Newbie here for setup questions for Classic 150

[mtfalk64]

First, I must say this is one of the nicest forum for a product.

My name is Mike and I live in SW Maine area.  I am 100% solar/wind.  I am looking at getting a Classic 150 charge controller to replace my current junk one.

My current setup is as follows.

9 - 12 volt 210 watt Evergreen panels on roof of cabin using 10 gauge wire for each panel to charge controller (max wire length is 42ft)
2 - 12 volt 1500 watt 3 phase wind turbines (normal output for the past year has been 0 to 400 watts each) clamped next to cabin
1 - 400 amp 10,000 watt charge control which I know is not doing my batteries much good.
20 - 6 volt 210 ah golf cart batteries from Sam's Club connected in 12 volt series giving me 12 volts with 2000 ah
1 - 12 volt 1000 watts inverter - only on when watching tv, 2 laptops and 1 desktop computers ( about 2 hours a day)
1 - 12 volt 2300 watts inverter - always on for 9 cuft Freezer, 18 cuft Refrigerator, Charging 2 cell phones

Was looking at the Outback FM80 but found the Midnite to be able to handle wind too.  Questions :

1. Will the Midnite handle solar and wind at the same time or do you select which you are using?
2. Will the Midnite handle upto 150 volts or is that the min/max voltage input where I would need 12 panels to acheive this 150 volts?
3. I was going to bring in 2 panel in series (24 volt) on one 10 gauge since that is the easiest to do with current setup on my roof.  I have on access box per 2 panel.  Will this work?

Thanks in advance.

[Halfcrazy]

Mike
Where in Maine are you? I am in Central Maine just outside of Newport.

To answer the questions the Classic can only do one thing at a time. As for the 150 it will operate right up to 150volts. It does not require 150 volts though so your thoughts about stringing 2 panels in series and then paralleling the rest is probably pretty good except you have 9 panels and with that much wattage will need to Charge controllers to charge a 12 volt battery. I would suggest so I would suggest 3 in series and run 3 panels to one Classic and 2 sets of 3 to the other Classic. This should give you a pretty decent set up.

Ryan

[mtfalk64]

Thanks for the quick response Ryan,
  I am located in Newfield, Maine just next to West Newfield and west of Limerick.  Just moved up from the Detroit area of Michigan.
Back to the solar, I was going to only use 8 panels to make it easier on me since like I explained I have a access box for every two panels.  the 9th panel I was going to use just for outside lighting and small water pump.  Just some ideas. 

What about hooking up the solar and wind together or does it just do one or the other.

[mtfalk64]

also I only enough for one charge controller.  LOL  I figured that 8 panel would be topping the 96 amps on one unit for 12 volt system

Mike

[Halfcrazy]

Mike with just one Classic I would leave the wind as it is. 8 panels will come out to 1680 watts of panel the Classic 150 on a 12 volt battery is good for about 1380 watts of PV this would leave the Classic over powered and thus a bunch of the PV would never get to the battery. If you where going to do a single Classic I would say 6 panels would be the most I would run through one Classic and I would find a way to hook the others up some how.

[mtfalk64]

Well the way I look at it is that during the winter months I may have more overcass day and the extra two panels will help.  I don't mind have too much its when those days that we have rain for 5 or 7 days straight but just some light to give some power the extra 2 panel will be there.  Plus, the panels only cost me $250 each for 6 of them and $350 for the other 6.  Yep I have 3 that I plan on having 1 for the pig area charging the battery for the electric fence and 1 near the river that will be used for a small water pump to send water to the are of the garden and animals. 

Thanks for the help, I ordered one of the classic 150 and if later thru the winter I see that one is not doing enough I will spend the extra.  Plus I have the extra charge controller that will be hooked up for the wind turbines and I will have at least the 9th panel connected to that controller.

Again thanks for the help

Mike

[mtfalk64]

Well Halfcrazy,
  Glad I have the 8 connected, with all this rain, overcast days, I am producing 550 to 700 watts and showing between 25 to 65 amps for the past week.  Plus I see that the sun is hitting to many tree tops.  Will see what happens this winter and may move panels to better catch the sun in the winters.