Thank you Ryan! Exactly the video I needed to get a better understanding of how the controller interfaces to the breaker box. Now it is very clear to me.

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

2 жыл бұрын

Great to hear!

Done like a pro. I enjoy your video's. I wish I knew half as much as you about solar.

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

2 жыл бұрын

Well electricity is something Ryan has played with for a long time (He is getting old LOL) he says his first tree house as a kid he wired with dc lights and a transformer from a train set.

@tonyjohnson1068

2 жыл бұрын

@@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497 I've been a electrician for 30 years , retired now . working on my first solar project. It was like going back to school again. much different then wiring a building.

Poor mans hammer the old farmer trick with the pliers. LOL

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

2 ай бұрын

Everything is a hammer, unless it's a screwdriver then it is a chisel.

For CTL70- 12V battery what is the battery charging voltage to set it up on the classic charge control. ?

These units are covered with stickers telling you not to use a common ground. Am I right?

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

10 ай бұрын

No, Some other charge controllers do not want you using a common negative but the Classic can use common negatives as it does all sensing on the positive side

I just watched a video by Midnight Solar about Ground Fault breakers for the panels. When do you need to use them?

I have a battery bank of 10 12V 70A each. can this charge controller charge them with no problem ? thanks

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, provided you have enough Solar Modules

i am using non polarized DC breakers only. paralleling multiple strings, if one panel short cuts you will have a reverse flow, the breaker triggers and most likely catch fire. and not release 100%.

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

3 жыл бұрын

Well I know this is a debate, I know that Midnite has sold millions of these and I have never heard of a fire when used within the specs. I wont argue non polarized breakers are easier as one doesn't have to think about current flow direction. I know that Midnite has a line of non polarized breakers hitting the market this spring some time so we can look forward to that.

@ursodermatt8809

3 жыл бұрын

@@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497 yes midnite have heard of fire in one of their polarized breakers. the fellow installed it the wrong way though. his youtube video has been withdrawn. (something went wrong with his refurbished midnite classic and he turn off the breaker.) in australia it is in the regulation to install non polarized dc breakers. because so many solar installers fitted them in wrong.

Ryan I have a question. my midnight classic 150 . I went in to try and turn on the blue LED lights and the book says that it will talk as well. I was having trouble navigating the system and I got in some placing that I didn't even know what it was , I failed in turning on the sound and light. But when I got back to the main screen I noticed my in put PV voltage was only 56 volts and it should be 120 and my Battery bank is 48 but it was reading 54 at the time. and as my battery bank went down because of the load my pv in put went down with it. I went to the book and tried to figure out what I did and went back in the controller also but I can't figure it out. so I did a factory reset with pin one and the boot pin and that worked I reset my battery parameters and all seemed good. my in put voltage is mid 90's very hot and sunny day should be 120 but I think the panels are so hot I'm loosing some voltage . amp in put 40s but I notice my batteries are not charging as fast as before. I added some more panels and bumped up the amps input to 60 and still very slow charge. I did a manual equalize and that is set at 57 volts. and it's a clear sunny day in Florida and it would only reach 53 amp on the battery bank. before it would reach 57v in 2 hours before I did the reset. Any clue of what I might have done.

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

2 жыл бұрын

Tony, Good question but I am going to bet it is just the heat and humidity. The have in the air will drop production more than anyone assumes. I would also reach out to Todd at Midnite todd@midnitesolar.com he can help you with the led's and voice and verify your settings with you

@tonyjohnson1068

2 жыл бұрын

@@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497 I did call Todd today he said that if I did a factory reset then all I have to do is set up the battery parameters. he also said that with the size of my battery bank My panels can't charge it .not enough panels. But they have been charging it for 2 months. then I told him I was running 2 small A/C units then he said it can't do that . But again I have ran 2 AC unit 4 amps each On a 8000 watt split phase inverter all day for about 5 weeks no problem. now I can't get it to even charge my battery bank with no load. I need 2 more charge controllers but I have to decide if I want a High tech midnight classic or a simple rover. I have heard midnight is the best on the market but you have to be very tech savvy and I'm not. Right now my controller is not charging at all. and for 5 weeks it was cranking out power. Nothing against Todd he did his best , hard to trouble shoot on the phone. I'm in Florida we have 10 hours a day of sun most days. Can you ask Ryan if un hooking and hooking up panels from the PV bus bar when the system is runny and that little spark could it have burn up a relay or something inside. I just know what it was putting out it charged my battery bank up to 57 v with no load in 3 hours. with 2 ac's it would charge it to 55 to 56 v in a day. now it's on 51 volts no load. today was cloudy but I know it's just not doing what it was before.

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

2 жыл бұрын

@@tonyjohnson1068 I do know that most MPPT style controllers can suffer damage if the pv side is shorted while running. Try emailing support@midnitesolar.com and tell them Ryan said to email them. (PS I will keep an eye for it and make sure you get the help you need)

@tonyjohnson1068

2 жыл бұрын

@@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497 Thank you I do appreciate you . any sorry for bothering you after hours. I know what it's like to do something all day , then some one wanting you to do it after work . it was very strange I went out to my solar trailer at 1 oclock and it was on absorb 58 volts to my surprise . Todd had me set it at 7 hours absorb and it was sunny so it went through the cycle and went in to float. so it is working . Todd told me my battery bank is to big for my array. and if you would please answer just one more question. my battery voltage goes up to 58 volts with no load , my inverter is off then every evening when the sun goes down with a load it goes to 51.9 seems like it would stay up longer . so is it not really charging my 48 volt bank? and I am getting use to the midnight classic. I'm going to get 2 more then hook up my 5 KW of panels. And again sorry for bothering you after work.

@aroundthehomesteadwithsuer3497

2 жыл бұрын

@@tonyjohnson1068 That is typical, To fill a lead acid battery we have to push it above the actual voltage to get it to except the current. As soon as the charger is shut off the voltage will fall rapidly to a resting voltage that is substantially less like you are seeing.