[RE-wrenches] RE-Low Output frenergy

Wed Jun 20 10:12:23 EDT 2018

My quick guess would be that the controller is not MPPT tracking and connecting as if direct to the battery, operating the series string of 3 285 W modules very low voltage on their IV curve, limiting to 24V at about 9A yielding about 200W.Not familiar enough with the controller to know if there is a setting for MPPT tracking or not.  Seems like its a wide range buck transformer that most likely always tracks MPPT.  Something to look into perhaps.Mike KocsmierskySpirit Solar

      From: "re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org" <re-wrenches-request at lists.re-wrenches.org>
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 Today's Topics:

  1. Silicon  energy (Solar)
  2. Low output (frenergy)
  3. Re: Low output (Dana)
  4. Re: Low output (Rick Brown)
Hello,

Silicon energy shuttered it’s plant in MN a few years ago but when they opened the college I teach at purchased 32 modules. Well we had two from the first run delaminate this winter. They are on our dorm building. This is a shot in the dark, but any chance anyone has two of these sitting around? I can make the system work with 8 modules but I’d rather just slide two in. I’m guessing this is just going to keep happening. These modules are 6 or 7 years old. 

Thanks 

Jesse Dahl

NABCEP PV Installation Professional
IBEW Local 292 - Electrician 
Electrical/Solar PV Instructor - HCC

Sent from my iPhone
Off-gridders,

             Small 24 volt off-grid install.....new installation, 3, 285 
watt PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I 
cannot get more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the 
Kid display in full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and 
about 28 amps.  Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled 
down with a heat gun).  I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same 
issue!  I disconnected the PV wires where they land in the Kid and got 
9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but 
we couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?

Thx,

Bill

Feather River Solar Electric
Bill Battagin, Owner
4291 Nelson St.
Taylorsville, CA 95983
530.284.7849
CA Lic 874049
www.frenergy.net

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Try another brand of CC? I have had same issue /different manufacturer and had dead out of the box replacement & same issue with the replacement.Are there any adjustable potentiometers, I do not know this CC? I have recently had 2 trouble shoots [with old C-40s] that were low CC output & moved the pots higher & lower and voila the CC worked again.   Very frustrating to say the least.    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Dana Orzel                              Great Solar Works, Inc. C - 208.721.7003                       dana at solarwork.comIdaho Contractor - # 028765         Idaho PV # 028374NABCEP # 051112-136                       www.solarwork.biz"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"   Please consider the environment before printing this email.    -----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of frenergy
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 10:53 PM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Low output  Off-gridders,               Small 24 volt off-grid install.....new installation, 3, 285 watt PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I cannot get more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the Kid display in full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and about 28 amps.  Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled down with a heat gun).  I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same issue!  I disconnected the PV wires where they land in the Kid and got9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but we couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?  Thx,  Bill  Feather River Solar ElectricBill Battagin, Owner4291 Nelson St.Taylorsville, CA 95983530.284.7849CA Lic 874049www.frenergy.net    ---This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.https://www.avast.com/antivirus    _______________________________________________List sponsored by Redwood Alliance  List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org  Change listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org  List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html  List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm  Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org  Do you have access to a Seaward PV tester? This would eliminate the array. 
When landing your conductors in the Kid be sure to run individual negatives to their respective terminals. The manual highlights this.

rick brown
SolShine Energy Alternatives, LLC
Electrical & Solar Contracting Services
www.SolShineEnergyAlternatives.com
Check, Virginia 24072
540.808.9502

VA Class A Contractor Lic# 2705147660
VA Master Electrician Lic# 2710062762
VA Alternative Energy Systems Installer  
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional 110112-21
On Jun 20, 2018, at 8:22 AM, Dana <dana at solarwork.com> wrote:

Try another brand of CC? I have had same issue /different manufacturer and had dead out of the box replacement & same issue with the replacement.Are there any adjustable potentiometers, I do not know this CC? I have recently had 2 trouble shoots [with old C-40s] that were low CC output & moved the pots higher & lower and voila the CC worked again.   Very frustrating to say the least.    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------Dana Orzel                              Great Solar Works, Inc. C - 208.721.7003                       dana at solarwork.comIdaho Contractor - # 028765         Idaho PV # 028374NABCEP # 051112-136                       www.solarwork.biz"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988"   Please consider the environment before printing this email.    -----Original Message-----
From: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org> On Behalf Of frenergy
Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2018 10:53 PM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Low output  Off-gridders,               Small 24 volt off-grid install.....new installation, 3, 285 watt PVs in series, 4, L-16's in series, Midnight "Kid" CC.  Problem: I cannot get more than about 200 watts (8-9 amps battery side) out of the Kid display in full noon sun, clean PVs. Should be 700 watts plus and about 28 amps.  Bulk/Absorb set at 29V, battery voltage at ~25 V (pulled down with a heat gun).  I changed that Kid out for another new one> Same issue!  I disconnected the PV wires where they land in the Kid and got9.3 amps short circuit, 105 volts oc  Called Midnight tech support but we couldn't come up with a good solution.  Ideas?  Thx,  Bill  Feather River Solar ElectricBill Battagin, Owner4291 Nelson St.Taylorsville, CA 95983530.284.7849CA Lic 874049www.frenergy.net    ---This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.https://www.avast.com/antivirus    _______________________________________________List sponsored by Redwood Alliance  List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org  Change listserver email address & settings:http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org  List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html  List rules & etiquette:www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm  Check out or update participant bios:www.members.re-wrenches.org

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