Aditional 4200w of PV

[jimbo]

Why does it only start at 90v? 2 panels in series in warm weather will be a good 20v less than that.

[dgd]

1). Midnite have never produced efficiency figures/graphs  showing batt volts vs input volts  so where is the evidence of this?

Yeah they have, kind of, check it out:
http://midniteforum.com/index.php?topic=1316.msg10518#msg10518

power graphs but nothing about classic efficiency.
Look at the online PDF user manual for the MX60 and see the efficiency graphs there.
Not perfect but a useful guide.
While there also look at the recommended nominal panel voltages vs battery nominal voltage

Dgd

[zoneblue]

I get the impression those power graphs are a few datapoint snap shots, that they happend to test.

Thanks for the MX60 tip, looks like a great manual. I had previously looked at the FM manual in search of exactly this data, and thats where the 2% figure comes from if memory serves.

Given the manual is a little harder to find; ie:
http://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.outbackpower.com/pdf/manuals/mx60_pv_mppt.pdf

Heres the graph FYI.

[vtmaps]

And here are the 24 volt curves for the FM controller (successor to the MX):
--vtMaps

[TomW]

1). Midnite have never produced efficiency figures/graphs  showing batt volts vs input volts  so where is the evidence of this?

Yeah they have, kind of, check it out:
http://midniteforum.com/index.php?topic=1316.msg10518#msg10518

Yeah, not sure why that user keeps hammering on the Midnite  guys but I just don't pay attention to that poster anymore.

Just easier on my blood pressure than trying to argue.

Tom

[dgd]

1). Midnite have never produced efficiency figures/graphs  showing batt volts vs input volts  so where is the evidence of this?

Yeah they have, kind of, check it out:
http://midniteforum.com/index.php?topic=1316.msg10518#msg10518

Yeah, not sure why that user keeps hammering on the Midnite  guys but I just don't pay attention to that poster anymore.

Just easier on my blood pressure than trying to argue.

Tom

So what does "hammering on the Midnite guys" mean?
Is It not permitted, whatever it means, in the conditions of use for this forum?
I'm not looking for an argument but rather some clarification from you as a global moderator of this forum.
If providing examples of my postings helps explain then please quote them.
Dgd

[Halfcrazy]

I do want to point out WE did those efficiency curves for the MX and they are pretty close. Efficiency is a very hard thing to test correctly but those where pretty good. And with the mindset the Classic is pretty much the same efficiency as the MX one could use that graph to estimate with. We probably should spend the time and money and knock out efficiency curves but the logic was it has been tested by 3rd parties and found to be better then most at daily harvest.

Some controllers out there may be a touch more efficient hardware wise but way less efficient at tracking so the end result at the end of the day is less KWH's in the battery bank. That is why we decided to spend a BOAT LOAD of money on 3rd party calibrated testing on 7 remote sites in the real world to compare our charger to all of the major competition.

Ryan

[Halfcrazy]

1). Midnite have never produced efficiency figures/graphs  showing batt volts vs input volts  so where is the evidence of this?

Yeah they have, kind of, check it out:
http://midniteforum.com/index.php?topic=1316.msg10518#msg10518

DGD
I think what Tom is referring to is some of the harsher stuff like when you asked Andrew "Is there some sort of mental blockage or just stubbornness about providing a node14 type list for each classic?"

Now you may not have intended that as it sounded but it could be construed as you calling Andrew Mentally challenged? I would say if that where the case the post would not be tolerated but. My preference would be for constructive criticism as it really does lite a fire under the Engineers but quotes like above do the opposite. I do not want to drag this thread way off topic so I wont go to far down the path. But we do like the valuable input you have given and have implemented a pretty high % of your ideas.


Ryan
Ryan


Yeah, not sure why that user keeps hammering on the Midnite  guys but I just don't pay attention to that poster anymore.

Just easier on my blood pressure than trying to argue.

Tom

So what does "hammering on the Midnite guys" mean?
Is It not permitted, whatever it means, in the conditions of use for this forum?
I'm not looking for an argument but rather some clarification from you as a global moderator of this forum.
If providing examples of my postings helps explain then please quote them.
Dgd

[RossW]

Efficiency is a very hard thing to test

Ryan, I think *TESTING* efficiency is actually pretty easy, given the right equipment.
Power out (easily and accurately measured) / Power in (easily and accurately measured)

However as you alluded to later, which controller produced the most watt-hours out of a given array under any given conditions is far harder to quantify, because it's no longer merely "efficiency". It includes such things as matching, ability to track changing conditions and a slew of other variables.

Just being pedantic, I know what you meant, but some others I'm sure won't see past "we need efficiency curves".

[mtdoc]

That is why we decided to spend a BOAT LOAD of money on 3rd party calibrated testing on 7 remote sites in the real world to compare our charger to all of the major competition.

Ryan,

Is that data available some place? I've only seen the data from 1 site.

[zoneblue]

>Ryan, I think *TESTING* efficiency is actually pretty easy, given the right equipment.
>Power out (easily and accurately measured) / Power in (easily and accurately measured)

I agree. All you need is 2 shunts, 4 calibrated multimeters, and a  variable DC supply that reaches to 150V and 94 amps Jees, does such a thing exist?

[dgd]

DGD
I think what Tom is referring to is some of the harsher stuff like when you asked Andrew "Is there some sort of mental blockage or just stubbornness about providing a node14 type list for each classic?"

Now you may not have intended that as it sounded but it could be construed as you calling Andrew Mentally challenged? I would say if that where the case the post would not be tolerated but. My preference would be for constructive criticism as it really does lite a fire under the Engineers but quotes like above do the opposite. I do not want to drag this thread way off topic so I wont go to far down the path. But we do like the valuable input you have given and have implemented a pretty high % of your ideas.


Ryan

Thanks for your reply, pity Tom couldn't man up and explain or justify his rudeness. I suspect his attitude towards me goes back some time ago when he got angry with me for not, in his opinion, reading one of his black box postings correctly.
Still, I could not care less what he thinks..  I'm more interested in the Midnite products and their applications than his opinions of me..

Thanks also for your example of my posting.  I mistakenly thought that it was obvious I did that posting out of sheer frustration at seeing a very useful mymidnite text display removed for no good reason and the prgrammer responsible just ignored the requests from several users, you included, to retain the text list in mymidnite

Dgd

[dbcollen]

DGD,

As an uninvolved outside observer, I feel I need to comment. I see no rudeness in Toms post, however I feel you have some sense of entitlement. You seem to think everyone should do what you want IMMEDIATELY. The Midnite crew is working thier asses off on many products, and are not at your beckon call. I understand some of your frustration with amount of time it takes to do some things, but PLEASE lighten up.

Dustin

[offgridQLD]

Boy some times interpreting one another online with written words on a forum can be hard . When the simple things like expression, tone and the like are missing from the communication.  I do appreciate the openness between company and consumer that you get with midnite solar. The personal approach to service means something to me.

Anyhow to get the thread back on track. I hitched the trailer up to my my old internal combustion engine 4cly sedan and let it take its last run (what I call digging its own grave ) I towed back a big box with 21 x 200w mono solar panels. Why I say the car was digging its own grave is it was towing the panels that will be dedicated to providing off grid power to charge our new fully electric lithium battery powerd car.

Pic of new Mitsubishi Imiev EV and trailer full of PV ... shall we call it our home service station






So I have the 21 panels and one extra in case I want to go 3 series. Though I think I will go 2 series. I can even play around with just two panels in series on the ground a temporary experiment on location and get a feel for how they will perform (say voltage on a hot day  ) before committing to a layout. Going of the performance of my existing panels that have similar specs to the new ones  and are running perfect from a classic 150. I think they will be fine. Just might need to spend some more on heavy wire or break the aray up into say 5 sections with indavidual runs of lighter cable and combiner boxes (I'm leaning towards this option)

Kurt

[vtmaps]

Just might need to spend some more on heavy wire or break the array up into say 5 sections with individual runs of lighter cable and combiner boxes (I'm leaning towards this option)

I would lean towards having the combiner at the panels with a single heavy cable from combiner to controller.  Reason: lightning protection. 
I like the idea of having my lightning arrestor at the combiner, near the panels and away from my house.  Of course, lightning doesn't care what ideas I like   

--vtMaps