Adding Vents to the Classic 150

[Matrix]

Wondering if there is any advantage to adding perforated 1/4" (+/-) size holes to the lower section front cover below the fans of the classic 150.   I seem to run a touch on the hot side ... Bat 86*F / FET 154.6*F / PCB 136.6*F / WB Jr Shunt 84.2*F.  The array is producing 2100 Watts and it is 68* F outside.   In the summer we will be up near 100.

Of the 4 pre cut screen covered air holes in my classic,  the one on the left side got used for incoming data and the one on the bottom left got used for incoming power.   All I have open is the one on the bottom right and side right.  The SW inverter's MidNite Solar Switch Gear box sits 2 inches from the right of the Classic.  The box is fully vented and when the SW needs cooling it does send air from Right to Left thus sending a cool lite draft toward the CC.  But would it help matters to drill several vent holes in the front bottom of the classic face plate and cover they with screen on the inside?   

Would that void the warranty?   

I do have the Classic mounted on plywood,  BUT,  the whole CC is raised up off the ply about 3/8's " so air can move all the way around the Classic.  I am sure not as good as mounted on a heat dispersing piece of aluminum,  but probably better  than flat on the ply wood.

[Vic]

Matrix,

Looks like the power room is HOT,   based primarily on the Tbat.

That 155 F temperature is about 68 C,   the Classic is HOT,  HOT.

All of your power system will have temperature rises above ambient temperatures.  If you can ventilate/cool the room  everything there will be cooler,   at least with present outside conditions.

Drilling additional holes for more air inlet for the Classic  should help a bit.

Mounting the Classic on a finned Al heatsink which has its own fan should help.
BUT,   really,   the room seems HOT.
What is the measured room ambient temperature?

Thanks,   Vic

[Westbranch]

I also believe you are pushing the classic too much considering the environment it is working in...

look at page 11 of the online manual and you will see the max values 91 Amps, 2611W at 28.7V. 

My quick estimate is that you are pushing/crowding those maximums...

The high temps on those batteries is worrisome too...

[KyleM]

As stated by Westbranch and Vic   (two of the smartest guys on the boards) you might be running your system too hard for the environment it is in.

The entire outside case acts like a heatsink, mounting it on plywood is not doing you any favors. I have a couple of customers in the deserts of Utah and California that swear that mounting their Classics on Aircraft aluminum drops their temperatures by 10 to 25 degrees. I can not confirm those numbers, but that is what they say.

If the room you have the equipment in is not providing enough ventilation drilling holes in the Classic is not going to help. The Classic pulls incoming air from the bottom, up through the body and out of the top. If you can keep the lower screens empty and bring cooler air to that part of the Classic, it might help.

Personally I find it much easier to change the environment rather than messing with my system once I have it working.

-Kyle

[Matrix]

Matrix,

BUT,   really,   the room seems HOT.
What is the measured room ambient temperature?

Thanks,   Vic

The room is basically the temp of the out side ... even cooler.  Todays hi was right at 70* and the room was lower by a slight bit.  Why is this CC getting so hot.   My array is 3S3P and 2565 Watts STC producing up to 2250 Watts.  Voltage coming off the panels is 88-98v

[Matrix]

I also believe you are pushing the classic too much considering the environment it is working in...

look at page 11 of the online manual and you will see the max values 91 Amps, 2611W at 28.7V. 

My quick estimate is that you are pushing/crowding those maximums...

The high temps on those batteries is worrisome too...

Should I limit the Amps in the CC limiter? 

Right now the outside temp is 57*

The batteries which are not in the same room but in a vented box in the shaded carport next to this room are at 29C discharging at 10 Amps DC.    The FET of the Resting for the past 3 hours is 43C   /   the PCB is 33C

Does that sound right for a CC in a room that would be about 60*F? 

[Matrix]

I can go home and measure the case temp with my temp gun.   

[Matrix]

But is my Array just too big?    How do I solve this?   Decrease the Amps?

[Matrix]

OK temp in the room right now is 72*F.

The case of the CC is 72f and if I shot down into the top vent with my temp gun I am getting about 84*F.  The CC has been resting for about 3 hrs now.

The recorded FET on the local app reads 43C and the PCB reads 33C   Seems awful hot for a unit that is resting for 3 hrs.

[Matrix]

Would something like this help with the fins going away from the CC sitting underneath on the ply wood.  I know it would not cover the whole CC but it would cover most of the area of the electronics

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073R5GRHT/ref=psdc_2998409011_t3_B00EY70R0S

Or would this be better?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Used-large-finned-aluminum-heat-sink-measure-15-5-x-8-25-x-1-/162922166901

And I found this which would be the perfect size, but much more expensive

http://www.mpja.com/15-3_4-X-7-13_16-X-2-Large-Aluminum-Heat-Sink/productinfo/33306+HK/

[boB]

68 degrees C is kind of warm but not too hot.  If that's all the higher it gets you're probably fine.

If you want to, try a wall-wart  driving a fan pointed at the Classic.

BTW, what is the input voltage, output current and voltage ?

boB

[Matrix]

Here is what today looked like.   

Highest FET was 69.6C (Pink)
Charge Battery volts highest was 31.8v (Yellow)
Highest PV voltage was 105v (Red)
Highest charge amps was 67 amps (Orange)

Total KWhs was 12.5

[Matrix]

As a foot note,  this is the largest single power production day I have had in 4 months since I brought the system on line.

I also just tonight added a digital wall mount room temp gauge to the room that is programed to my weather station so I can read and graph the room temps through out the day.  So I will have a room temp graph for you tomorrow.  The temp gauge is mounted 2 foot from the CC and other electrical equipment.

[Westbranch]

Here is what today looked like.   

Highest FET was 69.6C (Pink)
Charge Battery volts highest was 31.8v (Yellow)
Highest PV voltage was 105v (Red)
Highest charge amps was 67 amps (Orange)

Total KWhs was 12.5

What about the battery temp?

That high FET temp seems to have come down, ist it possible you had an EDGE of CLOUD event while taking the readings?

[Matrix]

Here is what today looked like.   

Highest FET was 69.6C (Pink)
Charge Battery volts highest was 31.8v (Yellow)
Highest PV voltage was 105v (Red)
Highest charge amps was 67 amps (Orange)

Total KWhs was 12.5

What about the battery temp?

That high FET temp seems to have come down, ist it possible you had an EDGE of CLOUD event while taking the readings?

It was a full sun no cloud day yesterday.