load balancing

[toothy]

Hello

I have an idea for the Classic that may work and be of some use, how about load sharing between Classics?

With mine one is always pulling most of the load and the others are sort of cruising along.

I know if I tweaked the voltages until I was blue in the face I could, maybe, get them close.

If they discussed the load amongst themselves and balanced their output between controllers it may lower some of the internal temps. My temps are always just fine but some of you live in hot places.

No idea if this is in any way practical but thought I would throw it out there.

Wade

[zoneblue]

I would have thought that given that each controller has its own energy source, and its more the source that determines the load on each controller. Unless you trying to put one array into two classics? Which wont realyl work. Kid maybe. The only other thing that i can think of that would make a differnece, is the charge stage syncronisation and thats taken care of by follow me.

[dgd]

I think load balancing would be an excellent idea.
I have two 150s with PVs, 2.1kw and 1.4kw soon both to be 2.1kw. I have noticed that when in Absorb and Float that one 150 seems to provide almost all the power and the other not so much but not zero.
I have the voltages tracking almost the same.
The 150 providing most power gets hotter.
It gets more complicated when the wind Classic 250 starts making power too.

What would be nice is some method of adjusting the power % supplied by each Classic. defining a % for each Classic which would apply when each has excess power available.
No idea how this would work but I suppose it would need each Classic to know the total power needed by attached loads plus battery that is being charged then be somehow aware of what power other Classics can produce then start implementing the % balancing scheme.
Almost like a 'master' Classic then slaves doing what they are told in providing their share of power.
dgd

[boB]

This would be great but is harder than you might think to do real well but might be able to help some without too much trouble.   At least, when each classic is in MPPT (bulk, float or EQ MPPT), the battery voltage is below setpoint enough where each Classic is doing what it can.   It's when it is in Absorb, float or EQ voltage regulation mode where a slight discrepancy in voltage reading can make quite a bit of difference in output current.  But, at least the batteries are getting charged.

This sharing in voltage regulation mode has always been a bit of a problem for most controllers.

I have something to try that might not be too hard, but no promises, or at least not this week.

boB

[toothy]

I have no controller problems whatsoever, I have 3 Classics!!!

I just had a goofy idea and thought somebody may have heat issues and may benefit with absolutely no idea if it would be possible or would help.

Just food for thought, you never know what makes an idea click even on something unrelated.

boB, I see the turbine and inverter as better priorities for your limited time.

Wade

[boB]

boB, I see the turbine and inverter as better priorities for your limited time.

Yes, you are probably correct there !   I still think about these things though.

This thread should most likely be called charge balancing.

[dgd]

boB, I see the turbine and inverter as better priorities for your limited time.

Yes, you are probably correct there !   I still think about these things though.

This thread should most likely be called charge balancing.

Turbine and inverter as priorities? ... interesting idea, are either likely to become a reality?
I'm probably the only one still hoping you will sort out the Classic firmware to include a simple web server
However, its looking pretty unlikely now that MN has resourced limited further platform versions of the local app.

Has anyone seen the web interface in the MS 60A MPPT controller? I have not seen it yet but may have to buy one to see if its any good.

dgd

[Halfcrazy]

boB, I see the turbine and inverter as better priorities for your limited time.

Yes, you are probably correct there !   I still think about these things though.

This thread should most likely be called charge balancing.

Turbine and inverter as priorities? ... interesting idea, are either likely to become a reality?
I'm probably the only one still hoping you will sort out the Classic firmware to include a simple web server
However, its looking pretty unlikely now that MN has resourced limited further platform versions of the local app.

Has anyone seen the web interface in the MS 60A MPPT controller? I have not seen it yet but may have to buy one to see if its any good.

dgd

I see it as unlikely the actual classic will have a web server just simply based on hardware. I do see a future communications box that has a webserver etc all built in that will intertwine all the Midnite product like the inverter and classic and allow for a single Ethernet connection though

On the Morningstar (Not sure if that was a jab to try to get a web server in the Classic or not?) I have seen and used it. Nothing fancy. No logging as I remember. It has been a  while. Maybe I need to go dig mine out.

[dgd]

No jab intended..  Just had a sales person earlier trying to convince one of my support sites that  the MS mppt 60a was the better option because of its web pages. Apparently they are much better then the eTracer 60a mppt model's simple web pages.
That got me remembering boB saying that it may become available on Classic.
Dgd

[boB]

The plan (more of a recent plan) was to put a web server in the Classic itself.

Then, the light turned on that it would really only be a text web page that would
be served and even then, the customer would have to port forward, if possible to
get that web page to show up.

That is why we continued more with My Midnite which would be easier and do a better
job at showing that data.  So, that's the basic story.

boB

[dgd]

That sort of makes sense.
It will be interesting to see if the eTracer, MS and Studer controllers with ethernet and web server do anything more useful than just a snapshot of some basic values. I don't think any have a dashboard type graphic as in the local app and it seems none do controller setups either (maybe) but reporting looks promising.
Anyway, have all three ordered, customer is paying for evaluation of mppt/web access controllers to replace his mix of C60/C40s at 17 repeater sites/4 support sites.
dgd