Hey guy i know this doesn't belong here but i didn't know where to put it other than general chat.
i need somebody that knows all about solar systems.


This is my charge controller..
i have:
4 x 12V120Ah bateries in parallel =5760W
8 x 100w solar panels 18Vmax 5.5Amax per panel..... 2 sets of 4 in parallel and then those 2 in series,= 24Vmin 22A max system...

my charge controller has stopped picking up my panel, when i measure the panels i get 25V, so there is no problem there, but my charge controller does not charge the batteries as it doesnt pick up the panels as the panel icon is gone, i disconnect the wire and reconnects it and then the panel icon flashes and dissapears....,

my controller is obviously gone and needs to be replaced. but my question is why? what were the conditions that broke it?
did our heatwave this year of 40'C for a week, give too much voltage or amps for it to damage, can my panel setup even damage it?
1)did i have perhaps internal powerlosses that over heated some parts and died?.
2)did i have too much volt?
3) must i connect my panels in parallel for 18Vmax 44Amax or can i keep it as it is?

please advice. please.

 

Looks like you have a major voltage mismatch for the PWM charge controller.
https://ia801807.us.archive.org/32/items/manualzilla-id-5923695/5923695.pdf

1. Yes.
2. Yes. With a PWM CC the panel volt input should match the battery bank voltage.
3. If you want to continue using a PWM CC with a 12vdc battery banck then parallel for 18Vmax 44Amax is the recommended connection.
4. Cheaply made charge controller, upgrade to a 'real' MPPT charge controller that will convert a (higher than battery bank) panel voltage efficiently to the battery bank voltage.

https://www.morningstarcorp.com/faq/what-are-the-different-types-of-solar-charge-controllers/
MPPT vs PWM | The two major types of solar charge controllers are:

 

Looks like you have a major voltage mismatch for the PWM charge controller.
https://ia801807.us.archive.org/32/items/manualzilla-id-5923695/5923695.pdf

1. Yes.
2. Yes. With a PWM CC the panel volt input should make the battery bank voltage.
3. If you want to continue using a PWM CC with a 12vdc battery banck then parallel for 18Vmax 44Amax is the recommended connection.
4. Cheaply made charge controller, upgrade to a 'real' MPPT charge controller that will convert a (higher than battery bank) panel voltage efficiently to the battery bank voltage.

https://www.morningstarcorp.com/faq/what-are-the-different-types-of-solar-charge-controllers/
MPPT vs PWM | The two major types of solar charge controllers are:

ah shit. ok i had a suspicion. just needed to be sure.... it did last a year and a half though. thank you for the advice.

 

ah shit. ok i had a suspicion. just needed to be sure.... it did last a year and a half though. thank you for the advice.

 

Looks like you have a major voltage mismatch for the PWM charge controller.
https://ia801807.us.archive.org/32/items/manualzilla-id-5923695/5923695.pdf

1. Yes.
2. Yes. With a PWM CC the panel volt input should match the battery bank voltage.
3. If you want to continue using a PWM CC with a 12vdc battery banck then parallel for 18Vmax 44Amax is the recommended connection.
4. Cheaply made charge controller, upgrade to a 'real' MPPT charge controller that will convert a (higher than battery bank) panel voltage efficiently to the battery bank voltage.

https://www.morningstarcorp.com/faq/what-are-the-different-types-of-solar-charge-controllers/
MPPT vs PWM | The two major types of solar charge controllers are:

If i may ask,
1)do i still need to look for mppt controllers that can support my max panel amps output or does that not matter anymore?
2)should i keep the 25vmin 32A max setup and get a 12v/24v 40A Mppt CC? or should i aim for higher amps support that can support my 18vmax 44Amax output setup also??
3) does the voltage converted by mppt CC to amps add up to amps already in the system from panels? in which case it needs to be higher support than system can deliver. right?

 

1&2: I would go for the MPPT controller at at least 60A if you keep the battery bank at 12vdc. Once you get much above 500W with 12v systems the current demands (charge controller currents get large) and wire losses (need larger copper wiring) start to increase quickly.
3: The MPPT has a converter (Buck, Boost, or Buck-Boost depending upon the voltage difference) of electrical energy that transforms one voltage*current power level (25v * 32A) to another (with small losses) equivalent voltage*current power level. Think and calculate in energy/power and then make sure the charge controller can operate, handle the supplied, required, in/output voltage and current levels at those power levels.