I am very naive about this business any advice appreciated. I have installed a new "PowerTech Solar Charge Controller" model3754 after adding extra solar panel, connecting is easy , HOWEVER , it has connection for load with 2 timer settings on controller my question is what type of load are they talking about connecting ? I only want the solar charge controller to control solar output to batteries. I asked Jaycar who are agents for Powertech and they couldnot answer my question. Help please.
johnhgh said
09:58 AM Apr 7, 2020
Don't worry about the load terminals. They are designed to run lights at night in a permanent set up at home etc.
Peter_n_Margaret said
11:07 AM Apr 7, 2020
johnhgh wrote:
Don't worry about the load terminals. They are designed to run lights at night in a permanent set up at home etc.
No, they are designed to run everything so that the controller can tell you what the output power usage is. The advertising says this one can have loads up to 30A.
Some controllers don't have a load capacity that is high enough though, so some other method is then required if you wish to track actual power used.
Cheers,
Peter
Jaahn said
12:30 PM Apr 7, 2020
Hi jeepnuger
Do you have a manual ? If not search and download one ! (edit) There is one on the Jaycar site !
That is a basic controller (edit) It looks similar to an old one of mine. But it looks to have the minimum functions to work OK.
You can use the load connections for your van load but ensure the load is not too high for it. The switch functions are explained in the manual but to give a simpler answer, they are mostly made to control outside lights, as johnhigh has said. So T1 sets the time to turn them on, T2 sets the time to turn them off.
"NOTE Timer1 hour setting controls the time the load is turned ON after entering night mode;
Timer2 hour setting controls the time the load is turned OFF after Timer1 has finished. Once Timer2 is finished, the load will turn ON automatically untill dawn.(See below diagram)
There are 2 modes of night light load control available: Standard Controller Mode and Evening/Morning Mode. To program standard controller mode, set NLF=OFF."
Good luck these manuals are hard to understand.
Jaahn
Note some mistakes edited now !
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 8th of April 2020 07:31:44 AM
Brenda and Alan said
06:13 PM Apr 7, 2020
Jaahn jaycar sell this controller MP-3754 as a PWM controller, not a MPPt type.
Alan
jeepnudger said
06:28 PM Apr 7, 2020
Thankyou to all for your answers.
Jeepnudger
Jaahn said
07:36 AM Apr 8, 2020
Brenda and Alan wrote:
Jaahn jaycar sell this controller MP-3754 as a PWM controller, not a MPPt type.
Alan
Hi Alan
Thanks for that correction and I have edited my post above.
My search engine snuck in a different model number which I did not notice. Interesting that some places sell a model with a different number that looks just the same as MPPT. Hmm as I have said before there are lots of fakes out there.
I am very naive about this business any advice appreciated. I have installed a new "PowerTech Solar Charge Controller" model3754 after adding extra solar panel, connecting is easy , HOWEVER , it has connection for load with 2 timer settings on controller my question is what type of load are they talking about connecting ? I only want the solar charge controller to control solar output to batteries. I asked Jaycar who are agents for Powertech and they couldnot answer my question. Help please.
No, they are designed to run everything so that the controller can tell you what the output power usage is. The advertising says this one can have loads up to 30A.
Some controllers don't have a load capacity that is high enough though, so some other method is then required if you wish to track actual power used.
Cheers,
Peter
Hi jeepnuger
Do you have a manual ? If not search and download one ! (edit) There is one on the Jaycar site !
That is a basic controller (edit) It looks similar to an old one of mine. But it looks to have the minimum functions to work OK.
You can use the load connections for your van load but ensure the load is not too high for it. The switch functions are explained in the manual but to give a simpler answer, they are mostly made to control outside lights, as johnhigh has said. So T1 sets the time to turn them on, T2 sets the time to turn them off.
"NOTE Timer1 hour setting controls the time the load is turned ON after entering night mode;
Timer2 hour setting controls the time the load is turned OFF after Timer1 has finished. Once Timer2 is finished, the load will turn ON automatically untill dawn.(See below diagram)
There are 2 modes of night light load control available: Standard Controller Mode and Evening/Morning Mode. To program standard controller mode, set NLF=OFF."
Good luck these manuals are hard to understand.
Jaahn
Note some mistakes edited now !
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 8th of April 2020 07:31:44 AM
Jaahn jaycar sell this controller MP-3754 as a PWM controller, not a MPPt type.
Alan
Thankyou to all for your answers.
Jeepnudger
Hi Alan
Thanks for that correction and I have edited my post above.
My search engine snuck in a different model number which I did not notice. Interesting that some places sell a model with a different number that looks just the same as MPPT. Hmm as I have said before there are lots of fakes out there.
Jaahn