However, a small computer like a Raspberry Pi or similar can easily be made to
tell the Classic to turn on or off with an input signal to it
boB. Thank your for chiming in on this topic. I am relatively new to Midnite, but it's heartening that senior Midnite personnel find the time to participate here. Two questions if I might:
1) If someone was to look into using a Pi type device where would they be looking to interface with the controller in the case where Aux 2 is busy with the Wizzbang Jr? With Aux 1 being output only, where would the Pi connect to the controller?
2) Bigger picture, how big a deal would it be for future versions of the Classic to have Aux 1 take on the versatility of Aux 2? Or would it be so much re-engineering we'd be looking at an Aux 3?
I ask because as a person who just completed his first system, and employing Lithium ion batteries, I've discovered the shortcomings of virtually all charge controllers in dealing with this chemistry. Short of charge controllers being engineered with multiple channel charging (the controller having the ability to control the charging rate of each cell) 3rd party solutions such as BMS systems must be employed. I was delighted to learn recently that the inexpensive and commonly used Celllog devices that monitor individual cell voltage have the ability to close a relay if any ONE cell goes beyond a defined voltage range. Beautiful!
So I guess I'm being selfish because I would love my charge controller to be able to easily interface with the cellog device, while still providing all the joys of the Wizz bang.
And to be eve more 'selfish', ideally it would be great to have an input on the Classic whereby simply shorting the terminals on the Aux port would put the controller in [programmable] Resting mode. Why? Because that would negate the need for a separate voltage source to either provide trigger voltage to the terminals, or keep a Pi device powered! After all, it's all about mitigating energy use in an off-grid system.
boB, if you've heard this all before ad infenitum, I apologize. Thanks for reading this though.
jim