Recent Posts

1

The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Midnite Classic 250 switches between mppt bulk and resting

« Last post by boB on Today at 08:13:18 PM »

Does the Classic PV input voltage ever drop below that Voc voltage that it started with ?

If not, then the Classic is not pulling the input voltage DOWN and supplying current to the battery and then after 90 seconds of having no output power, it goes to resting and wakes up again to try it again.

IF that IS the case, sometimes this can be fixed by making sure the top control board is fully connected to the bottom power board.  I would try pushing the edges of the control board down to make sure all of the connectors are fully inserted into the sockets....  Please do this with the input NOT connected and battery breaker turned off just in case there is high voltage.  Let it bleed down for a few minutes first, too if it was charged up.

2

The "Classic" charge controller / Midnite Classic 250 switches between mppt bulk and resting

« Last post by Thai on Today at 03:13:32 PM »

Hi. I am new to solar and I just purchased a DC Solar trailer at auction.

The setup consists of 2 SMA Sunny Island Inverters, a Midnite Classic 250, 2 Industrial size FLA batteries, and 10 solar panels all mounted on a trailer. I managed to get the batteries charged up by hooking up a generator to the SI. All seem ok except that I can't get the Midnite Classic (CC) to charge the batteries. All connections are good; I also tested and measured the voltage and current of the panels to the PV combiner box. The problem is that the CC clicks periodically and switches back and forth between mppt bulk and resting but produces 0 watts. The CC displays the correct voltage, but is not pulling any amps to charge the batteries. Do I have a broken CC or am I missing something?

Any suggestions of tips would be appreciated.

3

General info / Re: ESP32 Classic MQTT Publisher & Home Assistant

« Last post by Graham on Today at 08:59:47 AM »

Graham -
Not sure but you might want to note in your instructions that sudo apt full-upgrade only works on the new version of Pi Buster - it won't work on the older version. In case someone is already using a pi from years back with old Pi OS.

Larry

ok thanks Larry, added the note...

Graham

4

General info / Re: iOS App

« Last post by Urayoan on Today at 08:32:07 AM »

Good morning and Happy new year everyone.

Yesterday I uploaded a new build for the ones using the beta tests. The previous one was expired. Sorry for that, just update using Test Flight.

5

System Design and Layout / Re: Adding more panels.. Is it possible.?

« Last post by Vic on January 19, 2021, 03:26:50 PM »

Hi Desert,

YES,  the Sizer did note that strings of 6 of those PVs  would work.   One of the systems here does run strings of 3, 24 V PVs,  which would be equal to strings of 6 of your PVs.   But this is on a 48 V system,   which will be "easier" on the Classic  --  a bit less heating of the Classic than on a 24,  or 12 V system.   And,  our mild climate,  with the lowest temps of about 24 F,  means that we have never been in HYPER Voc.

Classics are very capable,  tough and durable CCs.   Have been running a Classic 150 on this system for ten years,   and it is still going strong!

But,  in a warm/hot environment the Classic might need to reduce its current output to limit its heating.   WIth your PVs,  facing at different angles,  the maximum power produced will be averaged over more hours,  and a lower max CC output current,  so you are probably OK,  except for coldest days,  when the Classic may be in HYPER Voc,  for some of the day (usually around Sunrise-ish).

IMO,   Good Luck,  Vic

6

System Design and Layout / Re: Adding more panels.. Is it possible.?

« Last post by deserthorizons on January 19, 2021, 03:15:57 PM »

Hi desert,..
Thanks for the attached String Sizer output.
Strings of eight 12 V PVs  will simply NOT WORK,  with your Classic 150.
Strings of six of those PVs is probably pushing things,   a bit,   especially on a 12 V system.
Vic

Thanks, that is what I needed to know..

btw, the sizing tool says it is perfectly fine to run 2 x 6 w/ 12V setup so that is the info I
used when originally designing the system.. Which I have been using for ~3 yrs now and
it has been operating extremely well..

7

General info / Re: ESP32 Classic MQTT Publisher & Home Assistant

« Last post by ClassicCrazy on January 19, 2021, 03:08:35 PM »

Graham -
Not sure but you might want to note in your instructions that sudo apt full-upgrade only works on the new version of Pi Buster - it won't work on the older version. In case someone is already using a pi from years back with old Pi OS.

Larry

8

System Design and Layout / Re: Adding more panels.. Is it possible.?

« Last post by Vic on January 19, 2021, 03:08:01 PM »

Hi desert,..

Thanks for the attached String Sizer output.

Strings of eight 12 V PVs  will simply NOT WORK,  with your Classic 150.

Strings of six of those PVs is probably pushing things,   a bit,   especially on a 12 V system.

Vic

9

General info / Re: ESP32 Classic MQTT Publisher & Home Assistant

« Last post by ClassicCrazy on January 19, 2021, 03:03:41 PM »

...

After you get the Classic DIY Pi stuff going , check out this - it makes installing other good Pi programs easy. You won't have to install Mosquitto though since the Classic DIY already does that. I recommend installing Portainer since you can connect up to it on web browser and  it helps understand what programs are running under Docker.
Watch Andrew Spies video they reference
https://sensorsiot.github.io/IOTstack/Getting-Started/

Larry

I have some notes on one of my other ClassicDIY projects I'm tinkering with that use IOTStack to help setup the raspberry pi

https://github.com/ClassicDIY/BatteryTester/wiki/Raspberry-Pi-Setup

you will only need to select  Portainer-ce  Eclipse-Mosquito when you run IOTStack/menu.sh


Graham.

The other day I was trying to figure out why the Classic pi mqtt worked with the mosquitto originally installed but wouldn't work with the Mosquito that I installed with IOT Stack. I used Portainer and  turned off the one that was in original docker ( under Python container ) and then copied some of the mosquitto files from that version over to the mosquitto installed by IOTstack . It didn't work and I gave up on it - didn't want to put any more time into that right then.  Not sure if it matters - I was just curious .

Larry

10

The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Midnite classic 150 only showing Voltage from panels when combined switched off

« Last post by boB on January 19, 2021, 02:42:20 PM »

First, get the solar charging to work.  It is most likely as simple as reversing the positive and negative PV input wires.

Then you can think about upgrading something.