Cracked MidNite Solar Classic 150 charge controller ???

[mohbbb1985]

Hello,

I bought a new Midnite classic 150 charge controller on ebay and I saw some cracks on what I believe a bus bar. The seller claims that he asked the manufacturer and they told him "those cracks are in all their Classics, it is just the way they are built, and it won't effect the performance in any way." Can you guys confirm that your devices has the same cracks ? Please see pictures.

Thanks

[KyleM]

That is normal and posses no problems to the Charge Controllers.

They all look that way.

Kyle

[Vic]

Hi moh...,

Yes  the bar is plastic,   and is used to hold the power FETs down on the casting,   which sinks heat away from the FETs.

The cracks do not appear to have any adverse affect on the Classic.

Some Classics here have been in service for over seven years,   without any issues.   Some of these Classics have some cracks in the bars.

The Classic is  a very capable charge controller.   Vic

[ClassicCrazy]

As Vic said - those plastic bars get torqued down so the FET's make good contact to the heatsink so that is why they get some cracks. No problems .

Larry

[FNG]

The FET bar is actually aluminum, It needs to be very rigid to hold the FETs tight during heat and cool cycles. But Aluminum is a bad idea around the electronics so the bar is coated with a thin layer of very had plastic. When the FETs are torqued the distortion cracks the plastic in some of its thinnest spots. No harm in this but it does raise questions

[ClassicCrazy]

The FET bar is actually aluminum, It needs to be very rigid to hold the FETs tight during heat and cool cycles. But Aluminum is a bad idea around the electronics so the bar is coated with a thin layer of very had plastic. When the FETs are torqued the distortion cracks the plastic in some of its thinnest spots. No harm in this but it does raise questions

Thanks for the explaining the details of this - makes sense now .
Larry

[mohbbb1985]

Thank you all for your help