So I was on the road and exhausted. Like 10 hours of sleep over a week. Wasn't paying attention for a few minutes and I think I made a couple of errors. It's possible the controller was bad but I'm not sure. I have 3 "SSX-315M-BLK-120-NEW Q-Cells 315W Solar Panels, Black" panels. The charge controller is a triron 4215 rated for 40A. The spec sheet I saw online was that the panels peak was 9a and I have them wired in series so under 30a when the controller was rated for 40? Also my system is 8 280ah lifepo4 cells @24v with current connected BMS. BMS appears to be running great.
Here's where I think I messed up: I just plugged the panels directly into the charge controller. I hadn't grounded them. I check the voltages and it was ready 113 out of the panels. Now the sun was blazing. When I connected the panels in they were already running at full tilt so I assume there was some residual charge in there. Heard a zap then I could smell a little smoke. I had been bench testing the charge controller with a power supply just to get it programmed. It appeared to work find at 10 amps. Then the first time I plugged the panels in ZAP.
The charge controller was a bit screwey to begin with. It would only power up if there was current going in from the panel connections, but not when I hooked it to the battery. I guess it's possible but I'm betting I did it wrong.
So I'm looking for a new controller, preferably on Amazon. I'm on the road full time so I'd like to be able to scoop it from an Amazon locker asap.
Currently charging the batteries with a generator hooked up to a power supply. Works ok just needs heavy babysitting.
Here's where I think I messed up: I just plugged the panels directly into the charge controller. I hadn't grounded them. I check the voltages and it was ready 113 out of the panels. Now the sun was blazing. When I connected the panels in they were already running at full tilt so I assume there was some residual charge in there. Heard a zap then I could smell a little smoke. I had been bench testing the charge controller with a power supply just to get it programmed. It appeared to work find at 10 amps. Then the first time I plugged the panels in ZAP.
The charge controller was a bit screwey to begin with. It would only power up if there was current going in from the panel connections, but not when I hooked it to the battery. I guess it's possible but I'm betting I did it wrong.
So I'm looking for a new controller, preferably on Amazon. I'm on the road full time so I'd like to be able to scoop it from an Amazon locker asap.
Currently charging the batteries with a generator hooked up to a power supply. Works ok just needs heavy babysitting.