I purchased the 150 model and have some configuration questions.
I have :
1 - MidNite 150
8 - 12 volt 210 watt evergreen 11.87 amp connected in series-parallel (4 - 24 volt series (4 x 210watt = 840watts @ 46.8 amps))
10 - 6 volt 220 ah wet cells connected in series-parallel (5 - 12 volt series (charging 12 volts @ 95 amps))
Will be installing 10 more - 6 volt 220 ah wet cells to give me 10 - 12 volt series next month.
My question is what would the settings be for my Midnite 150 if anyone can tell me that or should I just go with what the wizard makes it.
Thanks
Mike
Hi mtfall64,
Several concerns;
Think that you are expecting to run the Classic 150 at its absolute maximum current rating for a 12 volt system. This may not be good for the longevity fo the Classic.
You already propose FIVE strings of 12 volt batteries. Many would say that this is already TOO MANY strings, and you want to double this. It is very difficult to use a lot of power from a 12 Volt bank, as, with the necessary high currents needed to use the power, come large voltage drops. Also more than about two strings make it very hard to balance the charge for all of the batts, as well as having all of them share the load currents.
If you need this much power, you might want to think about stepping up ot a 48 volt system.
In addition, think that you do not have enough charge current capability form the PV array.
You will find that you will get much beter utilization of the Classic's charge capability by going to a higher battery voltage.
Even if you were to stay with a 12 volt bank, you could benefit from running a higher PV input voltage -- more panels per string. This would reduce the amount of input current, save cost on wire and combiner breakers/fuses.
Generally if a large capacity battery bank is needed, fewer, larger batteries is one key to happiness.
Just my quick read. Vic
Thanks Vic,
I did forget to mention that this system has been up and running for 11 months. To change batteries and new 2300 watt inverter just is not possible at this very moment. I may wait a little longer and go with 24 volt system if I do add the extra 10 batteries and buy a 24volt 2300 watt inverter. The wiring is what it is. To change would be pulling all the wire and redoing it, I will wait on that one. I just had a crappy charge controller that when the sun was full all day the controller would be flicking on and off from 10:30 am to sunset. I know this was not doing anything good for the batteries. The only changes to the system is that I switched controllers to the MidNite 150 and that I went from 12 volt coming into the controller to 24 volts. Keep in mind that my panels are 15 ft to 40 ft from my controller on 10 gauge wire. So I have currently 24 volt 11.87 amps are on one 10 gauge copper wire each coming in. (2 panels about 15-21 ft, 2 panels 21-27 ft, 2 panels 27-33 ft, 2 panels 33-39 ft). The charge controller is about 7 feet from batteries using 4 gauge copper. Batteries are tight together and series (+ to -) 0 gauge wire about 5 inches between these batteries and (+ to +) side 0 gauge about 7 inches between the parallel side. Two 0 gauge for the plus side and two 0 gauge for the - side coming into the inverter which is 5 feet from the batteries.