Is there a document available on how this world? On Friday, July 20, 2012, Phil Undercuffler <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi all, I just got a correction from Darren - global charge control is in the Mate3, and therefore works with any FM or MX controller that has the GT mode. It uses the current sense from the FN-DC and the GT mode signal to control the output of the controllers. > > Sorry for any confusion > > Phil > > On Jul 20, 2012 4:11 PM, "Chris Mason" <[email protected]> wrote: > > Phil, > Good explanation of the feature. When did GCC make it into the firmware, and can the older ones be updated? It sounds like a perfect solution for some of my installations. > > On Fri, Jul 20, 2012 at 12:34 AM, Phil Undercuffler <[email protected]> wrote: > > OutBack implemented Global Charge Control in the FM charge controllers > a while back, based on the input of the good folk at SELF who worked > to power a number of hospitals and clinics in Haiti after the > earthquake. In some of those systems, the PV array was based on the > typical running consumption of the hospital, in the 30 - 100 kW if I > remember right, and the battery bank was relatively modest. However, > on the weekends and holidays without the normal AC loads the PV input > was considerably more than the battery could absorb without > destructive heating, something like a C2 or C5 rate. > > Global Charge Control is implemented using the MATE3, a FN-DC and FM > charge controllers set to GT mode. You set a high charge current > limit in the M3, and then it monitors the charge current going to the > batteries. In normal operating mode the controllers stay in wide open > mode, harvesting as much power as possible. However if the loads drop > and the total current from the charging sources begin exceed the > global charge limit, the system compensates and the controllers back > off to prevent sending too much current to the batteries. > > In today's world of PV modules being cheaper than diesel, we're seeing > a lot more systems that can use this tool. > > Hope this helps, > > Phil > > > > On Thu, Jul 19, 2012 at 7:56 PM, [email protected] > <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> I didn't see that Brian T had the same idea until after I sent that email >> off to Allan... >> boB >> >> >> >> >> >> On 7/19/2012 7:53 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote: >> >> Wrenches, >> I forwarded Brian's post on to Robin at Midnite, as I thought it was an >> interesting idea. Below is his response, as well as boB's. >> Allan >> >> Allan Sindelar >> [email protected] >> NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer >> NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional >> New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician >> Founder and Chief Technology Officer >> Positive Energy, Inc. >> 3209 Richards Lane (note new address) >> Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507 >> 505 424-1112 >> www.positiveenergysolar.com >> >> Allan, It is simpler than what is being suggested. The reason they want to >> limit to 20 amps is because the battery doesn’t need anymore than that. The >> controller will automatically limit the charge current as the battery gets >> full. If a large load is turned on, the controller will try to refill the >> battery up to its capacity. The 80 amps will quickly be reduced because the >> voltage will rise to the point where the charge tapers off. >> >> There is nothing else that needs to be done. If the problem is that the >> battery bank is too small for a big controller, the best answer is to get >> more batteries. A 80 amp charger into a 200 amp hour battery is going to >> raise the battery voltage so quick, it will not affect the battery at all. >> By the way, discharging a battery at 60 or 80 amps is probably going to do >> damage to a small battery also. We do have an input on the Classic that >> could probably be programmed to do as requested. That input feature has yet >> to be implemented. I’m sure we will have discussions about this when the >> time comes to write the input code. Maybe this feature will be designed in, >> but it doesn’t sound like it is a very good feature to spend a bunch of time >> on. After all, the main problem is that the battery bank is just too darned<
-- Chris Mason President, Comet Systems Ltd www.cometenergysystems.com Cell: 264.235.5670 Skype: netconcepts
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