I thought I saw somewhere that said the Classic was able to take input from two different solar arrays and make sense of both at the same time.
Did I get that wrong? Because I've also seen where supposedly a Classic could be "stacked" with a second Classic to share a single array and they wouldn't fight with each other.
The Classic cannot track two arrays at once. It works similar to all MPPT controllers. If there is a mismatch of modules, it will find the spot that results in the highest output of the two "humps". That means it would not be operating at the optimum voltage for either hump, but would average the two humps and act accordingly. IT is fine to have slight mis-matches in voltage, but not wise to have large mis-matches in VMP of different panels. There are ways to use oddbal panels, but it takes a bit of thought and some luck on panel mismatch.
Thanks.
I thought I'd seen mention of their being a "PV1" and "PV2" set of inputs. I'm not even sure I've seen where the only "PV" inputs there are get documented!
Quote from: tallgirl on January 08, 2011, 01:54:01 PM
Thanks.
I thought I'd seen mention of their being a "PV1" and "PV2" set of inputs. I'm not even sure I've seen where the only "PV" inputs there are get documented!
I tried not to label the input as just "PV" because it can be used for more than that.
High voltage and low voltage seems to be a better fit since the input is the high
voltage side and the battery terminals are definitely supposed to be a lower voltage
than the PV or Turbine or hydro or whatever is connected there.
Tallgirl, did you see you have reverse on this board now ? (Tallfellow)
boB
Wait, I though the Classic could buck or boost? You mean it can only buck?!?
And the opposite of me is short, fat, balding and ugly. Oh, and grumpy or whatever the opposite of "cuddly" is.
Quote from: tallgirl on January 14, 2011, 12:11:11 AM
Wait, I though the Classic could buck or boost? You mean it can only buck?!?
And the opposite of me is short, fat, balding and ugly. Oh, and grumpy or whatever the opposite of "cuddly" is.
No, it can boost too. BUT, the high voltage side is always on the high voltage terminals (PV or Turbine)
and the low voltage is always the "other" terminal, or, usually the output or battery terminals.
It can take the lower battery voltage and bring it up higher to that PV/Turbine side. Well, it just
does, and we will be making use of that a bit later.
I hope I have thoroughly confused someone.
To make a controller that boosts or bucks in either direction would be nice but it would be a compromise, as all engineering really is anyway.
boB for now...
if i miss my guess i think what tallgirl is driving at is that the high side is the other side when boosting.
Quote from: niel on January 14, 2011, 07:18:46 PM
if i miss my guess i think what tallgirl is driving at is that the high side is the other side when boosting.
LOL!
Yeah, "lower voltage" is a pretty weird definition of "high side".
How about words like "Input" and "Output" instead of "High" or "Low"?
Quote from: tallgirl on January 15, 2011, 12:40:32 PM
Quote from: niel on January 14, 2011, 07:18:46 PM
if i miss my guess i think what tallgirl is driving at is that the high side is the other side when boosting.
LOL!
Yeah, "lower voltage" is a pretty weird definition of "high side".
How about words like "Input" and "Output" instead of "High" or "Low"?
OK, Julie... I ~thought~ that I was going to be able to make this non-confusing, and maybe one or more of you guys can help us to label that better, BUT !! BUT, the reason that I used the word High and Low was because in this "boosting" case, the Input ~IS~ the Output !
If that don't confuse the issue, well, I just don't know what does. BUT, (there it is again), BUT High and Low is ALSO confusing ! I totally agree !
If there were more space to write things on the PCB, we could add a bit of documentation for that. One of the audio companies I was involved with almost had the whole manual printed on the top cover of their units.
Now, I suppose we could just label them Terminals 1 and 2 or A and B or something... Then, we could have pictures and text on the LCD or something, showing the direction of current, etc.
As always, I am open to suggestions.
boB
Nope high voltage side and low voltage side seems clear as mud
If the Classic is Bucking the high voltage side is the input dc source and the low side is battery
If the Classic is boosting the high voltage side is battery and the low side is the dc source
That said from a customer service standpoint maybe we need red lettering or something for the boost feature or we just need to explain the high voltage and low voltage terminals very well.
WARNING Connection of DC terminal block depends on mode of controller Buck mode use low voltage side as battery and high voltage side as dc input source Boost mode use low voltage side as dc input source and high voltage side as battery
Quote from: Halfcrazy on January 15, 2011, 05:20:13 PM
Nope high voltage side and low voltage side seems clear as mud
That might be clear as mud for someone who has never touched another charge controller. It won't be clear as anything for anyone else.
Well we can also figure any one using boost mode will have a bit of knowledge to have decided they need to boost not buck and hopefully we can supply them with enough documentation they can figure out if they have 12 volts and want to charge a 24 volt battery that the 12 volt is the low voltage side. ::)
There is so much this controller can do people are going to have to do a little reading on some of the features and no worries Milly will let you know if you did it wrong and tell you how to fix it ;D
Quote from: Halfcrazy on January 15, 2011, 07:12:10 PM
There is so much this controller can do people are going to have to do a little reading on some of the features and no worries Milly will let you know if you did it wrong and tell you how to fix it ;D
Yes, as long as Millie doesn't get drunk with power ! :D
boB
Drunk Millyie I like it can we have that as a bonus feature.
drunk milly? no not the reversing relay trick funny cant wait to see i meam hear millie waiting for beta unit hopefully soon as will be going south as the snow snake here in Minn are attacking leaving in Feb for Texas and see if cant get turbine up there cheers Mike Johnson Eagle Energy Solutions LLC
Quote from: Halfcrazy on January 15, 2011, 07:24:58 PM
Drunk Millyie I like it can we have that as a bonus feature.
Well... I'm not sure, but just for you, maybe the Classic can burp, hickup and sneeze once in a while.
Might even say, "excuse me".
And, if your batteries are gassing, maybe it could.....
nevermind... We might just have to leave some surprises in there for later !
boB
i chuckle at your trend of thought boB, but you may need to make her user selectable for any kiddies around or jealous wives. :o
Quote from: boB on January 15, 2011, 08:39:32 PM
And, if your batteries are gassing, maybe it could.....
nevermind... We might just have to leave some surprises in there for later !
boB
;D A Charge controller so sophisticated, that it even passes gas! My kids will love it! Maybe in wind mode you could set that as the chime to alert the user that the Classic has started to dump.... oh, nevermind! ;D
Quote from: keyturbocars on January 16, 2011, 05:17:30 PM
Quote from: boB on January 15, 2011, 08:39:32 PM
And, if your batteries are gassing, maybe it could.....
nevermind... We might just have to leave some surprises in there for later !
boB
;D A Charge controller so sophisticated, that it even passes gas! My kids will love it! Maybe in wind mode you could set that as the chime to alert the user that the Classic has started to dump.... oh, nevermind! ;D
Ooooooo...... You're BAD !!!!
(I LOVE it !)
boB