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#11
Barcelona / Re: Barcelona
Last post by stjohn - July 20, 2026, 08:05:38 AMGood Morning Larry and also FNG and James. I was traveling but am back on St john and will be digging into all of your responses. Thank you so much everyone.
Jay
Jay
#12
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Fan spin in Classic (and l...
Last post by binkino - July 20, 2026, 06:27:23 AMThanks; yes, I still need to give that some thought 
Even though I've got the temperatures under control now, I'm still seeing the "current limit" today...
Currently:
East: 30.30 Amps, South: 2.3 Amps... combined 32.60 Amps
Charging current is then 71.30 Amps
The WBJr shunt is connected only to the South charge controller. The maximum setting there is 78 Amps in the "App" - which is likely my problem?
I've now set AUX2 on the South Classic to something else for testing purposes; the South Classic shouldn't be measuring current anymore.
(I'm missing that value in my visual display now, but it's fine for testing)
Now (12:15 PM)
East: 21.8A
South: 15.29A
Total: 37.60A
Charging current: 80.40A
Fluctuating, and clouds are rolling in. Great...
The day before yesterday, I briefly had a charging current of 107 Amps—so I'm not entirely sure if the WBJr shunt is the limiting factor here...
But with the WBJr inactive, the current on the South side went up nicely.
Where am I going wrong (again...)?
Surely we can use the WBJr to get the reading without it throttling the charge controller?
Even though I've got the temperatures under control now, I'm still seeing the "current limit" today...
Currently:
East: 30.30 Amps, South: 2.3 Amps... combined 32.60 Amps
Charging current is then 71.30 Amps
The WBJr shunt is connected only to the South charge controller. The maximum setting there is 78 Amps in the "App" - which is likely my problem?
I've now set AUX2 on the South Classic to something else for testing purposes; the South Classic shouldn't be measuring current anymore.
(I'm missing that value in my visual display now, but it's fine for testing)
Now (12:15 PM)
East: 21.8A
South: 15.29A
Total: 37.60A
Charging current: 80.40A
Fluctuating, and clouds are rolling in. Great...
The day before yesterday, I briefly had a charging current of 107 Amps—so I'm not entirely sure if the WBJr shunt is the limiting factor here...
But with the WBJr inactive, the current on the South side went up nicely.
Where am I going wrong (again...)?
Surely we can use the WBJr to get the reading without it throttling the charge controller?
#13
MidNite SPD (Lightning arrestor) / SPD Sanity Check - L1, L2, N P...
Last post by artuza - July 18, 2026, 08:53:56 PMI have been pouring over various forums for the last couple of years (including here) regarding SPD's (reviews, real world experience, usage / configurations) and have narrowed it down to using MNSPD300AC's vs. some of the other available products.
Per the old NEC rules regarding the use of grounds utilized by my AHJ nearly 20 years ago, all four locations (utility pole, main home, barn, shop) have individual grounds bonded at each location. There is no 4th ground wire between the four locations, nor are there any other metallic utilities between the four locations (telecom, ethernet, coax, water, gas). My network / IP Phone connections are fiber optic.
Since I am looking at protecting all three lines (L1, L2, N) at all four locations, I see each panel location would require 2 SPD's each.
For locations at the utility pole panel, barn, shop, home panel: SPD-1 attaches to L1 and L2, SPD-2 attaches to Neutral. This will leave one leg on SPD-2 unconnected. Is this safe, or should the second leg be attached to Neutral as well?
There is a fifth location - the Transfer Switch outside the home panel and next to the generator (Generac 26K) requiring 3 SPD's: SPD-1 connected to utility L1 and L2; SPD-2 connected to generator L1 and L2, SPD-3 connected to utility Neutral and generator Neutral. I presume the use of SPD-3 to capture both utility and generator neutrals is permissible (each leg is isolated internally which dumps to the same common ground)?
Any useful inputs and answers to my two questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Alex Tuza
Per the old NEC rules regarding the use of grounds utilized by my AHJ nearly 20 years ago, all four locations (utility pole, main home, barn, shop) have individual grounds bonded at each location. There is no 4th ground wire between the four locations, nor are there any other metallic utilities between the four locations (telecom, ethernet, coax, water, gas). My network / IP Phone connections are fiber optic.
Since I am looking at protecting all three lines (L1, L2, N) at all four locations, I see each panel location would require 2 SPD's each.
For locations at the utility pole panel, barn, shop, home panel: SPD-1 attaches to L1 and L2, SPD-2 attaches to Neutral. This will leave one leg on SPD-2 unconnected. Is this safe, or should the second leg be attached to Neutral as well?
There is a fifth location - the Transfer Switch outside the home panel and next to the generator (Generac 26K) requiring 3 SPD's: SPD-1 connected to utility L1 and L2; SPD-2 connected to generator L1 and L2, SPD-3 connected to utility Neutral and generator Neutral. I presume the use of SPD-3 to capture both utility and generator neutrals is permissible (each leg is isolated internally which dumps to the same common ground)?
Any useful inputs and answers to my two questions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
Alex Tuza
#14
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Fan spin in Classic (and l...
Last post by ralph day - July 18, 2026, 06:38:16 AMYou might think about putting a little foam filter on the fan. I've seen how much dust gets caught in one when it runs continuously. Not the best stuff to cover electronics with.
#15
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Fan spin in Classic (and l...
Last post by binkino - July 17, 2026, 11:39:28 AMshort update ...
It really seems to work; the temperature has stabilized.
It's crazy how much heat is being blown out of the top of the case
We're having rain now ... - I'll keep monitoring the situation over the coming hot days. I'm also making a few final improvements to the 3D models.
It really seems to work; the temperature has stabilized.
It's crazy how much heat is being blown out of the top of the case
We're having rain now ... - I'll keep monitoring the situation over the coming hot days. I'm also making a few final improvements to the 3D models.
#16
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Fan spin in Classic (and l...
Last post by binkino - July 16, 2026, 11:45:21 AM3 more pictures
#17
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Fan spin in Classic (and l...
Last post by binkino - July 16, 2026, 11:44:36 AMSome experiments with fan adapters ;-)
The neck on the first version is too short; it hits the metal plate behind the "lassic unit in my setup ;( I've created an extension for it, which is printing right now.
Then there's another version with a longer funnel (I'll print that one later while I'm at work) to test out.
The version with the 90° bend is currently just an idea for the "East" Classic, as I have very little space next to it.
There is also a version with an offset funnel; I still need to test whether that fits.
After that, I'd be happy to make the print files available—I'm sure others could use something like this, too.
I had some spare fans lying around. This 60x60mm one is a left over from servicing the digital projector in my cinema - they have to be replaced regularly but still work perfectly.
The neck on the first version is too short; it hits the metal plate behind the "lassic unit in my setup ;( I've created an extension for it, which is printing right now.
Then there's another version with a longer funnel (I'll print that one later while I'm at work) to test out.
The version with the 90° bend is currently just an idea for the "East" Classic, as I have very little space next to it.
There is also a version with an offset funnel; I still need to test whether that fits.
After that, I'd be happy to make the print files available—I'm sure others could use something like this, too.
I had some spare fans lying around. This 60x60mm one is a left over from servicing the digital projector in my cinema - they have to be replaced regularly but still work perfectly.
#18
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Fan spin in Classic (and l...
Last post by ClassicCrazy - July 16, 2026, 09:18:12 AM #19
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Fan spin in Classic (and l...
Last post by binkino - July 16, 2026, 07:30:17 AMI noticed today that the "South" Classic is getting very hot again and it is current limiting.
The fans are running; I can feel the hot air exhausting.
I might need to install an external fan, as shown here: https://midniteftp.com/forum/index.php?topic=9823.0
Maybe an extremely powerful fan that forces air into the side opening.
Thanks to 3D printing, everything can be adapted ;-)
Or, if I had any of those case front panels lying around, I could cut open the lower section and mount a powerful fan right there on the front.
Are there any 3D print files (.stl) for the case, or something similar?
The fans are running; I can feel the hot air exhausting.
I might need to install an external fan, as shown here: https://midniteftp.com/forum/index.php?topic=9823.0
Maybe an extremely powerful fan that forces air into the side opening.
Thanks to 3D printing, everything can be adapted ;-)
Or, if I had any of those case front panels lying around, I could cut open the lower section and mount a powerful fan right there on the front.
Are there any 3D print files (.stl) for the case, or something similar?
#20
The "Classic" charge controller / Re: Generator control with AUX...
Last post by qcda1 - July 15, 2026, 07:32:16 PMQuite embarrassing!!! Don't know how I missed this... Brain fart??? Works like a charm. I will make a new version of ha_Midnite_Classic HA integration to include the ability to set the function of Aux1 and low and high SOC% setpoints for generator control.
Best regards,
Daniel.
Best regards,
Daniel.