I've had them shut inverters down for both the brands you mentioned.
The comm failures that took out controllers were the Midnite "Follow Me"
setup.
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760
On 5/17/20 9:46 PM, Jay wrote:
Hi Ray
In my experience I’ve had plenty of hub and component/comm failures
but I’ve never had it shut down the fndc or charge controllers with OB
or Schneider equipment.
I’m wondering if you have?
Thx
Jay
Peltz power.
On May 17, 2020, at 6:21 PM, Ray <r...@solarray.com> wrote:
I don't connect to the HUB or Mate if I don't have to; both to avoid
issues with the customers changing programming, but also to save the
customer money. However, the #1 reason is that when all the
equipment is interconnected, it is all dependent. A failure in a
comm cable or single piece of equipment can cause all the controllers
to shut down. I just don't think the benefits of com connection out
weigh the loss of redundancy. I have many systems with multiple
charge controllers, and I have seen everything from a bad temp sensor
to a single failed controller take the other controllers off line
too. Without the interconnection, a failed controller will just drop
the system to half power, not to zero production.
This isn't just with Outback, I follow this reasoning with Midnite
and Magnum as well. I often mix equipment (Magnum inverter, Outback
Controller) so comm connection isn't a possibility anyway. We might
be missing some bells and whistles, but our systems stay operational
in more situations. Basically I'm not happy enough with any single
manufacturer to give them a monopoly with my designs. I've always
built our systems with the best equipment we can get for that
particular situation.
Ray Walters
Remote Solar
303 505-8760
On 5/17/20 7:38 AM, Mac Lewis wrote:
Hi Ray,
I'm curious, do you avoid have the FM100 on the Hub to avoid clients
changing the programming or have you seen some other issues? I have
some of them out there and they seem to be solid, all Hub 10.3
connected.
On Fri, May 15, 2020 at 3:48 PM Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar
<offgridso...@sti.net <mailto:offgridso...@sti.net>> wrote:
I have little experience with arc fault detection because I do
not use them offgrid. Could it save one from starting a
wildfire? My experience is I have never had a ground mount start
a wildfire and even a bad panel is pretty contained in a failure.
I just know that I make a small fortune replacing grid tie
inverter AFD's that failsafe in the no solar mode. Definitely do
not want another way to lose power offgrid. There are plenty
already:)
*Dave Angelini Offgrid Solar "we go where powerlines don't"
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/ e-mail offgridso...@sti.net
<mailto:offgridso...@sti.net> text 209 813 0060*
On Fri, 15 May 2020 11:03:11 -0700, Jay <jay.pe...@gmail.com
<mailto:jay.pe...@gmail.com>> wrote:
Hi William,
that warning isn't on the AFCI one,
Jay
Peltz power.
On May 15, 2020, at 10:41 AM, William Miller
<will...@millersolar.com <mailto:will...@millersolar.com>> wrote:
Jay:
On the FM100 landing page
<http://outbackpower.com/products/charge-controllers/flexmax-100>.
The warning is pasted below.
/Due to the different voltage ratings, OutBack Power does not
recommend mixing the FM100-300VDC with the FM60 or FM80-150VDC
controllers on the same battery bank./
Interestingly the warning is not seen on the FM100 AFCI
landing page
<http://outbackpower.com/products/charge-controllers/flexmax-100-afci>.
I thought I saw this also in one of the Owner's manuals but I
looked today and can't find it there. Interesting...
I have a client that wants to add a fourth PV array to a
system with three FM80s. This will require a fourth charge
controller. Being able to run smaller wire in the existing
conduits is an attractive proposition, making the FM100 a
desirable approach. I now have to figure out if I can add the
FM100-AFCI (which is apparently the only version available) to
a system with three FM80s, and if I do, what do I do with the
existing GFDI breaker and how do I arrange the DC bond? There
is a lot to consider here.
BTW, I was told by a tech support person for an on-line sales
firm that the original FM100 did not have the AFCI but those
units have been discontinued. Now all FM100s have the AFCI
capability. I am weighing if I want AFCI if it is not
required. My territory includes central California wild lands
so I suppose I should take advantage of any fire safety means
at my disposal...
William
*From:*Jay [mailto:jay.pe...@gmail.com
<mailto:jay.pe...@gmail.com>]
*Sent:* Friday, May 15, 2020 7:34 AM
*To:* will...@millersolar.com
<mailto:will...@millersolar.com>; RE-wrenches
*Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Outback FM100
Hi William
Yes downsizing breaker to meet load is no problem. And getting
wire that big into it with 1" KO is a pain.
I'm pretty sure any hub will work, needs 3S mate
Where in the manual did you find the "don't mix with other
60/80 controllers?
Jay
Peltz power
On May 15, 2020, at 12:46 AM, William Miller
<will...@millersolar.com <mailto:will...@millersolar.com>> wrote:
Friends:
I have occasion to try the FM100 charge controller. I am
wondering of anyone had found any quirks with implementing
this device. I have a few specific questions:
1.I want to avoid AFCI unless mandated. Will this be
defeated if I don't run the leads through the sense coil?
(There is an AFCI and non-AFCI version but I can't seem to
find the non-AFCI version anywhere.)
2.I noticed the manual indicates you are not supposed to
mix the FM100 with the FM80 or 60 in the same battery
system. This negates it for one project I had in mind. I
am curious as to why this is. Anyone know?
3.Will the FM100 work with a standard hub?
4.I suppose this unit requires a 125 amp breaker. If the
PV array cannot support that full 100 amps I might
down-size the OCPD accordingly. Anyone contemplate this
question?
Thanks in advance.
William
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