Hi,I have a pre-existing 30A solar controller with 3 12v panels (2 x 80, 1 x 130) feeding 4 T-125's. I added a new 250w 24v panel hooked up to a separate Solar30 controller. Both controllers wire in to a cable run to the batteries (~ 6 feet, 00 gauge). I'm seeing the expected amperage out of the pre-existing array (290 watts giving me ~ 5 amps roughly). However, the reading I'm getting off the Solar30 with the 250w 24v panel is only showing 0.8 amps? Wiring from the panel to the controller is about 12 feet @ 14 gauge, which should be ok.Any ideas why I'd see such a difference?Old solar array (290w 12v) --> Rogue 30 --\__________ T125'sNew solar array (250w 24v) --> Solar30 ---/

phemens wrote:Hi,I have a pre-existing 30A solar controller with 3 12v panels (2 x 80, 1 x 130) feeding 4 T-125's. I added a new 250w 24v panel hooked up to a separate Solar30 controller. Both controllers wire in to a cable run to the batteries (~ 6 feet, 00 gauge). I'm seeing the expected amperage out of the pre-existing array (290 watts giving me ~ 5 amps roughly). However, the reading I'm getting off the Solar30 with the 250w 24v panel is only showing 0.8 amps? Wiring from the panel to the controller is about 12 feet @ 14 gauge, which should be ok.Any ideas why I'd see such a difference?Old solar array (290w 12v) --> Rogue 30 --\__________ T125'sNew solar array (250w 24v) --> Solar30 ---/If I rember correctly the solar30 is a 12 volt controller. What did out pay for this controller? well it will do a 24 battery system. I assume you are running a 12 volt system?

The solar 30 can do both 12v and 24v. It's taking 24v from the solar panel and outputting 12v to battery bank.Maybe I was confused - the Rogue continues to show the output from the array regardless of the charge state of the batteries. Maybe the Solar30 does something different, but I would have assumed that it would still show me the nominal amperage coming from the array regardless of the charge state on the battery. The Solar30 toggles between showing amps from array and amps from controller to battery. It's the output from the solar that troubles me, it should be much higher than 0.8 amps regardless of the charge level on the batteries.

phemens wrote:The solar 30 can do both 12v and 24v. It's taking 24v from the solar panel and outputting 12v to battery bank.that would be kinda cool for a PWM controller.it should be able to take 12v from a 24v panel and pass it along to the battery.

The second controller is sensing the output of the 290W array because of the way it is wired and declining to join in the effort to push any current into the battery would be my guess. A simple experiment to define the issue would be to either block off the 290W array, disconnect the wiring to same, or turn off that controller. Make sure that the correct sequence is followed when disconnecting/connecting wires to/from controller. If the solar30 is an MPPT controller and the batteries are somewhat discharged, the current harvested from the 250W module should exceed the older array and controller. You may then see just the opposite effect, the 290W combination puts out little while the new 250W does the heavy lifting. One thing you could do is to wire the controller output from the 250W controller directly to the battery. That may make it join the party.

Question about dual solar controllers | Good Sam Community

phemens
Explorer
Apr 26, 2016
Running the two controllers in parallel is no big deal, it's already set up and not exactly a wiremare ;). Rather that than lose capacity on the 24v panel, plus always the option to add another if I need it.
Almot
Explorer III
Apr 26, 2016
CA Traveler wrote:
Running in parallel will limit voltage to that of the lowest panel. Not a good idea.

Wiremare :)
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2016
Running in parallel will limit voltage to that of the lowest panel. Not a good idea.
Almot
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2016
Then another option - 2*80W parallel + 130 + 250, the current will drop to low 7A of 130W panel, with MPPT it will be equivalent to 470W array.

Running 2 different controllers seems a bit clumsy solution.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Apr 25, 2016
Almot,

Running in series will limit amperage to that of the lowest panel. Not a great idea.
Almot
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2016
Another option - unplug EP30 and run all in series with Rogue. It has 100V input limit - though older models had lower input as I recall.
With total 540W you will lose very little AH on some days during peak hours. It will go into Absorb 30-50 minutes later than if it were 35A controller. No big deal.

I didn't run the numbers for PWM - don't know much about them ;) - but, being the same 30A, logic dictates maximum 24A array because of 20% safety margin. (Not an issue with MPPT). To fully utilize 540W+EP30 you would need 24V bank, but you can't configure 3*12V+24V into 24V total.

I rarely even see over 25A on my Rogue with 490W flat. 300 AH bank, average daily use 40-60 AH, batteries start at 80-85% in the morning, by the time the sun is high enough to generate 25-26A they are floating already.
phemens
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
Good ideas - I'll unplug the Rogue and try the Solar30 on its own. Worst case I'll swap them around and hook up the 12v array to the Solar30 as suggested. The Rogue can handle 24v and is MPPT.
The Solar30 had been sitting in its box all winter waiting to be installed, I guess I forgot it wasn't MPPT...
red31
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
parallel the 12v panels that currently yield 5A @ 60v and use the solar30 16A (12v).
rogue the new panel.
time2roll
Nomad
Apr 25, 2016
What is the battery voltage? What is the absorption voltage setting for each controller?

If the battery is low you should get about 7 amps from the new panel.

If you are getting just 5 amps it sounds like the battery is full. Add a 30+ amp load for testing.
grizzzman
Explorer
Apr 25, 2016
phemens wrote:
The solar 30 can do both 12v and 24v. It's taking 24v from the solar panel and outputting 12v to battery bank.
Maybe I was confused - the Rogue continues to show the output from the array regardless of the charge state of the batteries. Maybe the Solar30 does something different, but I would have assumed that it would still show me the nominal amperage coming from the array regardless of the charge state on the battery. The Solar30 toggles between showing amps from array and amps from controller to battery. It's the output from the solar that troubles me, it should be much higher than 0.8 amps regardless of the charge level on the batteries.

OK I WILL be MORE blunt, to run 24 volt panels with a cheapo Solar30 WILL "NOT" convert 24 to 12 PERIOD~! it is meant to charge a 24 volt system.

I hope all goes well.