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herbnz

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Joined: 18/02/2007
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 258

Posted: 04:37am 26 Aug 2014

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Has there been anyone who has used one of the many solar mppt requlators to control the output of a dc generator ? Note not thinking of Hydro or Wind where load dumping is required. I see these Solar Regulators are now available Aliexpress or ebay for very little.

Herb

davef
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Joined: 14/05/2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 499

Posted: 10:24am 26 Aug 2014

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I had read somewhere that you were not suppose to use a MPPT controller on a microhydro. However, my unit's RPM (unloaded) was not unreasonable so I decided to see how it performed with a MPPT controller.

O/C DC voltage is 90V and then fed into a 28V battery bank. Got an extra 10% or so, compared with just dumping the microhydro directly into the battery.

I put it back on the solar PV. If I had the microhydro running 24/7 it would make more sense to put in that source as I get more power from that system.

Edited by davef 2014-08-27

herbnz

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Joined: 18/02/2007
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 258

Posted: 06:58am 28 Aug 2014

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Thanks Dave I will try a little experimenting. What brand Mppt? I have Tristar and a Chinese cheap o called Tracer both operate well on solar.
The reason I want to use them is on a boat that I am experimenting with hybrid operation and I want to charge a 48v bank as 4 12v banks each with its own regulator and supply.

Herb

davef
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Joined: 14/05/2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 499

Posted: 10:08pm 29 Aug 2014

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Herb,

It is a Tracer 2210RN. Or should I say ... was. Unfortunately, due to a slip-up on my part, the microhydro output ended up going into the Battery input ... without the battery connected. It did not like 60VDC into the 13.5/26V battery input!

Took a bit of effort to disassemble it and can not see any damage at all. Scrapped all the tropical coating off the ICs to try and reverse engineer it, ie stick a bunch of application notes out of datasheets together!

I looks like a well designed and constructed unit.

I have had a look for a schematic , but can't find one. Any hints?

Cheers,
Dave

herbnz

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Joined: 18/02/2007
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 258

Posted: 11:41am 02 Sep 2014

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Hi Dave

Its the same model Tracer I have.
I would suspect there would be a voltage regulator that did not like the overvoltage.
I take it the unit is dead . I will likely be buying the Four 150 volt versions from China must be 2215. Seems they are $130 US$ with free shipping.
I could dismantle my unit and test voltage points that could help you with your fault finding. I find that repairs are not worth it these days also the high temp solder is a pain.

Herb

davef
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Joined: 14/05/2006
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 499

Posted: 08:15pm 02 Sep 2014

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Herb,

Thanks for the offer but I found the dead switching regulator chip U13, the 3V3 unit for supplying the microprocessor. I have substituted a LM317 with some increase in "self-consumption" ... and it is now working.

element14 even have the part in stock. There are good quality parts in this unit. I have scrapped all the gunk off the ICs and will make a separate posting for the benefit of others.

Cheers,
DaveEdited by davef 2014-09-04

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