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frequently asked questions

Solar Charge Maximizer System Compared to Conventional MPPT Solar Charge Controller System

The concept of solar charge maximizing controller system is totally different from the concept of traditional MPPT solar charge controller system. Thanks to the technology of modern solar energy storage battery _Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Batteries, the Solar Charge Maximizing Controller (Maximizer) system can work seamlessly with the LiFePo4 battery. Because almost all the manufactured LFP has its battery management system (BMS) built inside the battery, the Solar Charge Maximizer will only need to monitor the system voltage to determine the voltage set point to cut out. 
Why do we need solar charge maximizing controller as we already have MPPT solar charge controller?
  1. The MPPT solar charge controllers work well to modulate the current supply to the energy storage batteries, when the battery is Lead/acid-based. However, the MPPT solar charge controller relies on the semiconductor to pass the current to the batteries, and it overheats easily to cause the controller to limit the power supply.

  2. The solar charge maximizer has one or more mechanical contact switch(es) built inside the controller to conduct high charging current to support continuous high current DC load.

  3. The patented technology of solar charge maximizing controller system allows the use of MPPT charge controllers in the same system to charge the battery to top off the batteries.

Why do you say that the Solar Charge Maximizer will save the LiFePo4 battery charging cycle life?
  1. The Solar Charge Maximizer passes the solar energy to the DC load directly. The energy from the solar array is not necessarily used for LFP battery charging. This is the reason why the LFP batteries' charging cycles are not consumed.

  2. The SCMC systems are using the LiFePo4 batteries as a reservoir to MAINTAIN the voltage of the LFP batteries.

  3. The SCMC takes the advantage of the LiFePo4 battery characteristic that the battery voltage is maintained in a very narrow range, while the battery capacity (SOC -state of charge) can span from 20% to 80 % of the range.

  4. This is the reason we recommend setting the SCMC voltage "START" charging at 20% to 50% of the SOC, and "STOP" charging when the SOC reaches 80%~90% of the SOC.

How could i tell if my MPPT solar charge cpntroller is common negative or common positive?

The common negative MPPT solar charge controller has its "PV-" and "Battery-" connected inside the controller. You may confirm that by checking the continuity between "PV-" and "Batt-" terminal with an ohm meter, when the MPPT is not connected to any wires. The common negative MPPT solar charge controller may only work with a common negative solar charge maximizing controller or maximizer to charge the same battery or the same battery bank.

The common positive MPPT solar charge controller has its "PV+" and "Battery+" connected inside the controller. You may confirm that by checking the continuity between "PV+" and "Batt+" terminal with an ohm meter, when the MPPT is not connected to any wires. The common positive MPPT solar charge controller may only work with a common positive solar charge maximizing controller or maximizer to charge the same battery or the same battery bank.

In a solar charge maximizer system, why the solar panels' service life can be extended as compared to the high voltage solar string system.

The majority of the solar panels are connected in parallel to power the DC load directly.  The voltage of the parallelly connected panels matches the DC load nominal voltages. The voltage is much lower than the high voltage solar string, and there are no "Potential Induced Degradation (PID)" issues in the solar charge maximizer system. As a result, the panels' service life in a solar charge maximizer system lasts much longer than the solar panels in the high voltage system.

The MC connectors' in the SCMC system are not subject to high voltage, it will not cause shock or fire hazard as compared to the high voltage system. 

The MC connectors in a SCMC system handle a maximum 24 amps. We use split bolt connection for any junction that connects more than three panels parallel, with more than 24 amps current.