Hello all - What can I use for a classic 150 charge controller disconnect? I am pushing about 90-ish amps to the bank. 12- 245w 24v panels - 12 gc2 bats - 3 parallel strings. I have a bbe with only one breaker in it. Thanks!
Uh, can you flesh that description a bit more... a full description of string output, the Vmp, Voc, Imp etc, Epanel? Battery config ... what the string calculator recommended...
Yes I have 4 strings of panels, each string is composed of 3 panels in series. The strings come into a midnite combiner and then to the classic and then to the bank. The bank is composed of 6 volt golf cart batts wired in series for 24v a string with 3 stings paralleled to give me 696 ah.
OK so you have about 735 W per string of 3 and 2940W total.
Each string of 3 will be outputting ~8.19 (8.2) A 4Strings = ~32.8A
Each string of 3 is outputting ~89.7Vmp 4 Strings =~ 89.7V
You should be using an Epanel as it has both breakers needed for the controller, 1 for the input and 1 for the output to the bank...
ya that would have been nice, but I am out here in the middle of the ocean and availability ect are very lacking some times. ;-( I have breakers for the input side. What can I go with for the classic to the bank side?
do you have access to Square D or other major brands of electrical supplies?
Quote from: microage97 on January 29, 2015, 02:02:18 PM
Hello all - ... I have a bbe with only one breaker in it. Thanks!
Sure do not know what is a " bbe " . Doubt that it is a MN Big Baby (box) ... What is a " bbe "?
MidNite offers several large circuit breaker families. The MNEPV series has a 100 Amp breaker available. It occupies two DIN rail positions:
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipment/midnite/cipr1/stfubr1/misomn150vdc.html
There are MNEDC breakers -- Panel Mount types. These are also offered at 100 Amp maximum ratings:
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipment/midnite/cipr1/stfubr1/pamodccibr.html
The MNEPV and MNEDC breakers are rated for continuous rated current flow without tripping.
Then there are the larger Inverter type breakers, with ratings starting at 125 Ams, IIRC:
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipment/midnite/cipr1/high-amperage-inverter-breakers/mnedc125.html
You will want a quality breaker that is rated for DC current. AND, you will want to make certain that the cables that connect the Classic output to the breaker and the battery connections are rated for the maximum current that will be flowing in them.
FWIW, Good Luck, Vic
Quote from: Westbranch on January 29, 2015, 06:35:41 PM
do you have access to Square D or other major brands of electrical supplies?
Yes I do. Thanks!
Quote from: Vic on January 29, 2015, 10:31:10 PM
Quote from: microage97 on January 29, 2015, 02:02:18 PM
Hello all - ... I have a bbe with only one breaker in it. Thanks!
Sure do not know what is a " bbe " . Doubt that it is a MN Big Baby (box) ... What is a " bbe "?
MidNite offers several large circuit breaker families. The MNEPV series has a 100 Amp breaker available. It occupies two DIN rail positions:
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipment/midnite/cipr1/stfubr1/misomn150vdc.html
There are MNEDC breakers -- Panel Mount types. These are also offered at 100 Amp maximum ratings:
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipment/midnite/cipr1/stfubr1/pamodccibr.html
The MNEPV and MNEDC breakers are rated for continuous rated current flow without tripping.
Then there are the larger Inverter type breakers, with ratings starting at 125 Ams, IIRC:
http://www.solar-electric.com/installation-parts-and-equipment/midnite/cipr1/high-amperage-inverter-breakers/mnedc125.html
You will want a quality breaker that is rated for DC current. AND, you will want to make certain that the cables that connect the Classic output to the breaker and the battery connections are rated for the maximum current that will be flowing in them.
FWIW, Good Luck, Vic
Thanks Vic! yes I meant the MN Baby box but I see it is only rated for 63 amp breakers.
Hi microage97,
Thanks for the Baby Box clarification. Yep, the BB is very small. There is very little room to route cables in the box. It is good that you have looked at the specs on it. The Big Baby has more room, and believe that it will accommodate larger conduit fittings, if you need those.
The MidNite DC Quad box is nice, as it will use the Panel Mount breakers -- MNEDCs. These breakers mount form the front with two screws, and are very solid, and the largest breaker is 100 amps, but still occupies only breaker position. The MNEDC breakers have studs for connections, so one must (generally) crimp lugs for connections. The DIN - rail breakers can be a bit more convenient, as they have clamping terminals, so no lugs are required.
The MNEPV breakers appear to have a higher current interrupt ratings than the MNEDCs, so there are tradeoffs, especially for your large CC to battery breaker.
All FWIW, from the Center Of Nowhere in CA. Good Luck, Vic
Thanks Vic! I will look into my options. Oh I am on the Big Island in lower puna.....amazon prime take 7 - 10 days.... sigh
the reason I asked about Square D is that their QO breakers are DC rated to 48Volts, and others above that, http://www.schneider-electric.com/products/ca/en/4200-power-circuit-breakers-switches/4280-direct-current-dc-rated-circuit-breakers/7218-dual-rated-ac-dc-circuit-breakers/
so you can use a small distr. box for the CC to battery disconnect, and make a combiner to meet the specs for your PV output. If you do it right it might all fit in one box, depending on what you can get locally...
Hi Wb,
Thought that this was what you mentioned before. BUT, the specs for DC operation stop at a 70 Amp rating.
In general, QO breakers are DC rated to 48.00 Volts as I read it. So they would not be appropriate for systems that have a 48 V nominal battery voltage, as an aside (IMO).
microage97's system voltage is 24 V, so that part would be fine with QO breakers, but believe that a 100A rated breaker would best suit his requirements.
Did not look at your link, today, but in the past, 70 A was the last stop on that bus, and at that, bet that a 70 amp breaker would be a bit hard to find. And, generally the SQ-D QOs are about the same price as the MN, REAL DC breakers +/-- a bit.
All FWIW, Opinions from Vic
And Wb,
That Link that you provided is Broken (for me) -- it is often very hard to link to Schneider.
Here is Grainger's Link to the SQ-D QO breakers:
http://www.grainger.com/ec/pdf/QO-QOB-Miniature-Breakers-Catalog-2008.pdf
FWIW, so on, Vic
Ya I just tried it too I searched forr " square d qo breakers dc rating' and got the link straight off...??
took me to the page :
Quote: Home > Products > Power Circuit breakers & Switches > Direct Current (dc-rated) Circuit Breakers > Dual Rated AC/DC Circuit Breakers
the page has a new statement that surprised me
QuoteQO/QOB â€" Available with dc voltage ratings from 48 Vdc to 125 Vdc.
QOU â€" Available with dc voltage ratings from 48 Vdc to 125 Vdc
I only included the
Sq D as he said he was isolated and in the middle of the Pacifc Ocean
Hi Wb,
The "QO/QOB â€" Available with dc voltage ratings from 48 Vdc to 125 Vdc" IS news to me.
However, the operative word may well be, "Available". In some industries, "available" means that if you want/need something, it can be specified when ordered, and you will pay extra for that option. Certainly do not know from any DATA, however.
Did poke around on the Schneider site, and simply do not have the time to try to find any new spec for QO series breakers -- the Schneider site has become totally incomprehensible to me.
But, speaking to microage's stated need, unless the upper end of current ratings has been extended, the QOs available in retail distribution, there appears to be nothing in the 100 Amp rated range.
Also, the QO (not the QOU) breakers and Loadcenters are use a Push-On connection to the busbar. This busbar connection depends on the spring force that comes from breaker's Line connection. Whereas, with the MN MNEPV and MNEDC breakers, both the line and load side connections are via screw or nut compression -- superior IMO.
All FWIW. Back to work, Vic
That 70a SD-D QO breaker is available at Home Depot. In-stock here in Colorado. Bit pricey, though.
Wow. The Homeline is in-stock. Nothing on a single pole 70 QO. SORRY>>>
Well I decided to go with this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KOTALG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I am using a 200 amp model on my inverter so I figure it should do the trick.
Hi microage97,
Thanks for the update.
Those Breakers should be OK -- they have an Interrupt rating of 3kA at 28 V:
http://www.cooperindustries.com/content/dam/public/bussmann/Transportation/Resources/catalog_pages/BUS_Tns_Series_187_MRCB.pdf
Did not see a spec on the number of cycles Switching or Tripping for the Bussman breakers.
You have a fairly large battery bank -- about 675 AH at 24 V, as I guess it.
The MNEPV breakers have an interrupt rating of 10 kA at 150 VDC max, and are Rated at 10,000 Trip cycles at full-rated current, IIRC>
All FWIW, Good Luck, Vic
Thanks Vic!