So we are really close to having the Brat released into the wild and want to start by getting a few out there in a Beta program. We will be asking for applications for this program as quantities are limited. The Cost for the Brat under this program will be $50 and it will come with free upgrades for life as well as a lifetime warranty against anything.
Here is the flyer on the Brat http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/spec_sheet_brat_frontBack.pdf (http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/spec_sheet_brat_frontBack.pdf)
What we are asking is for any one interested to email raechel@midnitesolar.com with your information. We would like to know how you plan to use it, where you plan to use it and all of that. The more info the better. We will for sure get more applications than we have Brat's so we will have to read all of the applications and see where the best places for them will be.
Ryan
Ryan,
Thanks for the heads up.
Email sent!
thanx for the heads up, a buddy of mine has been waiting for these to come out ;D
Email sent! In Las Vegas 8)
Ryan,
Do you know the Idle current/Tare for the Brat. Or a target maximum?
Thanks, Vic
Quote from: Vic on August 19, 2014, 12:58:45 PM
Ryan,
Do you know the Idle current/Tare for the Brat. Or a target maximum?
Thanks, Vic
Vic
I am told the actual measured idle current is <10ma
Ryan
WOW! Very low. Thanks, Vic
This is going to be one awesome little charge controller.
I sent them an email yesterday, as well.
(http://i61.tinypic.com/ir3w94.jpg)
I have sent my info to Rachael as well. The wait for a reply seems long and inhumane though 😊
I told her a good story about being stranded on an island with only one tree to nail the Brat to. ;D
Now I just need a Brat...and....a.... nail....!
I also put my name in .
I should be down in 2 weeks picking up some spudnik stuff. It's harvest time so were busy !! Yaaaaa!
What is the lastest with this beta program anyways? ;D
Would be good to know, my fingers are crossed and that makes it difficult to carry on doing other stuff. ;)
There are a few Brat's going out today to Myself and a few employees. If all goes well we should start shipping Beta units in a few weeks. Stay tuned.
And those units will be dubbed, the "Ryan Beta Brats". :)
Quote from: Free Energy Freak on September 26, 2014, 07:45:02 PM
And those units will be dubbed, the "Ryan Beta Brats". :)
I am thinking "
Ryan
Alpha
Brats" or RABs for short.
T
LOL. Agreed. A much better choice.
I'm ready...I'm ready...I'm ready
SpongeboB fans will understand.
Cheers...
Damani
Quote from: dapdan on September 28, 2014, 06:06:58 AM
I'm ready...I'm ready...I'm ready
SpongeboB fans will understand.
Cheers...
Damani
Whooooo lives in a pineapple under the sea?
1/2,
lol. what RE folk find amusing.
Damani
Quote from: dapdan on September 28, 2014, 07:06:09 AM
1/2,
lol. what RE folk find amusing.
Damani
It's too much sunlight to the brain.
Crazy guys think they are solar panels. :D
I got a reply !
My testing will be over winter on a new mountain emergency cabin shelter.
Will see cuz Im setting to finish in November & with a Morning star . next year we will have 3 more emergency cabin shelters coming. Done now & setup
VT
So...when are they sending out the brats then?
Quote from: dapdan on October 11, 2014, 05:45:14 AM
So...when are they sending out the brats then?
I even planted a tree just to nail a BETA BRAT to but no reply from Raechel at Midnite.... :(
Quote from: onanparts on October 11, 2014, 05:27:06 PM
Quote from: dapdan on October 11, 2014, 05:45:14 AM
So...when are they sending out the brats then?
I even planted a tree just to nail a BETA BRAT to but no reply from Raechel at Midnite.... :(
Oh ye of little faith :o
So you expect the tree to grow to a brat-nailable-to size before the brat becomes available ???
dgd
Quote from: dgd on October 12, 2014, 01:31:14 AM
Quote from: onanparts on October 11, 2014, 05:27:06 PM
Quote from: dapdan on October 11, 2014, 05:45:14 AM
So...when are they sending out the brats then?
I even planted a tree just to nail a BETA BRAT to but no reply from Raechel at Midnite.... :(
Oh ye of little faith :o
So you expect the tree to grow to a brat-nailable-to size before the brat becomes available ???
dgd
Planted early morning on Aug 17th. Been watered and looked after very carefully since then. A small finishing nail "might" work but most likely a staple would be more appropriate at this stage.... :)
Beta KID #17 has been waiting patiently for a little Beta BRAT to annoy. ;D
Gentle Folks , I only received a reply . Im still waiting also.
Tomorrow I fly back into Arlington for a week , then back. November Im house sitting 3 houses .
VT
Quote from: Halfcrazy on September 26, 2014, 05:20:05 PM
There are a few Brat's going out today to Myself and a few employees. If all goes well we should start shipping Beta units in a few weeks. Stay tuned.
Has anyone heard how Ryan is doing with his, maybe he can let us know.
Walt.
Anyone,
Has there been any new development with respect to the brat charge controllers.
Cheers...
Damani
Sorry for the delay, Brad is ordering the Beta Boards Monday for the Brat. We will order them quick turn so it should come together pretty quick. Raechel will be working on getting in touch with everyone over the next few weeks.
In the interim here is a picture of my brat on a tree.....
Looks like I will be stateside just in time, I hope?
I've been a good little boy this year, Santa. Promise!
Well I was lucky enough to be offered a two bit tour ! ;D ;D ;D ;D
So next week 2014-11-21- Time to be arranged,, I get to meet & see !!! Ya Plus pick up My ordered stuff thru NAWS.
I'm in No way up to speed with many , but then again , I still have some lights on 8)
VT
Too late to get in on this. I'd love to install one specific for keeping a race car battery charged.
No its not to late. Send Raechel and email raechel@midnitesolar.com
Thanks for the heads up, Email sent.
two bit tour ! ;D ;D ;D ;D to be posted !!!
I just wish I had a camera, I met some pure folks , All good.
I need to write up the 2 days .
VT
Over Xmas I get breaks , then back to the flux house !
Brats: Are they going to be available after the first of the year?
No rush, just checkin'.
We expect to put 40 Brat boards on one of the SMT machines this Friday or early next week. We have about 18 cases left, but have 2500 on order. The prototype Brats seem to be working in our lab just fine.
One thing Brad did was to add a solar clock. The lighting controller features require it to know when midnight is, so Brad just figures it out based on sun up and sun down. Mario used Brads code in the Kid for his upcoming lighting controller too. It is pretty cool how you can set the time of day and night to turn on and off loads even though the products don't have a real clock. The accuracy has been astounding!
Hi Robin, I am sure you did not mean that SMT machine to mean one of those Chinese MPPT controllers did you? Or a Rain Bird Sprinkler controller? Not familiar with SMT, what is it?
SMT = Surface Mount Technology
What he meant was we plan to run the boars through the machines on Friday to populate them with all there parts. Raechel and I should be getting up with all the applicants soon hopefully before Christmas :)
Quote from: Halfcrazy on December 18, 2014, 06:43:56 AMRaechel and I should be getting up with all the applicants soon...
(http://community.spartangames.co.uk/uploads/gallery/album_853/gallery_3406_853_429.jpeg)
Quote from: Halfcrazy on December 18, 2014, 06:43:56 AM
SMT = Surface Mount Technology
What he meant was we plan to run the boars through the machines on Friday to populate them with all there parts. Raechel and I should be getting up with all the applicants soon hopefully before Christmas :)
But won't running "pigs" through along with multiple reels of SMT parts make a really yucky mess? Not going to smell very good either....Bacon Brat's!!! Now I get it! :)
Quote from: onanparts on December 18, 2014, 08:13:30 PM
But won't running "pigs" through along with multiple reels of SMT parts make a really yucky mess?
Well, they are making Brats after all.... You know what they say about making sausages (and laws..)
SMT = Surface Mount Technology
Light duty , Don't Push heat ,pops them off .
Depends on the system . My first LED lighting all did fail in 2010
Good news (and some bad news)
We have Beta Brats ready to rock and roll but I have limited cases. I have emailed a handful of you to arrange getting the Brats out. If I did not email you I will soon. We have more cases being expedited in and I will fill ALL beta requests that come from the forum. If you haven't already applied and want to email me Ryan@midnitesolar.com and I will get you on my list. A short description of how you would use it is appreciated
Thank you
Ryan
I guess I wasnt in the handfull as i have not recieved an email.
:'(
Yea! My beta Brat was delivered today!
We started with 24 cases. A fair amount of those were handed out at the spi show a few months ago. Those units had design issues still not resolved. The brats shipping now don, t have problems that we know of. The plastics company was just given the go ahead to make production quantities. There are still about a dozen boards left ready to go into cases. Once we get enough feedback on this current version that tells us we got it right, we will order lots of boards. All the internal components are on order. The brat is a very nice controller. We have one in the engineering lab that has been faithfully turning on a nite light for Midnite the cat since early last summer. Brad did a bang up job on the entire project but the solar clock is just amazing. Mario put it in the kid also.
Dang sending out now , I have mine built ready to receive .. a brat !!!
VT
My Beta BRAT will see some action tomorrow after it's wired up. :)
I do have a suggestion....for the + terminals on the label put a + there instead of the - that is next to all terminals.
Too many people just don't READ, or for that matter may not understand English. The printed + and - on the board/label makes it "almost" idiot proof. I did say, almost..... :)
My modified BRAT label, before/after.
Quote from: WizBandit on January 23, 2015, 10:25:25 PM
Yea! My beta Brat was delivered today!
How did you pay for the Beta Brat ?? I did receive an e-mail , long time ago , but that was it.
VT
That's a great observation! I will forward this on.
Quote from: onanparts on January 26, 2015, 11:10:02 PM
My Beta BRAT will see some action tomorrow after it's wired up. :)
I do have a suggestion....for the + terminals on the label put a + there instead of the - that is next to all terminals.
Too many people just don't READ, or for that matter may not understand English. The printed + and - on the board/label makes it "almost" idiot proof. I did say, almost..... :)
My modified BRAT label, before/after.
Always trying to make things as clear as possible. :)
The attached jpg is about what it would look like.
Thanks for the input and keep it coming.
Doug
Much better thanks Doug
Quote from: Doug on January 27, 2015, 07:10:23 PM
Always trying to make things as clear as possible. :)
The attached jpg is about what it would look like.
Thanks for the input and keep it coming.
Doug
That looks nice but........polarity's not be jiving.
I think his avatar is winking at us :o
Quote from: Westbranch on January 27, 2015, 07:48:35 PM
I think his avatar is winking at us :o
Maybe.... :)
Speaking of winking, my BRAT's Orange LED is winking right now. Been in absorb the last half hour or so. Since the Sun is hiding behind the clouds lately my 48V battery is standing in. 12V deep cycle is on the other side and sitting at 14.7V during absorb. Manual says it should be closer to 14.4?
I wondered if anybody actually looked at attachments. ::)
Quote from: onanparts on January 27, 2015, 07:58:13 PM
Quote from: Westbranch on January 27, 2015, 07:48:35 PM
Speaking of winking, my BRAT's Orange LED is winking right now. Been in absorb the last half hour or so. Since the Sun is hiding behind the clouds lately my 48V battery is standing in. 12V deep cycle is on the other side and sitting at 14.7V during absorb. Manual says it should be closer to 14.4?
What position is BATTERY1/BATTERY2 in?
Also, did you measure at the terminal block or at the battery?
-Thanks
-Brad
Quote from: Doug on January 27, 2015, 08:04:32 PM
I wondered if anybody actually looked at attachments. ::)
Absolutely! ;D
Quote from: brad.midnite on January 27, 2015, 08:06:14 PM
Quote from: onanparts on January 27, 2015, 07:58:13 PM
Quote from: Westbranch on January 27, 2015, 07:48:35 PM
Speaking of winking, my BRAT's Orange LED is winking right now. Been in absorb the last half hour or so. Since the Sun is hiding behind the clouds lately my 48V battery is standing in. 12V deep cycle is on the other side and sitting at 14.7V during absorb. Manual says it should be closer to 14.4?
What position is BATTERY1/BATTERY2 in?
Also, did you measure at the terminal block or at the battery?
-Thanks
-Brad
Flooded profile #1, S1-4 On, S1-5 Off. Voltage at terminal block and battery are the same. Fluctuates from 14.68-14.74 on both Flukes, a 179 and an 87.
About 3' of 10 AWG between the BRAT and 12V Battery. Input side at 50.9V
Zero experience here with PWM controllers. The audible Morse code it's sending is interesting...I assume it keeps saying, "I'm a BRAT" "I'm a BRAT" "I'm a BRAT"....... :)
Oh good you have quality DMMs. Perhaps it's the temperature compensation? With a 12 volt battery it should be -30mV/degree C. It wasn't 15C/59F was it?
Also no difference between the battery and terminal block? Pretty low current?
-Thanks
-Brad
Quote from: brad.midnite on January 27, 2015, 08:57:29 PM
Oh good you have quality DMMs. Perhaps it's the temperature compensation? With a 12 volt battery it should be -30mV/degree C. It wasn't 15C/59F was it?
Also no difference between the battery and terminal block? Pretty low current?
-Thanks
-Brad
I forgot about about the ambient temp comp. It's around 48F-50F in the shop, no heat on today.
Now in float at 13.5V green LED solid. Going to start a manual EQ shortly. The 12V battery is not a "real" deep cycle batt. It's a wanna be RV/Marine type but fairly heavy. Two years old and never done an EQ to it. Mr. HydraVolt showed good SG's last week but several cells were off so I'll check the SG first before doing the EQ.
Current was low. 12V battery was on a cheap Battery Tender Plus charger about 2 weeks ago, resting voltage at 12.7 before wiring it up to the BRAT today.
Oh, and one of Midnites 600 Watt clipper resistors is between the 48V battery and the BRAT's PV input. Not sure if that's needed on a BRAT but I use it when feeding my KID with the big battery...
Interesting. I'm not sure the resistance of the clipper resistor you're using, but I'm thinking it's probably a .8-.9 Ohm resistor. With a 48V input and a 12V output that's 40 Amps peak, double what the charger is intended for if you're using the load circuit. This does mean The Brat will run hotter in general, but it should protect itself through active-derating and thermal shutdown.
I misunderstood what you were trying to say before but this also I believe explains the somewhat oscillatory voltage readings you were getting.
It's interesting hearing the talk of the singing Brat. Ryan has also commented to me about this. I cannot hear it, damaged my hearing in my teenage years with 2-strokes (engines), concerts, and mill work. PWM chargers run at a lower frequency than MPPT, and in most cases, both operate at a fixed frequency.
In The Brat's case, the unit switches at 250Hz, which is a convenient number based on the clock frequency it operates at (integer division). Since 250Hz is at the upper-end of what people would consider 'bass', you're obviously hearing some harmonic of 250Hz. Maybe 750Hz, 1kHz etc. Does it seem to make more noise when it's sunny, or is it constant?
The resistor was indeed a good idea. PWM chargers are NOT like MPPT chargers. An MPPT charger like the Classic/Kid does buck conversion. In buck conversion current is switched through an inductor at a controlled duty-cycle to produce an output voltage (or maximize input power, e.g. BulkMppt/FloatMppt). Of course, The Classic/Kid are a lot more advanced than a basic buck converter, but the core concept is approximately the same.
This inductor provides somewhat of a buffer for current between the input and output, though with an infinitely large source you could destroy anything, no-matter the protection scheme.
In PWM, the charger connects the input to the output with varying duty-cycles many times a second. There's less reactance to limit the peak currents once the switch has turned fully on. PWM chargers are basically solid-state switches that connect and disconnect the solar panel to the battery rapidly to regulate its voltage.
Therefore, your peak currents are higher than they should be, probably doubly-so based on what you've told me. If you didn't have the source resistance on the PV side, you would probably trip the short-circuit protection.
Anyways, happy beta'ing.
-Brad
Brad,
Nice basic explanation :)
Judging by the postings of some Classic users, who seem to drive their Classic at maximum ratings with over paneling, and now this trend towards recommending input voltage near battery voltage, I was wondering if a simple brute force PWM controller might be a feasible Midnite option.
Maybe similar to or surpassing the current rating of the 90's vintage Heliotrope 120A PWM controller :P (Pity the company just faded away even though they had a winning controller)
MPPT was great when PVs were expensive and extracting every watt was paramount, but now PVs are so cheap maybe just a damm big PWM controller would be more useful.
dgd
QuoteMPPT was great when PVs were expensive and extracting every watt was paramount, but now PVs are so cheap maybe just a damn big PWM controller would be more useful.
I see only one drawback with that statement, Those 'cheap ' panels are probably GT type with higher voltages, which a lot of times are not high enough to charge a 24 V bank, and if you are at 12V you 'lose' a lot of the potential power in the buck down to 12V... one would have to do some figuring to see just how many watts could be recovered from a GT panel and then divide the price by that lower # of watts for a more realistic price per Watt, WHEN using a PWM charge controller.. Up to normal output with MPPT
Same concept for 24V bank , but worse economy, you would need a second panel to get about 5 more volts so a greater % of that extra panel is wasted with PWM...
Quote from: dgd on January 28, 2015, 04:48:18 AM
Brad,
MPPT was great when PVs were expensive and extracting every watt was paramount, but now PVs are so cheap maybe just a damm big PWM controller would be more useful.
dgd
Even if the panels were free, consider the advantage of MPPT in situations where real estate is at a premium. Boats/RV applications etc. Even permanent installs on land may not always have optimum placement and or the space for a large array. This is where MPPT "shines" :) Pun intended! ;D
And now back to the BRAT's! :) An affordable alternative to MPPT CC's.
Quote from: brad.midnite on January 28, 2015, 01:46:42 AM
Interesting. I'm not sure the resistance of the clipper resistor you're using, but I'm thinking it's probably a .8-.9 Ohm resistor. With a 48V input and a 12V output that's 40 Amps peak, double what the charger is intended for if you're using the load circuit. This does mean The Brat will run hotter in general, but it should protect itself through active-derating and thermal shutdown.
Not planning to use the load circuit while testing it on the 48V battery. :) .8 Ohm resistor. BRAT running very cool temp wise so far.
It's interesting hearing the talk of the singing Brat. Ryan has also commented to me about this. I cannot hear it, damaged my hearing in my teenage years with 2-strokes (engines), concerts, and mill work. PWM chargers run at a lower frequency than MPPT, and in most cases, both operate at a fixed frequency.
In The Brat's case, the unit switches at 250Hz, which is a convenient number based on the clock frequency it operates at (integer division). Since 250Hz is at the upper-end of what people would consider 'bass', you're obviously hearing some harmonic of 250Hz. Maybe 750Hz, 1kHz etc. Does it seem to make more noise when it's sunny, or is it constant?
Intended use for the BRAT is in my RV. It's in storage and under cover for the winter. At the moment my Radian's 48V battery is standing in for the sun. Has to be a harmonic...I just sent boB an audio file of it this morning. Dit Dit Dash Dit Dit Dash Dash etc. like morse code. You have to be within a few feet of the BRAT to hear it, even then it's not noticeable unless very quiet in the area.
Bulk, Absorb and EQ it's there. Barely while in float.
.
Therefore, your peak currents are higher than they should be, probably doubly-so based on what you've told me. If you didn't have the source resistance on the PV side, you would probably trip the short-circuit protection.
Anyways, happy beta'ing.
-Brad
Quote from: onanparts on January 28, 2015, 01:35:48 PM
Even if the panels were free, consider the advantage of MPPT in situations where real estate is at a premium. Boats/RV applications etc. Even permanent installs on land may not always have optimum placement and or the space for a large array. This is where MPPT "shines" :) Pun intended! ;D
Ok, there will probably always be plenty of such situations were mppt is best.
But where such restrictions don't apply - space for decent size array, close to battery bank etc, then a brute PWM controller would work.
Dgd
Quote from: Westbranch on January 28, 2015, 12:10:48 PM
QuoteMPPT was great when PVs were expensive and extracting every watt was paramount, but now PVs are so cheap maybe just a damn big PWM controller would be more useful.
I see only one drawback with that statement, Those 'cheap ' panels are probably GT type with higher voltages
AFAIK the standard 36 cell and 72 cell PVs are just as cheap per watt as the 60 cell GT type panels.
And just as available. At least in this godzone :)
Dgd
Quote from: dgd on January 28, 2015, 03:55:16 PMOk, there will probably always be plenty of such situations were mppt is best.
But where such restrictions don't apply - space for decent size array, close to battery bank etc, then a brute PWM controller would work.
Dgd
Like Cambodia. :) 11° to 13° North Latitude. :)
QuoteAFAIK the standard 36 cell and 72 cell PVs are just as cheap per watt as the 60 cell GT type panels
OK I agree if pricing is approx equivalent , so I checked NAWS site and using Kyocera panels,
a 185W 12V panel is $1.15 US per Watt,
a 255W GT is selling for $0.94/W .
Using 17 V for charging there is 13V,~ 44% that will be lost off the top..now only ~ 143W, so the price just rose to ~$1.68 /W
http://www.solar-electric.com/solar-panels-mounts-kits-accessories/solarpanels/hiposopa.html
Unless I missed it someplace, starting a manual EQ is spelled out but manually stopping it is not. Push and hold the button on the corner of the board to start but no mention of stopping the EQ if you need or want it to go for less than the timed 2 hours it will do on it's own.
Only took a few seconds to try the obvious.....push and hold the button while in EQ mode to stop it. :) Might want to add that on page 8?
The manual is a work in progress certainly. We've been calling it a 'quick start' internally.
I am happy that 'the obvious' did exactly what you expected it might.
Edit: To elaborate further...
If you're using a flooded profile Auto-EQ/Manual-EQ can function. I may need to modify the code to provide an error pattern on the LEDs if Auto-EQ is ON but the profile doesn't support EQ. In writing this I realize there's no error message for this.
If you attempt a manual-EQ with a sealed battery profile selected, an error code will be displayed. What happens is all four LEDs will blink three times then the Float LED will display ON for a few seconds. All of the error code patterns work in this fashion, the 4 LEDs blink then a code is displayed. The idea being that a table in the manual will be provided to provide guidance/troubleshooting when the user does something illegal/a problem is detected.
If instead, a flooded profile is programmed as you have done, and you hold the push-button for 2 seconds, all four LEDs will light in sequence, chasing from left-to-right. This is an acknowledgement for the request of a manual EQ. If you want to cancel the request, whether it's currently EQing or not, you can hold the push-button for 2 seconds again, this will cause the LEDs to chase from right to left. This acknowledges the request to cancel a manual-EQ was acknowledged. If it was EQing when you cancelled, it will drop down to Float, if not, it will continue as usual in Bulk/Absorb.
I'm aware there are dissenting opinions (specific to solar/wind) whether an attempt to EQ should begin immediately or only begin after successful completion of absorb. Currently, in the beta units, it only EQs after absorb has completed, but you can request at any-time. I hope to add some compile-time logic so that we can provide either alternative based on the prevailing concensus of our customers as we ramp up to production. This decision is important and somewhat arbitrary because wind/solar can be flaky in terms of power available at any given moment. The Brat is designed to give up after its been unable to maintain EQ setpoint for 10 minutes. In which case it will fall back to float and attempt to finish the remaining EQ time the next day. In that way, it has retry days as does The Classic, but it's fixed to 1 day of retry time. My thinking in doing this was to avoid customer's batteries sitting at some arbitrary voltage above absorb for potentially a full day (i.e., just below EQ). If I modify the code to attempt to drive the battery voltage straight to EQ without completing a normal absorb cycle, it's a lot harder to 'give up' if there's not enough power available currently to bring the voltage up to EQ.
Long story short, thank you for joining the Beta list and providing feedback. I hope that together we can mold The Brat into a better, popular product.
-Brad
Quote from: brad.midnite on January 29, 2015, 01:00:12 AM
The manual is a work in progress certainly. We've been calling it a 'quick start' internally.
I am happy that 'the obvious' did exactly what you expected it might.
-Brad
Yup! The EQ worked as designed. :)
The singing BRAT looked interesting on boB's graph. I think he forwarded that to you also?
This was actually recorded with my phone held against that big resistor.
Stopping EQ seems like a useful feature.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/lxc0mz55vxtens0/10-293-1%20REV%20P3%20The%20Brat%20Quick%20Start%201-29-15%2023.pdf?dl=0 (https://www.dropbox.com/s/lxc0mz55vxtens0/10-293-1%20REV%20P3%20The%20Brat%20Quick%20Start%201-29-15%2023.pdf?dl=0) Here is an update to the manual (Quick Start Guide) that describes stopping an EQ
See pages 9 and 10.
Doug
Quote from: Doug on January 27, 2015, 08:04:32 PM
I wondered if anybody actually looked at attachments. ::)
I like this much better than the first or the original. ;D
Discharged my 12V battery on the BRAT output side down to about 50% DOD. When first connected it was under 10% DOD so straight to absorb then float. No problem with the 600W resistor as the current was very low.
BUT!......Oh boy....had a Fluke clamp style current meter on the input side today while testing. 43 AMPS. Lets see....at 53 volts that's about....2279 Watts! Resistor got hot real fast. This test lasted all of 3-4 seconds before flipping the input breaker!
BRAT was also pushing about 43 AMPS on the output side during this time. BRAT did not release it's magic smoke.
Conclusion: Me thinks I just stick to the designed PV input. :)
Or....I could try this resistor....Good for 1000 AMPS+. Or not! :)
Likely it was at 100% duty cycle trying to bring up the battery to absorb voltage. This means you were getting 43 Amp pulses all along, just time-divided. It's a weighted average between 0 Amps and 43 Amps. If it's operating at 10% duty-cycle that's 4.3 Amps. If it was at 50%, that's 21.5 on average. The Brat currently does not current limit if you over-size your PV array.
Is the beta testing over? Are there any opinions about it yet?
;D
Am I on the (http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_Q9489HJjO7Q/R7LkweMHbxI/AAAAAAAAAYY/AeD5zFbHZYk/s400/Elephant+Crap.jpgl) list? Joking with ya! Ryan i did send an email, keep me informed.
Walt
I did recieve a brat and set it up at 24 volts and very happy with its performance.
Im alittle confused with the readings im getting though :-\
Im getting 35.9 volts from the panel at .69 amps when i hook the same panel to the classic 150 I get 28.3 at 8.5 amps. Can anyone help me understand that?
Walt
BW, 2 quick questions, you don't have the BRAT listed in your sig line... which panel is it?
You do mean that you are using only 1 panel to run the comparison, right?
thank you westbranch!
I ran just one at a time of the MX60s.
Suncase MX 60 235
Module power Pmax, W 235
Rated voltage Vmpp, V 29.8
Rated current Impp, A 7.88
Open circuit voltage Voc, V 37.0
Short circuit current Isc, A 8.45
Maximum system voltage, V 600
Module efficiency % 14.0
Cell efficiency % 16.1
Max series fuse rating A 15
When I say one at a time I only hooked one panel to the Brat and then hooked the same panel to the classic only measuring the voltage and current as they were operating in a absorb state of charge, and then I hooked up another single panel and ran my test again until I did all four panels one at a time. I had to do the test in absorb as I do keep my batteries up and within a few minuets the brat was in absorb so I forced the classic into absorb to be on the same playing field.
I will update my sig line, i have made a few changes since I posted it.
Again thank you!
Walt
Quote from: BobWhite on March 22, 2015, 04:24:20 PM
I did recieve a brat and set it up at 24 volts and very happy with its performance.
Im alittle confused with the readings im getting though :-\
Im getting 35.9 volts from the panel at .69 amps when i hook the same panel to the classic 150 I get 28.3 at 8.5 amps. Can anyone help me understand that?
Walt
Hi Bob. Given the panel specs you posted it's apparent The Brat is running at very light duty cycles, which would be consistent with near-full batteries. I suspect the difference is the absorb voltage setpoints of The Brat vs The Classic. Let me know if you find different.
Thanks for the feedback btw.
-Brad
Brad, I believe you hit the nail on the head! Ill start by putting some heavy loads and bring the batteries down this weekend and take readings again on the BRAT, I don't like to load them up when I can't keep an eye on what is happening.
Thank you Brad! I will get back to you.
Walt
Kim and Walter should be in touch any day now to finish filling the Beta requests. If you do not hear from Kim by weeks end please email her kim@midnitesolar.com
Wow,
I sent out my email 7 months ago and then looked on in envy as others got to play with their Brats. Is this light at the end of the tunnel. I am not sure if I should hold my breath. I will be happy to recieved one or two anyways even if it is half of a year later.
Maybe i will have better luck when the beta inverter units are being assigned. Hint Hint.
Cheers...
DapDan
Kim should be getting in touch with you today, Sorry for the delay but we had very few boards in the beginning and we ran out before I caught on
Ryan,
No worries. She did email me yesterday. I am replying with the info she requested. Better late than never ;D. Now... where do I sign up for the beta inverter? ;D 8).
Damani
I also received an email from Kim last fort-night & will be picking mine up .
VT
To All,
I have recieved the Brat in good condition and it is a beast of a controller. I was not expecting it to be so big. I quiried " why would they ship such a big box for one pwm controller", then I saw why. It is a beauty. Now to hook it up. One almost don't want to for fear of scratching its lovely form.
Cheers...
One happy camper
Damani
I got mine a week ago and hope to have it installed on the trailer within a couple of weeks. Need to mount the panels first (on the roof). Thanks very much, it looks good. The clear case could be painted to match the trailer exterior, as long as a strip would be left clear to view the LED's across the top. I don't want it inside if I can avoid it.
I started installing my first Brat controller as a led garden lighting system, hopefully I will be able to get it running this weekend.
Can you tell us a bit more about the whole system? tks
In response to Westbranch,
This is my play around cabinet, I used to have a Beta Kid, 2-Astronergy 245 in series, 300 watt Koteck inverter, and a sprinkler timer. I was using the kid to charge a battery bank (Same one) that allowed me to automate my grundfos sqflex. I live on a half a gallon a minute well, the well log for the foreclosed house I bought was inaccurate and the 6 gpm pump required me to run it in bursts to harvest as much water as possible. Unfortunately my pole got hit by a extreme twister and it ripped the panels out of the Iron ridge rails, the tbolts literally ripped through. Since then I have ran 120/240 out to the White box and have the pump running off inverter power, i am able to harvest way more water by pumping it every twelve hours and the consistancy of the constant power has made it way easier to calculate the needed running time. I use a irrigation timer with a 24 vac relay to control the well and then the garden system and it works great I call it the poor mans PLC.
The current project that I have in the White box is
1- Evergreen 100 watt module
1 - Beta Kid
1 - 17ah AGM battery
currently 2 din breakers, 1 more and a splice block to come for the lights. I had an old 12 volt landscape lighting system from my old house that I dug out and found that the flood fixtures will work with these awesome 12vdc led bulbs from Lowes, so I am going to put a couple of lights around the pole area, and a few in the garden to light it up in the evenings as it gets 100-114 here frequently in the summer and after installing solar all day I usually prefer too wait for the evenings to play around in the garden. The only down side is we have a CRAPLOAD OF RATTLE SNAKES my dog just got bit the other day, this is why you will see a bunch of lighting projects coming from me.
Attached is another light project I have going, this is a old GE light with glass bezel (Rare Find) I picked up a solar rope light kit from Home depot and wound it up inside and it looks like fire flys :) I was killing time until the Kid's came out and I will now be sticking some sort of 12vdc LED with a 80 watt Shell module and a kid and a 7 ah AGM stuffed inside the bezel.
If you want to see some other (I think Neat Stuff)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Coast-Sustainables/113295778708585
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8CI90MX8k8IHxWUnnuBrtw/www.westcoastsustainables.com
Jason
I know this is the Brat section but this is the Kid running the Irrigation timer and the well previously !
Midnite
I hope this modification finds favour with the engineers. I present the metered brat ....
Cheers..
Damani
doesn't look like it is working yet... ::)
West,
Ha Ha, Captain obvious. I will remedy soonest.
Cheers...
Damani
The Brat is working great and the lighting portion is working great as well. I found 12vdc replacement bulbs at lowes for landscape lighting and have one of them installed next to the standard bulb can you see the difference? the only thing I have left to do on this project is trench to the garden to add more lights!
GREAT JOB ON THE BRAT!!!!
which is the led ? the one on the left of the pic?
Left is correct, those led are great at .20 watt per a bulb I can run a good string of them off the 17ah battery I have. I have a couple of other lights I am starting I will post up next. I found some 3.5 volt 1000mah cells at lowes that I am going to series together to make a light for my driveway sign it should work out pretty neat!