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Old 10-03-2016, 11:00   #1
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Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

Hi,

This question is only about the Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Solar Panel Controller.

Yes, I know your brand is better but I am not asking about it

Can anyone that owns one or has intimate knowledge of the 3000i please tell me what you think of it?

I am running 420 watts of solar into 400amp hours of battery. Currently using the Blue Sky 2000.
I want to upgrade as the 3000i is a 3 stage controller.

I am not asking about any other brand as I want this one, if its ok, to cover the hole drilled into the kitchen wall...

Thanky


Mark
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Old 10-03-2016, 12:02   #2
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

Mark-
If the 3000i uses the same algorithm as the older models or similar, it isn't a simple "3 stage". They set the charge voltage something like 1/2 volt higher than the battery voltage and convert the rest of the power into amperage, resetting the levels of both every few minutes as the battery voltage comes up. That allows faster, more efficient charging than a simple "3 stage" and if you are using wet lead batteries, it also keeps the electrolyte cooler so you'll need to water them less often.
Their older stuff (and the modified algorithm) are good, I would hope the new stuff is the same if not better. IIRC the power connections were smaller than you might want, you'd need to check that with them, versus what cabling you want to run. (Or just pigtail down if need be.)
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Old 11-03-2016, 02:39   #3
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

Yes the power connections are tiny on my current 2000 so I think they will be the same on the 3000. That makes installation much easier!

Sent from a stupid phone that replaces words with weird stuff.
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Old 11-03-2016, 18:16   #4
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

I installed a 3000i a couple of seasons back, has worked well for me....expect strong RF interfence (hi pitch whine when charging, gets stronger as amps increase) on 6208 (IIRC)...which of course happens to be a frequency I use a lot.

BlueSky was very good about trying to resolve this. Sent me a batch of big ferrites to install at no charge. Unfortunately it only attenuated the interference a bit so now I just get a slightly different tone. I plan to install a breaker in the leads from the panels (which I should anyway) to just turn it off when using the SSB.
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Old 11-03-2016, 18:45   #5
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

I don't have SSB so shouldn't have a problem on that, but did the RF interference affected the VHF, AIS or anything else?


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Old 11-03-2016, 21:56   #6
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

No, I have not noticed RF interference with anything else.
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Old 12-03-2016, 00:15   #7
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

we had a blue sky 24something and had 390watts and in the southern carib we were above it's capacity - called blue sky and they said don't worry but don't add another panal - then put on a 3024 and it was as simple as unplug one plug in another - we then added another 100w solar panal (all we could find here at a reasonable price) - we did talk with blue sky about using the multi functions to equalize the batteries but they said we needed more watts - be interesting to see if 490 will do it -

we also run an hf, ais ect ect and no interference on anything.
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Old 12-03-2016, 00:18   #8
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

we had a blue sky 24something and had 390watts and in the southern carib we were above it's capacity - called blue sky and they said don't worry but don't add another panal - then put on a 3024 and it was as simple as unplug one plug in another - we then added another 100w solar panal (all we could find here at a reasonable price) - we did talk with blue sky about using the multi functions to equalize the batteries but they said we needed more watts - be interesting to see if 490 will do it -

we also run an hf, ais ect ect and no interference on anything.
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Old 12-03-2016, 03:22   #9
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Re: Got a Blue Sky 3000i MPPT Controller?

Hi Chuck,

That's what I am hoping: unplug one and plug in the other. Certainly will make less mess on the galley
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