[RE-wrenches] morning star ts-mppt-60-600

[Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems]

OK, so you need a PC, an internet connection, a router, download and install software, network PC to router, plug in CC, connect PC to the controller, then you can change parameters. Got it…..still say hassle.

There is no doubt the controllers are feature laden and most of their smaller controllers that we have sold have not failed. most. On a positive note, they are great about warranty.

Larry


On Feb 12, 2014, at 2:49 PM, James Jefferson Jarvis <jj at aprsworld.com> wrote:

The Morningstar TriStar MPPT 60 and the 600 volt 60 amp both have ethernet built in. Yes, you use their MSVIEW software, but no you don't need an RS-232 cable.

The MSView software allows you to easily load previously developed settings and to easily save and print those settings.

After putting lots of Morningstar products at remote site, I found found them not to crash, glitch, reset, or do anything besides work. I've found the built-in communications (using industry standard Modbus) to be excellent and easy to manage. I've not found any other charge controller manufacturer that has unified software across their whole product line, a unified communications standard, and the level of built-in monitoring the Morningstar products have.

I'll take RS-232, RS-485, or Ethernet any day over proprietary stuff that doesn't work.

I don't have any vested interest in Morningstar. I've just spent a lot of time developing monitoring and control software to work with all manners of different equipment. And when I get my choice, I go with the Morningstar stuff because I know it works well.

-James Jarvis
APRS World, LLC
www.aprsworld.com


On 02/12/2014 03:31 PM, Larry Crutcher, Starlight Solar Power Systems wrote:
> Hello William,
> 
> There is a hassle factor with the Morningstar MPPT controllers. If you need a custom charge setting, and I do most of the time, then you must download and install software, use a RS-232 data cable, and reprogram settings from a Windoz PC. That's SO 1980's!.
> 
> We don't sell many Morningstar controllers because many of our battery systems are Lifeline, Sun Xtender or FullRiver AGM batteries. None of the DIP switch settings are right for those batteries. Also, none are right, but close, for Trojan or Crown batteries which we also sell. Besides that, I left the world of Microsoft many moons ago and I also can't find my DB9 cables anywhere.
> 
> Larry
> 
> 
> 
> On Feb 12, 2014, at 12:50 PM, william at millersolar.com <mailto:william at millersolar.com> wrote:
> 
> Hello again:
> Anyone have any experience with these charge controllers?  How about the meter?
> Thanks so much for all of the help.
> William Miller
> 
> 
> 
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-- 
-James Jefferson Jarvis
APRS World, LLC
+1-507-454-2727
www.aprsworld.com

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