SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!
We have the Morningstar MPPT 60 and it certainly does offer complete customizability over voltages, times, etc. It has a built-in web server. Just connect to it through a router using the Morningstar software and make any changes to any parameter you want. If you don't want to connect wirelessly, just plug in either an ethernet or usb cable between it and your computer and do it that way.
Thank you Mark. I have read up on custom settings now on the Morningstar and will go that route.
I guess my question is now dealing with conflicting info. Superwind says it should have a higher absorption setting than the solar. Internet research indicates they should both be set identically. Since not everything on the Internet is true I am scratching my head a bit. Is there a definitive source that can explain the optimum settings?
By the time your batteries are at 14.7-14.8V, what precise setting each controller is at relative to each other will be meaningless. All that will happen is one or the other charging source will start to shut down. That doesn't matter because your batteries cannot take any more current then than either source can produce anyway.
Which source shuts down first is entirely up to you. For me, I would want the windgen shutting down as early as possible because of noise and vibration. If you set them both at the same voltage, then it will be luck of the draw each time - nothing wrong with that.
I suspect Superwind wants its equipment to rule the roost because it's charge controller is less sophisticated (just a guess) and doesn't control current well in absorption mode - where another low-current charging source may confuse it and cause it to spin up/stop/etc. Again, no big deal at that point with your solar capacity because it will support full absorption and not be just a trickle current confusing the windgen.
One thing to consider is a 12V water heater element and setting up the windgen to dump excess into it rather than shutting down. Best of both worlds then.
When your batteries drop lower in voltage because of load, or at night, the charging sources will kick back in again as needed.
Thanks Mark. Thst is helpful. I do have a dump load on the wind genny. The SCR controller is PWM and not as "smart" as the Morningstar. I will try a few different settings and monitor to see if I can find a good balance. Cheers!
Sent from my Pixel C using Tapatalk
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
SailNet Community
1.7M posts
173.8K members
Since 1990
A forum community dedicated to Sailing, boating, cruising, racing & chartering. Come join the discussion about sailing, destinations, maintenance, repairs, navigation, electronics, classifieds and more