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Old 22-09-2015, 05:35   #1
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Duel Solar Charge Controllers

Sorry if this question has been over discussed before, but I wasn't able to find any in my search.

I am planning on installing two 140 w solar panels and using a Genasun GV-10 controller for each panel. Should I wire each controller directly to house bus or battery? Individually with it's own wire or combine each through a junction then use one feed to the house bus? I have seen some conflicting information about controllers fighting one another and burning themselves out.

Distance from controllers to battery bus will be 6 feet and using 6 gauge wire.

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Thanks for the help.
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Old 22-09-2015, 14:09   #2
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

I put busbars after our genasuns and before the battery bank. Ganged all the + onto one bar and all the - to a different bus bar then lead wires down to my distribution busbars. Despite what the instructions say, you do not need to go directly to the batteries.
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Old 23-09-2015, 02:16   #3
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

Thanks ZBoss,

I'm assuming then you are pleased with your panel output and you feel the controllers are working independently even when you combined your wires?

What size, and how many panels did you install?
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Old 23-09-2015, 04:01   #4
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

Perfectly fine to parallel (combine) the outputs of multiple controllers. As far as they know they're connected to the battery. Note that the Genasun Pb controllers have internal thermistors for temperature compensation, and so should be mounted as close to the batteries as reasonable. Or at least where the temperature is the same. With Genasun controllers for Li batteries there is no temp. comp. so they can be farther away.

Some installation examples attached.
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Old 23-09-2015, 05:25   #5
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

What's the reasoning of multiple controllers?
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Old 23-09-2015, 05:45   #6
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

Less losses in partial shading. When one or more panels are shaded the others are still producing. You can run in parallel to one larger controller, however then shaded panels absorb some energy from the others; and if you use blocking diodes to prevent that then there is some voltage drop through the diodes.
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Old 23-09-2015, 06:39   #7
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

Quote:
Originally Posted by OceanPlanet View Post
Less losses in partial shading. When one or more panels are shaded the others are still producing. You can run in parallel to one larger controller, however then shaded panels absorb some energy from the others; and if you use blocking diodes to prevent that then there is some voltage drop through the diodes.
Not to mention redundancy. If a controller dies, then you only loose part of your array. Reduced power production, as opposed to dead in the water.
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Old 23-09-2015, 08:42   #8
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

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"The more I read, the more I realize how many soles are smarter then I am."
Just having fun here, but why are soles of shoes smarter than you? Perhaps referring to the old 1930's detectives, called Gumshoes?

On the other hand, all of we souls out here learn everyday if we are smart! And yes, there are so many out there that we can learn from.
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Old 23-09-2015, 09:44   #9
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

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Originally Posted by RHoodJr View Post
Thanks ZBoss,

I'm assuming then you are pleased with your panel output and you feel the controllers are working independently even when you combined your wires?

What size, and how many panels did you install?
Yes, they work as advertized.

The only thing I would do different (and may still do) is add a voltmeter,, ampmeter, totalizer meter with a shunt so I can keep track of overall production better.
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Old 23-09-2015, 10:51   #10
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

The controllers should each contain a diode to assure that solar panels in the dark don't become loads on the batteries. This is an argument for dual controllers.
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Old 23-09-2015, 12:36   #11
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

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Originally Posted by OceanPlanet View Post
Perfectly fine to parallel (combine) the outputs of multiple controllers. As far as they know they're connected to the battery. Note that the Genasun Pb controllers have internal thermistors for temperature compensation, and so should be mounted as close to the batteries as reasonable. Or at least where the temperature is the same. With Genasun controllers for Li batteries there is no temp. comp. so they can be farther away.

Some installation examples attached.
On two of those installation pictures - they need to have a fuse/breaker between the output of the charge controller and the bus bar leading to the battery(s). All the battery bus bar current is exposed to the charge controller in the event of problems.
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Old 23-09-2015, 13:07   #12
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

Quote:
Originally Posted by OceanPlanet View Post
Less losses in partial shading. When one or more panels are shaded the others are still producing. You can run in parallel to one larger controller, however then shaded panels absorb some energy from the others; and if you use blocking diodes to prevent that then there is some voltage drop through the diodes.

When you connect the multiple controllers to one bus, isn't that essentially the same as multiple panels in parallel connected to one controller?


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Old 23-09-2015, 13:09   #13
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

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When you connect the multiple controllers to one bus, isn't that essentially the same as multiple panels in parallel connected to one controller?


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The charge controller, in this case, electrically isolates the PV panels from the common bus. Not the same as multiple PV Panels in parallel.
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Old 23-09-2015, 14:12   #14
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

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The charge controller, in this case, electrically isolates the PV panels from the common bus. Not the same as multiple PV Panels in parallel.

Via diodes?


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Old 23-09-2015, 14:19   #15
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Re: Duel Solar Charge Controllers

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Via diodes?


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On a solar charge controller there are a whole host of electronics between the PV panels and the battery to electrically isolated the input and output of the controller. Mainly its the internal DC to DC converter electronics not a diode that provide the isolation.
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