[RE-wrenches] 10A Charge / load controller; Morningstar MPPT controller

[Warren Lauzon]

We only have non-archived computerized records going back 1 year, but it looks like 95% of the Morningstar MPPT-15 controllers we sold were for 21 to 44 Voc panels. I only see a very few higher voltage panels. Our main line of the 200 watt’ish range is Kyocera, SolarWorld, and Sharp. Just judging from comments by all the posters in this group, there seems to be a rather high failure rate among smaller controllers. I wonder how many of those failures were due to user/install errors or outside factor like lightning as compared to actual bad controllers.

Of all controllers that we have ever sold in the past 5 years or so, BZ had the highest failure rate (we stopped selling them about 2 years ago). Blue Sky also has a very low fail rate, but they are much less versatile than the Morningstar, Outback, and Xantrex MPPT controllers when it comes to matching larger panels, and the MPPT tracking does not seem to work as efficiently.

From: Starlight Solar, Larry Crutcher 
Sent: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 8:12 AM
To: RE-wrenches 
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] 10A Charge / load controller;Morningstar MPPT controller

I believe the issue we had has to do with using the Sanyo high voltage PV module. As Kent points out, we were operating the controller at the design limit. I don't believe it is suited to do that as we have other Morningstar MPPT controllers working fine for several years now with lower voltage PV modules. BTW, the MPPT failures were in systems that we designed and installed using the Sanyo's.

The main reason we started using this controller is for 12 volt systems with a single high voltage module. We use other controllers when the Voc is less than 40 volts. Warren, are any of the 200 units you sold last year used with a 200 watt Sanyo other high voltage PV module(s)? 

Larry
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Warren Lauzon 
  To: RE-wrenches 
  Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 11:05 AM
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] 10A Charge / load controller

  All controllers have failures – most commonly due to user/installer errors. Of all the controllers we sell, Morningstar have been by far the most trouble free and has the best no-hassle warranty.

  We have probably sold/installed around 100 to 200 of the SS-MPPT-15 controllers over the past year or so, and have seen almost zero problems that were not caused by a bad installation of some sort. Just on a side note, of all the controllers of all brands we have sold over the past decade, probably 3/4 of those returned by end users as “not working” has nothing wrong with them.


  From: Kent Osterberg 
  Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 10:39 AM
  To: RE-wrenches 
  Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] 10A Charge / load controller

  The spec sheet for the SS-MPPT says 75 volts maximum open circuit.  Maximum PV power: 200 watts for 12-volt batteries and 400-watts for 24-volt batteries.  While it is supposed to be protected from PV overload and PV high voltage, it doesn't seem surprising that failures that have been observed are in systems that are pushing on these limits.  Fortunately, Morningstar stands behind their product.

  Kent Osterberg
  Blue Mountain Solar, Inc.



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