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Post by riffelrw on Jul 31, 2019 16:49:50 GMT -8
Had a previous SunControl board burn out and got a replacement. It worked for a few days but overnight after the sun went down it stopped functioning and on of the IC's was extremely hot. Put comments under prior threat (http://forum.switchdoc.com/post/6299/thread) but wasn't sure if that worked since it's a "new" problem (although same symptoms).
I can't see it's anything I'm doing given the simple hookup and the fact it was working for 2 days. I heard there were other instances of this reported, any news on it? How should I handle replacing this one?
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Post by lbendlin on Jul 31, 2019 17:19:51 GMT -8
Is your solar cell input protected by a Zener diode of sufficient amperage? If not then you can end up with a failure mode like you describe.
On a rather unrelated note - the SunControl board is very susceptible to water - I had made the mistake of putting the solar powered) exhaust fan at the side of the box which during a targeted rainstorm allowed a few drops into the box. That was enough to fry one of my SunControl boards , also in the fashion you describe. Lesson learned - in the new box I'll put the fan at the bottom. |
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Post by riffelrw on Aug 1, 2019 5:04:14 GMT -8
I am running them through the the 1x4 suncontrol Mux board, which includes the diode on each leg. That said, I did have 4 different panels in bright sun running on a single mux,total output was in the 500ma to 900ma output, meaing the current hitting the diode in the reversa direction 0.9amp, so 3/4 of that was hitting the other diodes. I assume, since I got all the panels from them Switch, that the diodes were sized assuming maximum panel output on all 4 legs, but maybe not?
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Post by SDL on Aug 2, 2019 3:46:24 GMT -8
We think we know what is going on. SunControl seems to be sensitive to high input voltage (measure VOC) from solar cells. We are suggesting putting a 5.6V 10W Zener across the panels. We have a test system that has been working for months with the Diode connected. We have a Zener diode here: shop.switchdoc.com/products/10w-5-6v-zener-diode BP Read more: forum.switchdoc.com/thread/972/new-suncontrol-working#ixzz5vRYcrBit |
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