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Old 02-12-2016, 22:13   #31
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Re: Powertech MPPT controller - is it working as it should?

I just searched "fangpusun" and found this:

China Mppt150 45-70 Manufacturers, Factory, Wholesale - Cheap Products - Wenzhou Xihe Electric Co.,Ltd

It looks like they have Flexmax (Outback) clones as well.

China Solar Charge Controler Manufacturers, Factory, Wholesale - Cheap Solar Charge Controller - Wenzhou Xihe Electric Co.,Ltd

I will ask Victron about them on Monday, but I am sure they are copies.
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Old 03-12-2016, 16:56   #32
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Re: Powertech MPPT controller - is it working as it should?

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Originally Posted by Jill on Maya View Post
Barra is your 15A controller a Bluesky (per your initial post) or a Victron?

The Victron Ive been looking at is the Victron Blue Solar 100/30. And now Mitiempo has referred us to the "Victron compatible" 100/50 controller marketed by fangpusun.
yep my bad its a victron 15a, blue sky, blue solar, blue horizon etc i get confused
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Old 03-12-2016, 23:54   #33
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Re: Powertech MPPT controller - is it working as it should?

Update on the Powertech MP-3735 (65V/ 30A) controller.

We disconnected one unit and compared the A in as shown on the controller display with the A in as shown on the battery monitor. Did this yesterday and repeated the exercise for the second unit today.

Happy to report that the amps in as displayed on each unit accords with the monitor reading. Voltages also accord. So at the moment both units appear to be doing what they should. On both days with only 1 panel and controller working the batteries have been back up to 100% (from 95% overnight) by mid morning. We are not using the autopilot so its not a heavy use test.

With so few amps needed to return batteries to 100% it has not been possible to see what the controllers are capable of inputting. Only then will we be able to answer the question are they capable of inputting the maximum power expected from the Sunpower panels.

It will be hotter in December/ January and we will be using more amps so that will be a better test of performance. We will monitor output and keep an eye on heat generation and see how they perform. They are certainly extremely easy to programme and to monitor via the display and menu buttons. We aren't ready to give up on them yet.

Thank-you for information and suggestions.
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Old 04-12-2016, 02:35   #34
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Re: Powertech MPPT controller - is it working as it should?

Jill,


I am glad to hear they are working now, but I am going to be the fun police and say my thing...


They are working now, but do you really trust them? What will it mean if they go toes up on a long passage? In your situation I personally would not trust them, particularly if your autopilot setup is electric only (vs a backup windvane or similar).


Sorry, had to say my bit because I've done a 500 mile passage without power and it sucked on just about every level imaginable. You've bought just about the best solar panels you can buy, it would a terrible irony if they end up more use as sails than power harvesting devices.


Matt
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Old 04-12-2016, 03:26   #35
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Re: Powertech MPPT controller - is it working as it should?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jill on Maya View Post
Update on the Powertech MP-3735 (65V/ 30A) controller.

We disconnected one unit and compared the A in as shown on the controller display with the A in as shown on the battery monitor. Did this yesterday and repeated the exercise for the second unit today.

Happy to report that the amps in as displayed on each unit accords with the monitor reading. Voltages also accord. So at the moment both units appear to be doing what they should. On both days with only 1 panel and controller working the batteries have been back up to 100% (from 95% overnight) by mid morning. We are not using the autopilot so its not a heavy use test.

With so few amps needed to return batteries to 100% it has not been possible to see what the controllers are capable of inputting. Only then will we be able to answer the question are they capable of inputting the maximum power expected from the Sunpower panels.

It will be hotter in December/ January and we will be using more amps so that will be a better test of performance. We will monitor output and keep an eye on heat generation and see how they perform. They are certainly extremely easy to programme and to monitor via the display and menu buttons. We aren't ready to give up on them yet.

Thank-you for information and suggestions.
If the amps displayed on the controllers agrees with the monitor all that means is that the reading is likely correct. It does not mean that you are getting the proper output from the panels that a good quality MPPT controller will give you. The only way to test that would be to compare a good quality name brand controller with yours.

How are you determining that your batteries are fully charged? If it is because the battery monitor reads 100% it may not be true. The best way is to read the amps in with all loads turned off. A battery is full when it is accepting less than 1% (ideally .5%) of its capacity - 1 amp of current or less for a 100 AH battery. Monitors are often inaccurate when reading fully charged.
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Old 04-12-2016, 17:17   #36
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Re: Powertech MPPT controller - is it working as it should?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jill on Maya View Post
Update on the Powertech MP-3735 (65V/ 30A) controller.

We disconnected one unit and compared the A in as shown on the controller display with the A in as shown on the battery monitor. Did this yesterday and repeated the exercise for the second unit today.

Happy to report that the amps in as displayed on each unit accords with the monitor reading. Voltages also accord. So at the moment both units appear to be doing what they should. On both days with only 1 panel and controller working the batteries have been back up to 100% (from 95% overnight) by mid morning. We are not using the autopilot so its not a heavy use test.

With so few amps needed to return batteries to 100% it has not been possible to see what the controllers are capable of inputting. Only then will we be able to answer the question are they capable of inputting the maximum power expected from the Sunpower panels.

It will be hotter in December/ January and we will be using more amps so that will be a better test of performance. We will monitor output and keep an eye on heat generation and see how they perform. They are certainly extremely easy to programme and to monitor via the display and menu buttons. We aren't ready to give up on them yet.

Thank-you for information and suggestions.

Good to see - I reckon its likely the wiring from the panels then.

Get yourself a handheld clamp meter (be sure it can do DC amps). You can use it to check the amps going into the controller and the amps going out to batteries. You will see how efficient the controllers are or not by the % the amps are being increased once you get some loads on your batteries.

Very handy device to have on a boat. Good for seeing if your alternator is doing what its supposed to as well.
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Old 02-02-2017, 22:42   #37
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Re: Powertech MPPT controller - is it working as it should?

Update on Powertech MPPT controllers MP-3735

We finally gave up on these after unit number 4 stopped working completely and about 10 days later, before we had the opportunity to return it to Jaycar, unit 5 began to input at 15V when it was programmed to a maximum of 14.4V. Lucky we were on board and taking notice when this happened.

To Jaycar's credit they gave full refund. The ease of return and refund reaffirms the advantage of purchasing from reputable Australian supplier. Possible reason/s for the 5 failures is that our open circuit panel voltage is approaching the maximum rated for these controllers and we are using 2 arrays and controllers in parallel. Perhaps users who report satisfaction with these units are requiring less of them.

As part of research for replacements we sought advice from CF. See thread MPPT solar controller: Morningstar Prostar v Tristar. With benefit of hindsight this was a poor choice of title for the thread as we ended up going with 2 x Victron BlueSolar MPPT 100/30 controllers. New units installed about 3 weeks ago. These are working exactly as expected and the batteries return to full charge more quickly each morning than they did with the Powertechs. Extremely happy with them at the moment. Reliability test will take more time.
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