Apollo 80 Comments - now OutBack FLEXmax 80 [RE-wrenches]

[Drake Chamberlin]

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Hello Christopher,

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?

Drake


At 07:35 PM 11/9/2007, you wrote:

>The new OutBack MPPT controller is actually called the "FLEXmax 80" and
>is rated at 80 amps at up to 40C/104F without any derating.  This is
>nearly twice the power handling capability of the previous MX60 which
>was 60 amps at 25C and derated to 45 amps at 40C. The maximum input
>voltage is still 150 VDC - but it now allows operation up to 145 vdc
>which improves the usability in cold locations.
>
>We announced and showed this controller at the Long Beach show and have
>had several out in the field for a few months.  The first large
>production batch is shipping this month.
>
>The new FM80 is about 2 inches taller than the old MX60 (which is still
>available) and it has all new internal circuit boards and completely
>revised software also along with a more powerful micro-computer.
>
>The same die-cast front is used together with an additional housing for
>the larger fan on top.  This fan housing can be removed with the
>controller still on the wall by removing just one screw for examination
>/ cleaning / checking / replacement of the fan - which has a plug-in
>connector.  We thought that making the fan easy to access was a good
>idea since over time even the best fan can/will fail.
>
>The FM80's PV and Battery +/- terminals are larger and more robust than
>the previous terminal block and accept up to #2 AWG wire - although
>typically only #4 AWG wires should be required.  There is also more wire
>bending room in the FM80 for the larger wire size. The mounting holes
>and knockouts are in the same locations as on the previous MX60.
>
>The new software does true active, continuous MPPT sweeping now and is
>up to 4 times more sensitive than before as to finding the maximum power
>point.  This improves the performance with cloudy conditions where the
>MPP is changing frequently - giving maybe 1 or 2 percent more power
>under these conditions.
>
>This new software also allows full programming and monitoring of the
>FM80 from the MATE remote display.  There also is now 128 days of very
>detailed logging information available right from the LCD display of the
>FM80 - it does not require the MATE to access it. You can see both the
>amp-hour and kilowatt-hour production on a daily basis, along with the
>min and max battery voltages which occurred for each day.  The logging
>also provides the maximum open circuit voltage, maximum output current,
>maximum output watts, and the time spent in absorb and float for each
>day as well.
>
>Finally, the FM80's shipping box is styro-foam free and made of recycled
>& recyclable cardboard.
>
>Christopher
>
>
>Christopher Freitas
>OutBack Power Systems, Inc.
>cfreitas @ outbackpower.com
>www.outbackpower.com
>Arlington WA USA
>Tel 360 435 6030
>
>
>Matt Tritt wrote:
> >
> > Hope I'm not letting the cat out of the bag, but OutBack is currently
> > whipping up even greater expectations with their up-coming "Flex-80";
> > looks like an MX, but has an added doohickey on top with fins on it.
>
>
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