OutBack FLEXmax 80 [RE-wrenches]

Christopher Freitas --- OutBack Power cfreitas at outbackpower.com
Sun Nov 11 14:50:06 PST 2007


Drake wrote:
> The new FLEXmax 80 sounds like a great product.  A controller that we 
> really need now (IMO) is one that can charge from a 300 to 550 volt 
> array.  Are the technical obstacles to producing this too great?

Its not a problem producing a MPPT controller which can step down a 300 
or even 600VDC PV array to 48VDC - its just hard to do it efficiently 
enough & at a low enough cost that people would buy it.

We (and others) have been working on it for years - and haven't been 
successful so far with the available parts.

Also keep in mind that we also will need 300 or 600VDC rated disconnects 
and GFDI systems as well - which can be done, but gets real expensive 
compared to the cost of the low voltage (150VDC) circuit breakers and 
GFDI systems. With the increased cost for copper and labor - perhaps it 
will be economical at some point. From our calculations - its just not 
economical so far.    

Its also easy to forget that the FM80 is really a 4000 watt DC-DC 
converter - but one that sells for $750 USD - and includes a LCD display 
and full metering / data logging system and communication system.  A 
comparable power supply for a lab bench would be more than $2000 and a 
similar 4kW PV inverter costs more like $3000 or so... 

The reason we increased the output power capacity to 80 amps is that PV 
modules and systems are tending to be larger - and there is less labor 
and cost installing one controller versus two controllers.  The FM80 is 
also a perfect match for the GVFX3648 inverter - where as the old MX60 
did not really allow the inverter to sell back at full power unless more 
than one controller was used.  

Christopher Freitas
OutBack Power Systems, Inc.
cfreitas @ outbackpower.com  
www.outbackpower.com
Arlington WA USA
Tel 360 435 6030  


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