Home brew Arduino MPPT controller
Pretty cool project. Highly programmable. He does not list the amps it is capable of but I'm thinking 4-8 only based on the diode sizing. There are some very sophisticated MPPT algorithms out there...
Forum Discussion
Hi KJ,
I agree it is all about the algorithm. That's one reason Salvo's comments may be flawed. I believe his controller may be an early model that has a knob to "tweak" the controller.
My favorite choice for "large" solar is the Tristar MPPT 60 unit because it has three 20 amp controllers "stacked". As amps come in first one is active, then two, and finally all three.
I'll be most interested to see the Rogue 3048 when Marc finally gets it "out the door". That should be very soon now. I hope his next effort will be a 60 amp capable unit.
Concerning the rare earths, I was quoting from the Blue Sky website from about three years ago. I believe it was about the Solar Boost 50, which I see they now offer again.
I'm generator free and hoping like heck to stay that way. The siren song of the Magnum Hybrid inverters are making that hard to resist. A thousand watt genny and the existing solar would let me run the roof air. If someone made a small (reliable) electric start genny, I'd probably be unable to say no.
I agree it is all about the algorithm. That's one reason Salvo's comments may be flawed. I believe his controller may be an early model that has a knob to "tweak" the controller.
My favorite choice for "large" solar is the Tristar MPPT 60 unit because it has three 20 amp controllers "stacked". As amps come in first one is active, then two, and finally all three.
I'll be most interested to see the Rogue 3048 when Marc finally gets it "out the door". That should be very soon now. I hope his next effort will be a 60 amp capable unit.
Concerning the rare earths, I was quoting from the Blue Sky website from about three years ago. I believe it was about the Solar Boost 50, which I see they now offer again.
I'm generator free and hoping like heck to stay that way. The siren song of the Magnum Hybrid inverters are making that hard to resist. A thousand watt genny and the existing solar would let me run the roof air. If someone made a small (reliable) electric start genny, I'd probably be unable to say no.
KJINTF wrote:
Jim
I did a few simple tests a couple of years back on the "Magic" tracking algorithms used in MPPT controllers. To me that algorithm is the heart of the MPPT design and where the rubber meets the road easily differentiating the competitors. I used Blue Sky, Outback and Morningstar controllers with two K135 panels in series producing about 40Voc. For me the MS algorithm performance was easily the best of the three.
My MPPT 60 has two processors one for the tracking and one for external communications. MS has upgraded the tracking algorithm a few times over the past couple of years; their File History lets you know what's been changed.
PT
I was not aware of the use of any Rare Earth materials - please tell me more
