balancing output from multiple controllers [RE-wrenches]

[Bill Brooks]

William,

This is from over a year ago so you may have already tried this. I don't
know any better way.


Here is the method I found to be most effective:

INVERTER SETUP (MENU 9)
set to SELL

BATTERY CHARGING (MENU 10)
set ABSORPTION TIME to 0:00 on both machines.
set MAX CHARGE AMPS to 1 amp on both machines.

BATTERY SELLING (MENU 17)
set MAX SELL AMPS to X amps on both machines. (where 2X is the Max AC amps
that the PV array can produce. (e.g. 4000 Watts should set both to 18
amps --18A*120V=2160Watts)

Both temp comp probes must be installed so as to operate at the same
temperature. I have tried adjusting the float setting and that also works
particularly for an inverter that is out of DC calibration. They still get
out of wack at times at different temperatures because the slope of the temp
comp probes are usually not the same. This should keep both machines selling
as evenly as they can and limit each machine to a maximum of half the AC
Watts output. The one amp MAX charge amps keeps one unit from charging while
the other one sells.

Try it and see how you like it.

Bill.



-----Original Message-----
From: William Miller [mailto:wrmiller at slonet.org]
Sent: Monday, September 23, 2002 5:34 PM
To: RE-wrenches at topica.com
Subject: SPAM: RE: balancing output from multiple controllers
[RE-wrenches]


Wrenches:

Two sub-headings come to mind on this topic:  Balancing charge controllers
and balancing SW inverters in sell mode.

Balancing systems with two SW inverters in sell mode is a nightmare and
should be addressed by Xantrex (we could add it to our long wish list, but
the whole concept of that wish list is now a joke, seeing how little good
it did and how much time we spent).

John, in regards to the Pulse charge controllers, were these relay
activated?  If so, how does one taper with these?

William Miller




At 03:47 PM 9/23/02 -0700, you wrote:
>Wrenches:
>
>The multiple controller problem was addressed in the Power Centers we
>built at Pulse (now Connect Energy).
>They used one master control board to control multiple sub-arrays in a
>closed loop fashion.
>The off-the-shelf PC 500 could do up to 240 Amps with 4 sub-arrays at
>12,24, or 48 Vdc and you had coordinated bulk / float / equalize.
>The largest custom unit we ever did was 400 Amps at 240 Vdc with 6 sub
>arrays.  That one was not quite off-the-shelf but it worked great.
>
>I am not sure if they are still building them but it might be worth a
>call.
>
>If you have any questions, or if I can be of any further assistance,
>please do not hesitate to contact me.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>John Berdner
>
>SMA America, Inc.
>20830 Red Dog Road
>Grass Valley, CA  95945
>530.273.4595 (voice)
>530.274.7271 (fax)
>
>

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