Page 127 of the Mate3 manual. Phil
On Jul 20, 2012, at 7:49 PM, Chris Mason <[email protected]> wrote: > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > List sponsored by Home Power magazine > > List Address: [email protected] > > Options & settings: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List-Archive: > http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org > > List rules & etiquette: > www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm > > Check out participant bios: > www.members.re-wrenches.org >
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