OutBack Power Technologies User Forum

Sunnyatnight wrote: ↑Mon May 02, 2022 6:08 am It’s a shame the sizing tool seems to show this is ok.

In an ideal world the String Sizing tool would allow for input of the solar panel tilt and azimuth as well as location/latitude of the array as these will all affect the output power/amps of the solar array.

Now you just need to find something to use all that free excess power

.../.. EXAMPLE: 2 strings of 6 Volt S6-460AGM models 20 hr AH rate = 415 AH x (2 strings) = 830 AH I = 20% of 830 AH = 166 Amps T = 0.38 x 830/166 = 1.9 hrs Based on this example, is that assuming 2 strings in parallel? I'm confused by the 830AH Calculation. My goal is to just run a full charge cyc...

santafedave wrote: ↑Thu Mar 31, 2022 6:18 pm ....I am waiting on the Toyota solid state system with a Hybrid motor. Will be cheaper and it won't break!

These new Solid State batteries will not just revolutionize EVs/HEVs but should also be a significant step up for solar battery systems - safer and even faster recharge.

You can also look at dropping the max output from the FM charge controller(s) by limiting their output to 1amp less than their maximum. It will still allow brief over amp excursions but not any sustained ones.

Always good to check your connections! Although a failure like that looks like something was set incorrectly or there is alot of corrosion Looks like a connection was loose / not torqued to the required spec. Many years ago, my parent moved into their new house and in Winter plugged a heater in to ...

vincjwan wrote: ↑Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:45 am Any recommendations ... ???
Thx

Check all your battery-cable connections and make sure they are tightened to the same torque.

If you know anyone that's gotten 20 years out of a set, do what they're doing. Never going below 20% DoD should get me there on my batteries :wink: OPzV solar CyleLifeCurve.jpg But it will never happen in reality as I already see some battery block voltage deviations - especially the one which has ...

Good day guys, We have a single FlexMax 80 charge controller on a solar panel system. After absorbing the controller doesn't switch to float but a "Charged" status. I have checked all connections to batteries and all are tight and there is not a generator or other means of power input. Su...

raysun wrote: ↑Sun Sep 19, 2021 8:08 pm ../..
This is from super-far in left field, but did the ../..

Maybe even further left field - is the inverter on/off jumper still in place?

occamsrazor wrote: ↑Sat Sep 11, 2021 7:39 am Thanks Mike. But just to confirm… the Mate 3S model will work with VFX3024E regardless of the inverter’s firmware version… right?

Best to send an email to Outback Sales, they will give you a definitive answer.

In the wiring diagram in the Flexmax manual on page 41 shows the panels connected to the controller through a series circuit. Can the panels instead be connected through a parallel circuit? Most solar arrays are series & parallel. Series to get the string voltage higher to give the Mppt charge ...

raysun wrote: ↑Mon Aug 23, 2021 9:47 am ../.. studies on low discharge / long cycle life relationships ./..

Another factor that is equally as important to battery life is the temperature.

For my batteries they show the following relationship :

../.. Regular days I get 50v at the end of the day and I "dont think" there was much usage but still I have almost no charge left, 50v. I feel cheated somehow. I wish I could close the day with more volts in the battery bank. So, if the end of day solar output was only 2.2kWH from your 23...

konstantin.neo wrote: ↑Wed Aug 18, 2021 5:21 pm
I am not been able to charge the battery bank properly so far. Bank have reached 52-53v but not much more.

Further to what Raysun asked, are you using AC power from the system while you are trying to recharge the batteries?

voltages check 120-ish open circuit. Nothing seems burned or in bad shape. From what I have found, the data sheet for your solar panels shows the solar panel VoC to be 45.15V With three in series this puts the VoC too close to the 150V limit of the FM80. I suggest you should only have/need two pane...

HwnVoltge wrote: ↑Tue Aug 17, 2021 10:31 pm
Suggestions on how to address this?

Probably flaws/imperfections in the paint.
Best use a rust converter (phosphoric acid) to treat the existing corrosion and then apply a zinc rich paint over the corroded areas.

@SandyP, do you know if the FP2-3048A-300AFCI would be a drop in replacement? It looks to be. You may need to specify that you want the "harsh environment" version which I expect will just be a unit using non vented inverters (spec sheet says : Sealed models available for operating in har...

raysun wrote: ↑Wed Aug 11, 2021 9:56 am I find dropping a note to the Sales department gets the quickest response.

Done, response was :

Yes it will still be compatible.

Thank you,

David Hamilton
Sales Representative II

../.. The system has been running for 7 years and subjected to significant corrosion due to the salt air. I think the inverter might be corroded and that the GS4048A, GSLC175 and Mate 3 all need to be replaced. Does that sound reasonable? From the info provided as well as the photos replacement may...

raysun wrote: ↑Tue Aug 10, 2021 7:08 pm ../..
I'd assume yes...

...and you know what they say about assume...

That's why I created a new topic - hopefully someone from Outback can confirm compatibility or not?.

Just wanting to know that if I purchase a new FM80 that its firmware is still compatible with an old Mate2 (installed in 2010)? I see the data sheet says : "The integrated OutBack Power network communications allow FLEXmax series charge controllers to be remotely programmed and monitored using ...

../.. - The only sound within the inverter is the start up fan after the battery breaker has been cycled. The system has been running for 7 years and subjected to significant corrosion due to the salt air. I think the inverter might be corroded and that the GS4048A, GSLC175 and Mate 3 all need to b...

Hello guys, I bought a 4Kw solar array that can produce 4.3 kW at times. I have a Radian 4048 inverter. Can the inverter be damaged if production exceeds 4kw? What equipment do you have in your system? Unless you have a solar array with micro inverters then the array will not be sending any power t...

../..The site has a 20A breaker, but is at best 110V in the trailer, when I have my max load (around 12-15A) it drops to 100V and depending on other sites as low as 94V. ../.. I also do not ever want the unit to switch me to AC mains. ../.. The VFXR has AC input limits as follows :  Voltage (GRID ...