AfroBeatDiary:
This is a picture of the second charger controller burnt this afternoon. Got it today, burnt today.

MrTony32:


You can solve the problem by

Firstly Your solar panel will be connected in parallel

Secondly don't connect solar first to controller but battery first.

Though your panel supposed to be 150w or 180w because your battery and inverter are 12v single and so your solar panel must be 12v that y u can't series it when you do that it will burn the controller because you are exceeding the voltage and power the controller can handle.. always consult an expert before try risky things.

You can check my other post on my page

AfroBeatDiary:


Thanks so much, I'll resume back to it once I get home. I really appreciate.

Tonytequeenergy:

Let me know your feed back

AfroBeatDiary:


Thanks buddy, I wired the panels in parallel and currently using an analog charger controller, I realised the battery doesn't exceed 13.3 unlike the other charger controller that got burnt, it reaches 14.4

matify83:



At 13.3V charge voltage, you may never bring up your battery to a full charge. You will be murdering your battery ( Sulphating) in slow motion.

Check your battery charging specifics.

Most AGM batteries go as high as 60A cycling current and about 14.8 to 15V cycling voltage to get your battery to FLOAT .

That is why most batteries die within 6 months of installation ( sulphation from improper charging).

I have been off grid since November 2018, and I discovered this is a basic setting most installers fail to achieve for their clients.

matify83:
That is my 24V (2S2P) set up at 100% fully charged but still cycling because it is always in use 24/7

Notice that, though a 24V setup but the cycling voltage is 28.89V.

AfroBeatDiary:

What is the solution my brother?

matify83:


So sorry , just seeing your question.

Like I explained earlier, take a look at the write up on the body of your battery.

Give me the following parameters:

Cycle use
Stand by use
Initial current

With these, we can proffer solutions

AfroBeatDiary:


Here is it sir

Cycle use 14.1 - 14.4 (27°)
Standby use: 13.6 - 13.8v (27°)

matify83:


Beautiful !!

You can see that your battery would require max. 14.4V to charge it properly.

However, the catch here is that this only obtains at a battery temperature of 27 degrees centigrade.

Most mppt charge controllers have temperature sensors that regulate the cycling voltage to match any rise in temperature as you would expect in our hot environment.

Ohm's law: V = IR

A battery's internal resistance increases with rise in temperature, so invariably you will require a higher cycling voltage to charge your battery in our clime.

Your initial current s 30% of 200A = 60A.

So, your charge controller should be able to deliver up to 50A at a conservative 14.8V for your battery to get fully charged daily.

I suggest you get a 60A mppt solar charger and another 200W solar panel which you will also connect in parallel to the other 2.

3 solar panels will have a max. Short circuit current of about 32A.(total)

The voltage of the 3 panels in parallel connection remains the same ( max. Power voltage of ~30V)

So, Power = V x I = 30 x 32 = 960W


The beauty of an mppt charger is that it converts all voltages in excess of your 12 V to more current for a faster temperature compensated charging.

With this, your battery will always be fully charged even while you use it maximally during the day.

You can always upgrade your battery bank on this same charge controller up to150V panel voltage.

Hope I have not confused you

AfroBeatDiary:


Thank you for this analysis, I'll do exactly as suggested. I'm very grateful.