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Boost MPPTs

sunshine_eggo

sunshine_eggo

Happy Breffast!
Joined
Oct 26, 2021
Messages
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Location
HBR, USA (6500' in ENE AZ)
I've used the MPT-7210 in the past and it does its job. Limited to 10A so higher battery voltage is the way to go. With one panel I could get 1kWh a day on a 24V system. They power of the solar so they will start to charge a flat battery. Fan is noisy but this all comes from the mesh. Cut it out and all silent.
 
pollenface said:
I use these, they're awesome ?
Click to expand...
Which one in particular? Is it configureable and/or have a custom battery profile?

I could see getting one of these in the future. I didn't think they were really viable.

Do any of the tier 1 makers sell something like this? Maybe something in blue, and smart.
 
This is the inside of the ECO ECO3.jpg

and this is the RENOGY Rover proving once again that RENOGY is crap. They put a 30A fuse in series with a 10A hall effect current sensor. It blew the wires right off.
ROV3.jpg

The ECO has a switch settable lead acid battery of 48, 60, and 72V. The lithium range is determined by switch settings and is fixed voltage charging. You can set it from panel voltage up to 90V in 0.1V incroments.
 
efficientPV said:
and this is the RENOGY Rover proving once again that RENOGY is crap. They put a 30A fuse in series with a 10A hall effect current sensor. It blew the wires right off.
View attachment 182492
Click to expand...
What blew right off? I see electrolytic cap C15 is gone but the leads were cut. The leads inside of an aluminum electrolytic are not terminated that way.
 
Charge controller pull as much as then need from the panel. Output is controlled by the input.
Boost converter, like the one linked above, work the other way around. Output is the driver, so input is controlled by the output.

If you did get it to work, it would defeat the purpose of the MPPT
 
atatistcheff said:
What about something like this to boost the PV voltage?
Click to expand...
Why do you feel you need to boost the voltage? Boosting the voltage won't help your solar watts, in fact the conversion might actually be another layer of loss. If you double the voltage, the amps will be halved so multiplying volts x amps will be the same (less conversion loss).

What are you doing and what do you hope to accomplish?
 
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MisterSandals said:
Why do you feel you need to boost the voltage? Boosting the voltage won't help your solar watts, in fact the conversion might actually be another layer of loss. If you double the voltage, the amps will be halved so multiplying volts x amps will be the same (less conversion loss).

What are you doing and what do you hope to accomplish?
Click to expand...
I have a 100W portable panel that it would be nice to use to charge a 24V battery. The panel Voc is 22.6V which isn't high enough to charge it. I was wondering if putting the boost on the PV output would give the MPPT enough voltage to work. Ya, I know it's not very efficient, just thinking out loud.

My assumption here (which may be faulty) is that the Victron MPPT is not a boost converter. That is, it will take a higher voltage and convert it to charge the 12, 24, 48V battery but it won't take a lower voltage and boost it to do so.
 
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atatistcheff said:
I was wondering if putting the boost on the PV output would give the MPPT enough voltage to work.
Click to expand...
This is all new to me but i think your use case is what these are made for. Go for it and please post results.
I suspect it might be cheaper to buy a big cheap panel to harvest sun at the voltage your MPPT needs. Unless portability is an important aspect of your solar array.
 
atatistcheff said:
I already have the Victron 100/20 MPPT, hate to buy another charge controller. What about something like this to boost the PV voltage?

Click to expand...

atatistcheff said:
I have a 100W portable panel that it would be nice to use to charge a 24V battery. The panel Voc is 22.6V which isn't high enough to charge it. I was wondering if putting the boost on the PV output would give the MPPT enough voltage to work. Ya, I know it's not very efficient, just thinking out loud.
Click to expand...

That device expects a sufficient power supply to provide its maximum output, so the moment the panel can't supply the set voltage and current, it shuts down. There will also be no MPPT function whatsoever.

If you set it to a voltage and current that is < 50W, then it will work when the panel can meet those needs. It will never output more than 50W, and if the panel can't supply 50W, it shuts down.

For $10 more for the ECO-WORTHY, it makes a lot more sense to go with a MPPT charger designed to boost.

atatistcheff said:
My assumption here (which may be faulty) is that the Victron MPPT is not a boost converter.
Click to expand...

Correct. Almost none are. That's why I started this thread.

Victron MPPT require +5V (0A, Voc) above battery to START working. PV must remain +1V above battery voltage to continue operating.
 
I bought a Genasun to play with charging 48 volt LiFePO4 batteries using Peltier devices. When I was done with that project, I sent them an email asking what I could do to use it to charge from an unlimited current source, like a 24 volt alternator. They responded within days, I sent it back and the installed custom firmware (for a fee of course.)
But how’s that for unbelievable customer service?
 
The folks at ECO-WORTHY are pretty cool.

I bought 4 130 Flex panels from them and sweet talked them into sending me FOR FREE, the 390w Kit accessories that include all the wires and their "Boost MPPT Solar Charge Controller 12A Solar Panel Regulator". I just received it. Now I have enough to hook up a 390w power station with an extra panel, if an extended hurricane related power outtage happens before I have everything to use all 4 panels. I am now prepared with a 390w solution to charge one 24v 100a lifepo4 battery pack at a time. That will power my wheelchair and with inverters connected with Anderson connectors I can wheel them around and run a microwave, dorm fridge and laptop in comfort...

Of course, you can't over panel these Boost MPPT Solar Charge Controller 12A Solar Panel Regulators with the full 520w of four panels. It won't handle more than three at best.

The 40A charge controller in their 520W kit is what is what they send out. But hey, whaddaya want for nuthin' ??? I too would rather go with Smart and Blue...

I am waiting for a Victron MPPT 100 30 that I traded up from the Victron MPPT 100 20 that I had planned to use, after realizing that the Victron MPPT 100 20 too small to run my 4 panels at 520W, which is my goal.

Hence, this MPPT Solar Charge Controller 12A Solar Panel Regulator is a spare part that I am trying to figure out what else it might be good for. Many possibilities. Maybe I will hook it up with a panel to an old 12v car battery or one of my old half dead 12v agm batteries to make a small 12v dc solar fan as air conditioning for the panels ... :unsure:

Kudos Eco-Worthy for value and great customer support!

I am not a shill, just a delighted customer (so far ...)
 
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sunshine_eggo said:
That device expects a sufficient power supply to provide its maximum output, so the moment the panel can't supply the set voltage and current, it shuts down. There will also be no MPPT function whatsoever.

If you set it to a voltage and current that is < 50W, then it will work when the panel can meet those needs. It will never output more than 50W, and if the panel can't supply 50W, it shuts down.

For $10 more for the ECO-WORTHY, it makes a lot more sense to go with a MPPT charger designed to boost.



Correct. Almost none are. That's why I started this thread.

Victron MPPT require +5V (0A, Voc) above battery to START working. PV must remain +1V above battery voltage to continue operating.
Click to expand...
 
The folks at ECO-WORTHY are pretty cool. I bought 4 130 Flex panels from them and sweet talked them into sending me FOR FREE, the 390w Kit accessories that include all the wires and their Boost "MPPT Solar Charge Controller 12A Solar Panel Regulator". I just received it.

Of course, you can't over panel these with the 520w of 4 panels. It will handle 3. They send out their 40A charge controller on the 520W kit. But hey, whaddaya want for nuthin' ??? I just don't have the gall to ask for their 40A charge controller for free too.

I am waiting for a Victron MPPT 100 30 that I traded up from the Victron MPPT 100 20 that I had planned to use, because the Victron MPPT 100 20 too was marginally just under spec for 4 of these panels.

Hence, this MPPT Solar Charge Controller 12A Solar Panel Regulator is a spare part that I am trying to figure out what else it might be good for. Many possibilities. Maybe if I find a small cheap panel I will hook it up to an old car or one of my old half dead 12v agm batteries to make a small 12v dc solar fan, so as to serve as air conditioning for the panels ... :unsure:

Kudos Eco-Worthy for value and great customer support!
 
sunshine_eggo said:
It comes up from time to time if there's a way to use lower voltage PV to charge higher voltage batteries:

Here are a few options:




Not an endorsement. Just some options.
Click to expand...
I'm sorry if this question is answered in another more appropriate thread(NOOB, my first post ever)...but Is there any boost mechanism to activate an AIO with a PV operation voltage range of 120-450VDC, using less than 4 panels? I don't have room on my RV roof for the required minimum Voltage- The smallest panels I have found are 200W with 38.42 VMP, of which I would need 4 in series- but still dont have the room.
Is the answer just to use a separate solar charge controller for when in the van(2 panels, maybe 3 can fit), and then use the AIO with the 4 panels for off grid at home? (Battery and AIO on portable hand truck).
If so, any recs on an MPPT for above (2x 200W 38.42 vmp 5.52 amp) setup to charge a 24V 150 AH battery? Thanks in advance!
~JP
P.S.. I have the Sungold Power 3000W 24 V Solar inverter charger with these specs:
● Maximum Input Power: 4000W
● PV Charging Current : 0-80A
● Max.PV Open Circuit Voltage: 450V
● PV operation voltage range: 120-450VDC
● Mppt Voltage Range: 120-400VDC
● Recommended wire: 12 AWG
 
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OliversWilde said:
I'm sorry if this question is answered in another more appropriate thread(NOOB, my first post ever)...but Is there any boost mechanism to activate an AIO with a PV operation voltage range of 120-450VDC, using less than 4 panels?
Click to expand...

No.

OliversWilde said:
I don't have room on my RV roof for the required minimum Voltage- The smallest panels I have found are 200W with 38.42 VMP, of which I would need 4 in series- but still dont have the room.
Click to expand...

The high minimum voltage of the HV MPPT is often overlooked by folks.

OliversWilde said:
Is the answer just to use a separate solar charge controller for when in the van(2 panels, maybe 3 can fit), and then use the AIO with the 4 panels for off grid at home? (Battery and AIO on portable hand truck).
Click to expand...

120V is for VMP, so you're shooting for at least 160Voc to make sure you can still maintain 120V in hot temps. If your Vmp is 38.42 as you list below, 4S should be fine.

OliversWilde said:
If so, any recs on an MPPT for above (2x 200W 38.42 vmp 5.52 amp) setup to charge a 24V 150 AH battery? Thanks in advance!
~JP
P.S.. I have the Sungold Power 3000W 24 V Solar inverter charger with these specs:
● Maximum Input Power: 4000W
● PV Charging Current : 0-80A
● Max.PV Open Circuit Voltage: 450V
● PV operation voltage range: 120-450VDC
● Mppt Voltage Range: 120-400VDC
● Recommended wire: 12 AWG
Click to expand...

Victron Smartsolar 100/30 with the two panels in parallel.
 
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