balancing output from multiple controllers [RE-wrenches]

[Steve Willey, Backwoods Solar]

Jeff: Its impossible to get multiple controls to act at the exact same
voltage/time, even when meter set to same number, unless they are
interconnected so that only one is controlling the action of all of them.
None of the common controls we use are set up to do that.  Therefore when
any one starts backing off the charge even a second before the others would
have done so, this moves battery voltage farther away from the trip-point of
the next controller, delaying it's action. Especially when a C-40 jumps down
to float from bulk/absorption stage. The other controls still in absorption
hold battery voltage above float, causing the control/s in float to go to
zero amps.

Steve Willey       steve at backwoodssolar.com
www.backwoodssolar.com
Backwoods Solar Electric Systems
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Yago" <jryago at earthlink.net>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2002 8:11 AM
Subject: RE: balancing output from multiple controllers [RE-wrenches]


... I usually end up with two to four Trace C-40's or
> C-60's and at least one is always "stepping" on the others causing them to
> think the battery is full and stop charging.  Yes, I always use a quality
> meter to set the pots the same settings, and make sure the temperature
> sensors are located together at the same point on the battery bank.
>
> I know this only will happen when the battery is reaching a fully charged
> level, but you would have thought all of the controllers would back off
> together and each start lowering their output instead of one or two
staying
> at full output and the others going to zero.  I assume the output of the
one
> or two at full is providing the same charging as would happen if all were
> operating at half output, but there is always the client who thinks part
of
> his array is dead.  What's the deal?
>
> Jeff Yago
>

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