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Old 12-25-17, 11:15 AM   #1
ecomodded
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Default 7210A-MPPT charge controller / step up only

First on the list wishing all a peaceful love filled day !

Next is this MPPT labeled controller that can be found for a suspiciously low price of $40 to $50.

Its marketed as a Solar lithium battery charger that will only step up the voltage as its designed to charge high capacity lithium battery packs.


It has a know bug when clouds first pass over it will stop charging for 10 - 15 seconds

Have a plan to test its input / output watt levels with a sine wave multi meter

Has anyone tested this against a actual mppt controller panel efficiency ?



Description

Intuitive user interface via simple LCD display for visualizing the main MPPT parameters: Charging current, Voltage, Power, Charge time.
Reverse protection circuitry.
Built-in 20 multi-purpose data groups: Set, Store, etc.
Different Working Modes: DC/DC – Boost; MPPT and DC/DC selectable; MPPT for main PV application usage.
Charging Options: Lead-acid- Accumulators; LiFePo4 packs; Li-Ion packs; Li-Poly packs.
100W-600W is the optimal solar PV panel.
Maximal Output Power: 600W
The controller has the automatically cut-off overload protection


Display :

TFT LCD 160 x 128 pixels

System Input Voltage Range[V]:

DC 12-60V

System Output Voltage Range[V]:

DC 15-90V, Adjustable

Output Current Range [A]:

0-10A Adjustable

Output Power Range [P]:

20-600W

Cooling type:

Passive with Heatsink
Active with Fan

Working Modes:

MPPT,
DC-DC out

Item Size: 5.2 x 3.8 x 2.2 inches

Weight: 384 g / 13.56 oz

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Old 12-25-17, 11:29 AM   #2
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Here's the manuals translation in proper English

Ming He MPT-7210A Manual Re-translation
Ming He MPT-7210A Specifications
Input Voltage: DC 12V ~ DC 60V
Output Voltage: DC 15V ~ DC 90V, can be adjusted to match the voltage requirement of 24V / 36V / 48V / 72V battery packs
Output Current: 0A ~ 10A
Output Power: 600W Maximum, optimal condition of 100W ~ 600W solar panels

Input Power*: 20W ~ 600W, 12 ~ 60V solar panels, or can be connected to battery packs, lithium battery packs, distributed household solar power systems, electric cars, wind turbines and solar street lamps
(*: I honestly don't know what "Scope" means in this case)

Properties: MPPT technology, automatic battery charge level adjustment, optimal for charging various kinds of battery packs, including lithium battery packs

Display: Color LCD, displays voltage, current, power (in kilowatts or amp-hours), and charge status

Mode: MPPT / DC-DC, MPPT can be used to charge batteries from solar panels while DC-DC mode can be used to step up or down voltage and current in power applications

Charging options: Charge mode can be set according to your needs, maximum of 20 presets can be stored inside the unit

Wiring
WARNING: Please do not mix up solar battery / input and battery / output, or swap positive and negative lines! Unit might explode or catch fire, resulting in property damage and/or loss of life.

1) Plug in solar panel to the top connector, note the polarity. Reverse polarity protection is not implemented!

2) Then, connect the battery wires, like what you did in the previous step. If solar panel connection has power, the display will turn on. If it doesn't, check the connection. Please note that solar panel should be placed outdoors where sun shines onto the panel!

Dimensions of the unit
Size of the unit: 103.5mm x 96mm x 55mm
Mounting bracket: 13.5mm x 67mm, hole spacing is 43mm apart
The two mounting holes are 117mm apart
The unit weighs 400g.

Please install the unit at -10 ~ 60 degrees Celsius, in a dry place.
LCD display can be easily damaged by shock or water infiltration. In order to prevent this, secure the unit to the wall or post firmly. Avoid areas with lots of impact or vibration, as it may cause the irreparable unit damage.
Avoid direct sunlight and rain.


Controls
SET: Set data
UP: Increase value - Hold to enter brightness adjustment menu
DOWN: Decrease value - Hold to calibrate the current measurement to 0
OK: Confirm changes / Turn on or off output - Hold to lock and unlock controls

Display
Setup mode
(Solar panel illustration): Solar panel voltage settings (maximum/optimal voltage?)
(Battery illustration)
(V part): Maximum battery changing voltage
(A part): Maximum charging current
(Box with X): Screen time-out timer
(AH / WH): Battery capacity setting
(000:00:00 part): Charge timer
(Floppy disk with arrow pointing outward): Load preset Number (n)
(OFF): Output status
(Padlock): Control lock status

Normal mode
(Solar panel illustration): Current solar panel input
(Battery illustration)
(V part): Current battery charging voltage
(A part): Current output current
(W): Current charging power in watts
(AH / WH): Cumulative charge capacity
(000:00:00 part): Cumulative charge time
(CV part / OK): Current charge status, OK means fully charged
(OFF): Output status
(Padlock): Control lock status
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Old 12-28-17, 03:23 PM   #3
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This guy has been using 3 of them for a year or more, this video and others in his series discuss them at some length. He's reasonably happy overall I think, the conclusion seems to be they work very well in good sunshine but efficiency at lower light levels isn't great.
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Old 12-28-17, 10:35 PM   #4
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This video helps fill in blanks from the first but its still vague at best.

I guesstimate his PV size is 1200 watts , he said the chargers peaked at 450w - 500w on occasion.



It appears this Monkey is charging 10KW with 3 of these chargers


When it gets here will test it with a Sine wave multimeter

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Old 12-29-17, 07:46 AM   #5
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Is there something in particular you're wondering about? That guy is pretty responsive to any questions in his video comments.
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Old 12-29-17, 07:45 PM   #6
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My question was has anyone tested this units efficiency against a know mppt charger efficiency.
I would of liked to compare its output to a larger traditional mppt to see what its doing or not doing
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Old 12-29-17, 08:14 PM   #7
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He has done some good testing of them @ 80v I will be using it in remote locations to charge 48v ebike batteries to 54v from two 100w 18v panels.

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Old 01-01-18, 03:45 AM   #8
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Given how cheap they are I'd probably just give it a go, he will have different input and output voltages so his efficiency will differ from yours also.
The best option of all if you wanted to spend more would be to pick up a Sunpower 300/327W panel, those have an MPP voltage of 54V, a very basic controller would suffice.
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Old 01-02-18, 12:53 PM   #9
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I like the sounds of the 54v panel but for my situation the lightweight semi flex panels with the sunpower cells are suited.

They are rated at 17.7v and will be wired in series

What makes them suitable for my use is they are just 3 mm thick salt water spray safe and durable enough you can walk on them , they bend 30 degrees and weigh 3.5 lbs 42" x 21" wide.

Bonus is they are 22% efficient



I have done some number crunching to see how the charge will compare to Mikes charge ratio

Mikes 1500w pv's to 10,000 wh battery = 1 to 6.6

My ratio with 200 watt PV into 750 wh in battery = 1 to 3.75

So I have close to twice the panel size ratio

In the future I will likely get two more semi flex panels as they pack together so well its of little inconvenience.
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Old 01-02-18, 02:51 PM   #10
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Sounds good, i'm sure the controller will work well for you an it will be interesting to see what the efficiency is like.
Those high quality flexible panels are lovely but they're a little too expensive for me still. Full sized panels are such a commodity item nowadays it's easy to find great deals on them from time to time. It's just a lot earlier in the life cycle of the flexible panels.

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