[RE-wrenches] C-40 question

[Bell, Steve]

The C-40 does (or at least did) have Electronic Overcurrent Protection. According to the C-40 manual if the current exceeds 63 amps  the overcurrent protection is activated.  The C-40 automatically resets the OCP every 10 minutes until the problem is corrected or stops. The OCP can also be reset manually by holding the reset switch down for 5 seconds.

Steve

Steve Bell
Technical Support Specialist

SunWize Technologies, Inc.
#1 Sun Street
Stelle, IL  60919 USA
(815) 256-2222 ext. 23
sbell at sunwize.com<mailto:sbell at sunwize.com>
www.sunwize.com<http://www.sunwize.com>

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Allan Sindelar
Sent: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 4:45 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: [RE-wrenches] C-40 question

Wrenches,
Sometimes I encounter a situation that I have never encountered, simply because it's so far beyond normal limits that I would never try it to find out what would happen. Here's one.

A did-it-myself customer called me for batteries for his system. I learned he has a 12V system, with twelve 100 watt PV modules and a Xantrex C-40 controller. He has been using this for five years.

Twelve 100W modules is around 80-90 amps - double or more the C-40's capacity. Assuming that what he told was accurate, why is the C-40 still working? Is it current-limited internally?

By the way, since he had a 7,000 watt (yeah, right) 12V inverter from a truck stop, I encouraged him to buy a 24V inverter and rewire everything to 24V; then his C-40 would (just) work.

Thanks, Allan
--
Allan Sindelar
Allan at positiveenergysolar.com<mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com>
NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder and Chief Technology Officer
Positive Energy, Inc.
3209 Richards Lane (note new address)
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112
www.positiveenergysolar.com<http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>


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