Solar-Panel to Controller Loss
Much has been made of the lower losses on the panel to controller path with MPPT because the amps are less. So once you have your loss measured, how valuable is it to improve on that if you don't lik...
Forum Discussion
I measured the efficiency of the Eco-Worthy in April and posted about it.
I had an idea before what it must be, but Salvo insisted I get an actual meter on Imp or it was all bogus. So I did get both Vmp and Imp metered and it comes out about the same. ( Natch, since it was not bogus :) )
It was tracking, which makes the Vmp you get keep changing while you are watching the meter. Makes it hard to pick a number to go with the Imp since I had to take them at different times so you have to watch for a while and get a sort of "typical" number for each to multiply as the "input watts" Not perfect, but not "measurement error" either! :)
The results in the mid 90s compare with the Morningstar's at 24-12 in the mid- 90s. Later reading had info that the controller getting hot "inside the box" reduces efficiency too. That paper recommended cooling fan and venting the controller so it was not a sealed box in very hot weather.
I will try it with the lid off this summer to see if the open box then makes a measurable difference.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28312038/gotomsg/28321836.cfm#28321836
I had an idea before what it must be, but Salvo insisted I get an actual meter on Imp or it was all bogus. So I did get both Vmp and Imp metered and it comes out about the same. ( Natch, since it was not bogus :) )
It was tracking, which makes the Vmp you get keep changing while you are watching the meter. Makes it hard to pick a number to go with the Imp since I had to take them at different times so you have to watch for a while and get a sort of "typical" number for each to multiply as the "input watts" Not perfect, but not "measurement error" either! :)
The results in the mid 90s compare with the Morningstar's at 24-12 in the mid- 90s. Later reading had info that the controller getting hot "inside the box" reduces efficiency too. That paper recommended cooling fan and venting the controller so it was not a sealed box in very hot weather.
I will try it with the lid off this summer to see if the open box then makes a measurable difference.
http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/28312038/gotomsg/28321836.cfm#28321836
