[RE-wrenches] APsmart and charge controllers

[pgiroux at mindspring.com]

Brad

 

  We have used these products often, but in Hybrid applications Really need to use their device to activate them. Can be powered by the back up loads panel or main in an off grid panel, just need to have a disconnect in line. The key is all the negative wires have to go through their ct’s and yes it needs 120 volts

 

  We have gone through lots of gyrations with these folk and yes the customer support is extremely hard to understand but if run properly works fine.

 

Peter

ASAE

 

From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of Bradley Bassett via RE-wrenches
Sent: Thursday, October 26, 2023 10:42 AM
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Cc: Bradley Bassett <bbassett2 at gmail.com>
Subject: [RE-wrenches] APsmart and charge controllers

 

I had a talk with tech support at APS about using the APSmart RSD devices in my DC coupled system. I found it hard to understand him so I'm not completely clear on what he said. One thing was clear and that is they do not test these for use with charge controllers, so can't support that use. Other than that I think he said that they require a certain amount of resistance on the power lines to stay powered up. He said that it would not likely stay powered up when connected directly to a battery bank, and would not stay powered up on an open circuit. 

 

What I ran into using 2 strings of 4 modules in series is in low light they would turn on, voltage would rise to open circuit voltage, then collapse back to 0. The charge controller would turn on when the voltage rose and turn off when the voltage fell. Repeat over and over.  When full sun was on the array it would stay connected, but operated at a voltage indicating one each APS was not turned on in each string. 

 

I now have Fireraptors on the array which of course works fine. But what a lot of wire to deal with. Also note that the Fireraptors work fine powered up with 15 volts instead of the specified 24 volts. 

 

Has anyone successfully used these with any charge controllers?

 

 Brad Bassett

 

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