[RE-wrenches] SunSaver failures; MPPT controller reliability (1A Charge/Load controller)

[Maverick Brown [Maverick Solar]]

Larry

Were the failures on 12 or 24v systems?

Thank you,

Maverick


Maverick Brown
BSEET, NABCEP Certified Solar PV Installer ®
President & CEO
Maverick Solar Enterprises, Inc.
Office:     512-919-4493
Cell:        512-460-9825

Sent from an iPhone. 

On Jan 23, 2011, at 9:58 AM, <larry at starlightsolar.com> wrote:

> Jason,
> Not much to elaborate on. A single 200 watt Sanyo module, about 25' of 8 gauge wire, lowest temperature 20 degrees. When the SunSaver controllers fail, they cause a short circuit at the battery terminals. Morningstar handled the warranty as they do all SunSaver warranty's, quickly sending replacements with return postage for the defective unit. We have had 4 SunSaver failures since November 1.
> 
> I sell 150+ charge controllers at our retail store each season (Nov. ~ Dec.), most of which are MPPT. Reliability is critical to me and I pay very close attention to failures. Most of my customers are mobile and not able to return to our store if a product fails. I have tested and sold many MPPT models. The Phocos MPPT controller I was evaluating failed and we have had our share of Outback and BZ controller failures. Blue Sky Energy has had a few bad controllers but compared to the volume of BSE products we sell (over 1100) they have been the most reliable. I have not yet tested Steca, TriStar, or Xantrex MPPT controllers.
> 
> Larry
> Starlight Solar Power Systems
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] 10A Charge / load controller
> From: Jason Lerner <wapalco at rockisland.com>
> Date: Sat, January 22, 2011 11:56 am
> To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
> 
> Hi Larry,
> 
> I am curious about the failures you have had,  could you elaborate?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Jason Lerner
> Waldron Power and Light Co.
> 
> 
> On Jan 21, 2011, at 5:37 PM, Starlight Solar, Larry Crutcher wrote:
> 
>> I have had failures with the Sunsaver MPPT. I have used them with a single Sanyo module in small battery systems. Perhaps they just can't handle the 50.9 Voc.
>>  
>> Larry
>> Starlight Solar Power Systems
> 
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