[RE-wrenches] Outback FM100s not available

[Jason Szumlanski]

I was just tasked with replacing two fried Conext MPPT 80 600 charge
controllers, and after considering the cost, we just went with a Midnite
AIO and upgraded the customer's whole system. It was dead easy and cleaned
up a lot of unnecessary components. The customer is delighted. It was more
expensive to go this way, but the added features and benefits were worth
it, plus a new warranty on a line of equipment that is not discontinued.

Jason Szumlanski
Principal Solar Designer | Florida Solar Design Group
NABCEP Certified Solar Professional (PVIP)
Florida State Certified Solar Contractor CVC56956
Florida Certified Electrical Contractor EC13013208


On Fri, Apr 25, 2025 at 10:02 AM Jay via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> That may be, however it seems from my measuring the efficiency is way
> higher than the fm-100 those things get wicked hot( losses). And the
> conversion factor within the inverter from PV to Ac is much higher.
>
> Jay
>
>
>
>
>
> On Apr 25, 2025, at 7:29 AM, James Jarvis via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
> 
> The standby power consumption of one of those inverters is going to be a
> lot more than three FM100 controllers.
>
> -James Jefferson Jarvis
> APRS World, LLC
> +1-507-454-2727
> http://www.aprsworld.com/
>
>
> On Fri, Apr 25, 2025 at 8:06 AM Blair May via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> I too am NOT excited about the AIO, seems like for off grid clients its a
>> nightmare waiting to happen. Sol Ark ….running all your individual strings
>> back to the inverter is to say the least a pain, w/ new systems but old
>> upgrades? Victron does have Hi voltage & Hi current CCs as well as other
>> Manus. All the BOS for replacing older CCs is already on the wall.
>> Needless to say this white head still prefers redundancy. Tump
>>
>>
>> On Apr 25, 2025, at 1:30 AM, William Miller via RE-wrenches <
>> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>>
>> Friends:
>>
>>
>> I need three FM100 charge controllers but it seems no one has them.  It
>> has occurred to me that for not much more than the cost of 3 FM100s I can
>> buy a Fortress Envy 12K inverter and it will have the capability of 3
>> FM100s plus 12 kW of inverter plus compatibility with the existing Unigy
>> battery bank plus future compatibility with Lithium batteries.  The same
>> applies for the Sol-Arc, and the Midnight AIO and probably others.
>>
>>
>> Since my first Radio Shack separate amp and tuner, I have always favored
>> a component approach to systems.  With Outback apparently circling the
>> drain or generally being unavailable, I am starting the see the appeal of
>> the new AIO inverters.  The AIOs have a wide voltage range on the MPPT
>> inputs making stringing less problematic.
>>
>>
>> I ordered a Sol-Arc 12K for my property to load shift and solve my NEM3
>> dilemma.  With CTs on the service I can run my home on batteries from
>> sun-down to sun-up and avoid being screwed by PG&E.
>>
>>
>> It’s hard keeping up with all of the new technology but we are getting
>> new tools to solve design problems.
>>
>>
>> William
>>
>>
>> Miller Solar
>> 17395 Oak Road, Atascadero, CA 93422
>> 805-438-5600
>> www.millersolar.com
>> CA Lic. 773985
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20250425/2c27b9e1/attachment.htm>