The KID Fan Club thread

[WizBandit]

The test bed I made up to just beta test the Kid...
Testing with a hybrid mix of Thin Film and Crystalline PV modules.
It's been running for a few months now.

[chris]

  I'm thinking of mounting my Kid (when it arrives) in a cabinet right next to my bed....out of curiosity do they make any noise?
  I know at night there shouldn't be but how bout when the sun hits the panels at 6 am?

[Vic]

Chris,

The clicking of the input relay is audible,  and often,  before sunrise,  the KID or most any other MPPT CC will begin testing to see if there is enough power gain to justify running the MPPT Converter.   It will often require a number of tries before this power level is equaled or exceeded -- this can require a number of clicks.

There are some settings that will mitigate the number of these attempts.

At times,  there will possibly be a soft "singing"  from the inductor in the KID,  when the input voltage is swept down to near the battery voltage.  There are some settings that will help mitigate the number of times that this occurs,  as well.

But,  in general,  power electronics might best be located away from resting/sleeping areas if possible,  as most all of these electronic devices emit some noise -- some continuously,  and some intermittently.

The KID is one of the least noisy pieces of power electronics around.
Opinions,    Vic

[ClassicCrazy]

I have a Kid in my camper and sleep about 8 feet away and the relay clicking is there but not real loud and never bothers me. 

[Westbranch]

In our old cabin I used the MX60's Click, Clack as an alarm clock to get up and make the essential: coffee.. .  CC was 2 feet from my head, but no singing as far as I know...

[chris]

  Thanx for the reply's guys.
  The place I'm considering is about 2' from my head......the only other option would be in a cubby with my inverter, but not as easy to get at and see whats going on.
  Maybe I'll have to experiment at home with it a bit to see just how much noise it makes....I don't think clicking would bother me as I'm usually up making coffee by then....but the wife sleeps latter then me 

[chris]

Well got it all up and running, and just had to say......I'm very happy with my purchase.

  Great product MidNite 

[mosolarfan]

New "KID" on the block. Kid #377  12 x 40 watts amorphous parallel VOC 60 volts, 6 x group 27 marine batteries, xantrax 1800 watt inverter.

[Tobit]

Can the KID share the same battery negative bus with a PWM controller such as the Morningstar ProStar-15?

[Halfcrazy]

Yes.