Bob,

You must mean an Outback FM80 charge controller. There have been issues with
these. I've had to swap 4 of them for firmware updates.
Outback, (and some others), don't notify us when there are problems with their
products.
Have you checked out the Outback User's forum?

http://www.outbackpower.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=4939

Dick Ratico
Solarwind Electric


--- You wrote:
Dear Wrenches:

 

What am I not seeing with this situation?

 

Only 133 DCkWH (120 ACkWH) during mid-December through April 6 (at least
that is what the mate and the MX80 CC say).  PVWATTS predicted ~600 ACkWH.

Here are the major components of the system:

 

24 - Silicon Energy 190W solar modules in 8 series of 3 modules for 4560W
nominal

1 - Midnite Solar, Combiner box, MNPV12 with 8 circuit breakers (one for
each string)

1 - MX80 charge controller

16 - Concorde SunXtender Sealed AGM Battery, 6V, 405Ah, L16, PVX-4050HT (2
parallel series of 8 batteries for 48V and 810 AH)

1 - Outback FlexNet DC System Monitor, FN-DC

2 - GVFX3648 inverters

1 - Mate2

1 - HUB10

1 - Remote Temperature Sensor

 

The insolation this winter has been, if anything, more than usual.  The
electrical usage noted on the utility bill was approximately 170 ACkWH more
than the same winter period last winter.  No appreciable change in usage
pattern this winter compared to last winter (in fact, if anything, there has
been less use this winter).  Everything appears to be functioning (normally,
I think).

 

What is going on?  It cannot just be a malfunctioning utility meter.  It
seems to me that regardless of the functionality of the utility meter, the
Mate and the MX80 should show greater production.

 

What is being overlooked?

 

Thanks for your help.

 

Bob Clark

SolarWind Energy Systems, LLC

(509) 826-1259
--- end of quote ---

