      Schneider Electric (xantrex) has a 600V 80A model
      Midnight classic has 83A @ 48V http://www.midnitesolar.com/images/c...age/graphs.php

      But I would split the array to 2 charge controllers, and let each loaf along at partial load.

      I'd use 2 morningstar MPPT 60, and wire them to a router to monitor them over ethernet. Saves the cost of the optional graphics panel for each.

      Midnight classics have ethernet remote control.
      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

      • Sunking
        Solar Fanatic
        • Feb 2010
        • 23301

        #4
        At 6000 watts you are really beyond 48 volt battery capabilities. You have moved into 60 and 72 volt battery territory. Even 120 volt battery.
        MSEE, PE

        Comment

        • alterego
          Junior Member
          • Jul 2014
          • 20

          #5
          Originally posted by Sunking
          At 6000 watts you are really beyond 48 volt battery capabilities. You have moved into 60 and 72 volt battery territory. Even 120 volt battery.
          Assuming I can get the 285 watt panels, and stick to 48 volt panel configuration 24 plus 24 what is the largest array. Quantity of panels that you would hook to one charge controller and one 48 volt battery bank?

          I am looking at 16 6 v Trojan batteries two strings 800 (data sheets on my laptop) amp hours I don't have it in front of me right now.

          So that I am not taking the chance of faulting out the largest charge controller mentioned above on a cold sunny day.

          Right now we have been consuming less than 12 kw per day for the Last month
          Last edited by inetdog; 04-23-2015, 04:43 AM. Reason: fixed quote tag

          Comment

          • alterego
            Junior Member
            • Jul 2014
            • 20

            #6
            Originally posted by Mike90250
            Schneider Electric (xantrex) has a 600V 80A model
            Midnight classic has 83A @ 48V http://www.midnitesolar.com/images/c...age/graphs.php

            But I would split the array to 2 charge controllers, and let each loaf along at partial load.

            I'd use 2 morningstar MPPT 60, and wire them to a router to monitor them over ethernet. Saves the cost of the optional graphics panel for each.

            Midnight classics have ethernet remote control.
            I see you can buy a pre wired Schneider 48 to 120\240 inverter with two classic 150 charge controllers hooked and wired. The inverter is only 5600? Watt surge unspecified in the data I read. I was interested in a higher watt inverter as I am concerned about surge watts at about 4200 for my 3/4 h.p. well pump and a microwave if it happened to be running at the same time.

            Comment

            • Sunking
              Solar Fanatic
              • Feb 2010
              • 23301

              #7
              Originally posted by alterego
              The inverter is only 5600? Watt surge unspecified in the data I read. I was interested in a higher watt inverter as I am concerned about surge watts at about 4200 for my 3/4 h.p. well pump and a microwave if it happened to be running at the same time.
              I think you are worried about nothing.

              What is a concern is your battery selection. You do not want to use parallel strings unless necessary, and unless you want more than 4000 AH it is never necessary. If you need 800 AH then buy 800 AH cells. If 6 volt 800 AH cells are too heavy, get 2 or 4 volt cells. Secondly I am not sure what AH rating you are considering, sounds like 800 AH. A charge current of 130 amps ion 800 AH FLA batteries is a bit too much. ou need to keep it less than C/8 or 960 AH up to 1140 AH.

              What size generator are you looking at?
              MSEE, PE

              Comment

              • alterego
                Junior Member
                • Jul 2014
                • 20

                #8
                Originally posted by Sunking
                I think you are worried about nothing.

                What is a concern is your battery selection. You do not want to use parallel strings unless necessary, and unless you want more than 4000 AH it is never necessary. If you need 800 AH then buy 800 AH cells. If 6 volt 800 AH cells are too heavy, get 2 or 4 volt cells. Secondly I am not sure what AH rating you are considering, sounds like 800 AH. A charge current of 130 amps ion 800 AH FLA batteries is a bit too much. ou need to keep it less than C/8 or 960 AH up to 1140 AH.

                What size generator are you looking at?
                I have a Honda em5000s I will need to manually start.

                Comment

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