There are many popular solar charge controllers from EPEver/EPSolar in the market, but the configuration and monitoring options are limited and complicated out-of-the-box. However, by connecting the charge controller to a PC, you get a lot of options.
EPEver / EPSolar charge controllers are usually just plug-and-play, and some, like the Tracer-BN series, comes without a display altogether. Although you can buy the MT50, a display with buttons that gives status and configuration options, it is quite cumbersome to work with.
Luckily, you can connect most EPEver / EPSolar charge controllers to your PC (Windows only), and use EPEver's downloadable software to both do the configuration and monitoring. You don't have to keep the PC connected after configuration is done unless you want to monitor your solar charger(s) continuously. All you need to connect the charge controller to your PC is an RS485 to USB cable. This can usually be purchased from the same stores that sell the controller.
Getting the EPEver solar station software
The software you need can be downloaded from the EPEVER website.
Download and install the program called Charge Controller V1.xx - Windows .zip. The software is compatible with the Tracer-A, Tracer-AN, Tracer-BN, Tracer-BP, Tracer-BPL, Tracer-CN, iTracer, eTracer, LandStar-B, LandStar-BPL, ViewStar-BN, TRIRON, XTRA, and GoMate charge controller series.
Installing the solar station monitor software from EPEver
Unpack the downloaded file
Open Charge Controller V1.xx-Windows > PCSoftware, right-click on the setup file and run as administrator
Follow the installation guide (click Next, Next and Close)
The software is now installed on your computer and is named Solar Station MonitorV1.xx
PS! Do NOT delete the installation folder yet, you will need to install the cable driver later on.
Double click Solar Station MonitorV1.xx to open it. On startup, a window called Station Information appears. Close this window.
In the left column, delete the station that is already added, by right-clicking on COMxxx record, select Remove Port, and confirm by clicking Yes.
Close the solar station monitor software for now, as you will have to install the USB driver for the cable first.
Install the EPEver RS485 to USB driver
Connect the RS485 to USB cable to your PC (the USB connector) and the charge controller (RS485), and install the driver for it:
OpenCharge Controller V1.xx-Windows> USBDriver, and double-click on the Setup file. Follow the steps until the driver has been installed.
Open the Device Manager in Windows (Right-click the Start button or press the Windows logo + X key combination on the keyboard and, from the list, click to select Device Manager)
In the left menu, click Ports, then double-click on xxxxxxx USB UART (COM3). Select the Port Settings tab, and make sure that the RS-485 checkbox is checked. If not, check the box and press OK to close the device window.
Close Device Manager.
Configuring the solar station monitor software
Double-clickSolar Station MonitorV1.xx on your desktop to start the charge controller software. Once again, the configuration window appears. There are a few steps you need to go through before the software can communicate with the charge controller:
When the Controller tab is selected, make sure Port is set to COM3.
Click the Station Information tab. Change the Station name to something meaningful (default is Num1)
Uncheck the box at the bottom of the window that says "Open Station Information dialogue box..." to avoid the config box to appear every time you open the software.
Click Add.
You're almost ready to begin using the software, however, there is one last step:
In the top menu, select Port Config(C) > Port Configuration
Make sure COM3 is selected as Port, and click Add
Close the window
Now, click Start Monitoring, and within a few seconds, you should see some live* data from your charge controller.
* updated every 30 seconds, but can be modified.
What does the charge controller monitoring data say?
First, congratulations, you have managed to connect your EPEver / EPSolar charge controller to your PC and is now able to both configure and monitor your solar power system easily.
To get some more space for the monitoring data, you may hide some not so useful sections.
Select View(V) from the top menu, and uncheck both Tool Bar(T), Station Explorer and Message Window.
In the upper section, you have all the "live" data from the charge controller. Well, it's actually not completely live but is downloaded every few seconds from the charge controller. You can actually change how often the information should be refreshed, by changing the interval(s) value. The default value is every 30 seconds, which is just fine for most people.
The information is divided into four sub-sections:
Solar Information
Solar Current (A): This shows how many Amps are currently coming from your solar panel or solar array (solar panels that are connected together). If you compare with the short circuit current or rated current on the back of your solar panel, you can get an impression on how much of the total capasity you're getting out of it at any given time.
Solar Voltage (V): The voltage that is coming from the solar panel.
Solar Power (W): To get the solar power in Watt, the software multiply Amps with Voltage; (A)*(V) = (W)
Solar Status
Battery information
Battery Voltage (V): The voltage of the battery. Normally a little above 12V when idle, up to 13.x when charging, but it should not drop below 10.8. However, the charge controller will turn off the load if the battery voltage drops too low, in order to protect the battery.
Battery Current (A)
Max Voltage (V): The highest voltage since the monitoring started.
Min Voltage (V): The lowest voltage since the monitoring started.
Battery Temp.: If you have connected a temperature sensor to your charge controller and placed in on the battery, this will show the current temperature of your battery. Should normally be around the same temperature as the surrounding air. A very hot battery can be a sign of a short circuit.
Battery SOC(%): State of charge. This percentage value has to be taken with a grain of salt. It's better to look at the battery voltage and the load wattage; It the load is low and the battery voltage is low, then the SOC is actually low. However, you might have a heavy low (also directly on the battery). If so, the battery voltage might drop as well.
Charging Status: Float charge, boost charge, or equalizing charge.
Battery Status: Notifies if something is wrong with the battery, but you might take it with a grain of salt. If you get an error, you may try disconnecting the battery from the solar charge controller, and put it on an "intelligent" 12V battery charger for a while to see if it takes charge.
DC Load Information
Load Current (A): The amount of current that is drawn through the load output of the solar charging controller.
Load Voltage (V): The voltage on the load output.
Load Power (W): Load Amp times load Voltage; (A)*(V) = (W)
Load Status
Controller Information
Device Temp.: The temperature of the charger. Under high charge and/or load, the solar charge controller will heat up, so make sure it has some airflow around it.
Device Status: Notifies you if the charge controller is okay, or if there is an error. In case of an error, try disconnecting both the solar panel and the battery connections, then reconnect to see if the error is gone.
In addition, you have the Load Control, where you can manually turn the power output from the charge controller on and off.
The solar station monitor graphs and statistics
In the lower section, you have some statistics and charts available. The charts are incremented as long as the monitoring is active, and you might want to clear the charts once in a while. You can do so by right-clicking on the chart, then select Clear.
In the left column, you have some key numbers of how much power your solar setup has generated; daily, monthly, annual, and in total. You also have the same numbers for power consumption through the controller load.
In the Real Time Curve sub-section, you have access to 3 different charts; Voltage, Current, and Power.
The voltage chart shows the voltage development over time for both the solar panel, the battery, and the load. For some unknown reason, the battery curve does not show up in our setup.
The current chart shows the Amperage curves for the solar panel, the battery (the current going from the controller and into the battery), and the load.
The power chart is the most useful, in our opinion. It shows the wattage development for the solar panel and the load. Here, you get an impression of how well your solar panel setup is performing. In our setup, we use a 200W panel, but it's rear to have the wattage above 180W.
Changing the settings for the EPEver solar charge controller with the software
It's possible to do some tweaking of the settings on the charge controller with the solar station monitor as well.
To enter the settings panel, select Parameters (P) > Control Parameter > Control Parameter from the top menu.
Before you can change anything, you have to fetch the current settings from your charge controller. Click the Read button in the bottom left corner to download the current settings.
From here, you can change most of the parameters. However, be careful and know what you're doing; altering the settings can potentially damage the battery and equipment connected to the charge controller.
We have found that most of the default settings are just fine. But you might want to alter the battery type and battery capacity according to what you have connected to your solar setup.
If you change any settings, remember to click the Update button in order to write or upload the changes to the charge controller.
Overall this is a good unit, you can not beat the price. This is a TRUE MPPT controller as long as the wattage for conversion is over 10 watts (if below 10 watts it behaves much like a PWM controller). Great price for an MPPT solar controller. This unit is packed full of features and performs well in my environment.
It regulates the voltage and current coming from the solar panels going to the battery. Most "12 volt" panels put out about 16 to 20 volts, so if there is no regulation the batteries will be damaged from overcharging. Most batteries need around 14 to 14.5 volts to get fully charged.
Again, the answer is yes. If you can drive lag bolts and assemble prefabricated parts, and if you're willing to spend a day or two on your roof (or not, if you're mounting your panels on the ground), you can install your own solar system.
There should always be a fuse between the battery and the rest of the circuits. As for its rating, I installed 3 times bigger than the max possible normal current. Fuses should be sized to suit the cables they protect.
For the most part, you do need a fuse between a solar panel and its charge controller as fuses and circuit breakers protect the wiring from getting too hot. This also prevents any appliances from catching fire or getting damaged should a short circuit occur.
What a MPPT charge controller does is that it boosts the voltage and the current of the system, as close as the I-V curve of the module. In this case, the MPPT charge controller charges the battery at almost 18.3 V and 11.48A, while using the most out of the solar panel.
Comments. Yes, you can connect two different arrays and charge controllers to the same battery bank. The Array 1 and Array 2 voltages could be different. And you can connect more than two arrays and charge controllers- all in parallel.
What Happens When Solar Power Batteries Are Full? Solar power systems use batteries to store solar energy. However, if the power generated exceeds the solar battery's capacity, it can overcharge the system. An overcharged solar system can severely damage a battery's life.
If the battery has reached the float level, it will be full. Many charge controllers without a screen will have a light display that will indicate whether it is in bulk, absorption, or float phase and, thus, it will also indicate when the battery is full.
Therefore, the only way to protect batteries from overcharging is by using a charge controller or disconnecting them once they are fully charged. Charge controllers used in solar PV systems are generally named “Solar Charge Controller (SCC)”.
Fact vs Myth: Can Solar Energy Really Power an Entire House? [2021 Update] One of the most frequently asked questions by homeowners in regard to solar power is, “can it really power my entire house?” The answer to that is actually quite simple – yes, solar can indeed power your entire home.
While your solar panels had to be originally installed by a certified Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer, general maintenance can be performed by a suitably qualified electrician who can conduct the necessary checks and tests.
The electrical wiring and component installations are best left to the professionals. The correct answer might be that solar panel installation isn't difficult, but it is complex. If you're not a fan of being on a roof, or not comfortable working with electricity, then yes, it's hard to install solar panels yourself.
Solar panels can be used to charge batteries, but, more often than not, a battery cannot directly plug into the solar panel itself. A charge controller will usually be needed, which protects the battery by converting the panel's voltage output to one that is suitable for the battery being charged.
You take the total watts of the solar array divided by the voltage of the battery bank. That will give you the output current of the charge controller. For example, a 1000W solar array ÷ 24V battery bank = 41.6A. The rating of the charge controller should be at least 40A.
The fact that it is an MPPT controller isn't relevant to whether or not it will/can overcharge your batteries. MPPT only means that it will draw the most favourable amount of current from the panels and deliver this to the battery with as little losses as possible.
You may have a circuit breaker that has tripped out in the distribution board/fusebox. Check the distribution board/fusebox and if there is a tripped circuit, carefully try to reset this. Secondly, if there is no circuit breaker tripped out then you may have a faulty generation meter or a faulty supply to it.
A simple health check is to look at the colour of the lights shining on the box during daylight hours when the system's meant to be running. A green light on your inverter means your system is functioning properly. A red or orange light during daylight hours means there's a system event or fault.
The answer is no. A charge controller regulates the amount of current reaching the battery. They also detect when the solar battery is fully charged and stops any current from flowing into the solar battery.
When not connected to a device, a solar panel will still absorb sunlight but won't have anywhere for the energy to go. It has voltage, but no current is flowing. Because the voltage has nowhere to go, it will become heat in the solar cells and radiate from the panel until it dissipates.
MPPT demands the dc-dc converter in between PV array and load to keep the PV array voltage or current at MPP point for a particular condition of irradiation and temperature by controlling the duty ratio of converter (Villalva & Ruppert Filho, 2008. (2008).
In summary the best algorithms are those designed using the SASV-MPPT approach and Lyapunov de- sign method considering that the PV system can move from one characteristic to another. The proposed al- gorithms are the most efficient despite using low fre- quency commutation. They are the faster converging.
Overloading the charge controller with power from the solar array may damage the controller components, and it may lead to the melting of wires and damage to the system. Circuit breakers or fuses should be installed to prevent system damage and electrical fire.
A 200W solar panel will produce around 8-12 amps of current, so you'll want to get a charge controller that can handle 15 amps or more. Keep in mind that the charge controller's multiplier is around 1.25, so make sure you select a device with the correct wattage for your solar panel.
You can have multiple sources charging the same battery bank at the same time. Whether it is shore power, an alternator, a generator, solar panels, etc., it doesn't matter. Connect them all. Run them all at the same time.
You need around 760 watts of solar panels to charge a 12V 200Ah lithium battery from 100% depth of discharge in 5 peak sun hours with a PWM charge controller.
You cannot connect your solar panels directly to a battery. You will damage the battery when you connect your solar panels directly to your battery (lead-acid or lithium). You need a device that measures the state of charge of your battery and charges it accordingly, just like a car battery charger.
Though mixing different solar panels is not recommended, it's not forbidden and things would be ok as long as each panel's electrical parameters (voltage, wattage, amps) are carefully considered.
Solarius PV is the professional software for technical design and economic analysis for any type of photovoltaic system connected to national electricity grids (grid-connected).
Features: PV SOL is the 2D solar software design tool for simulating photovoltaic system performance. If you don't want to use 3D model shading and landscape visualization, then this is a well suited option.
Key Takeaways. China leads the world as the top producer of solar energy, installing more than 48 GW of photovoltaic (PV) capacity in 2020. The EU, the United States, Vietnam, and Japan are ranked as top solar producers. A gigawatt (GW) is a unit of measurement of electrical power.
What is solar software? Solar photovoltaic (PV) software is a design tool that assists solar development, construction and engineering companies to plan their PV projects for optimal energy efficiency, from the design phase through to construction and operation.
There are 3 types of solar panels primarily used in the solar industry: Monocrystalline solar panels. Polycrystalline solar panels. Thin film (amorphous) solar panels.
The most commonly used solar technologies for homes and businesses are solar photovoltaics for electricity, passive solar design for space heating and cooling, and solar water heating. Businesses and industry use solar technologies to diversify their energy sources, improve efficiency, and save money.
Second-generation thin-film solar cells are appearing as one of the most promising PV technologies due their narrow design (350 times smaller light-absorbing layers compared to standard Si-panels), light weight, flexibility, and ease of installation.
The Latest. Our solar system consists of our star, the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity – the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; dwarf planets such as Pluto; dozens of moons; and millions of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.
There are 5 key components in a home's solar system: solar panels, an inverter, an electrical panel, the electric meter, and the sun. In this blog we'll walk you through how each component works together to create a complete solar system.
Address: Apt. 171 8116 Bailey Via, Roberthaven, GA 58289
Phone: +2585395768220
Job: Lead Liaison
Hobby: Lockpicking, LARPing, Lego building, Lapidary, Macrame, Book restoration, Bodybuilding
Introduction: My name is Sen. Ignacio Ratke, I am a adventurous, zealous, outstanding, agreeable, precious, excited, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
