SUNSAVER MPPT TM WITH TRAKSTARTM MPPT TECHNOLOGY Installation and Operation Manual MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING Model: SS-MPPT-15L 1098 Washington Crossing Road Washington Crossing, PA 18977 USA www.morningstarcorp.
Contents 34 SunSaver MPPT Dimensions 1.0 Important Safety Information 4 2.0 General Information 5 2.1 Overview 5 2.3 Optional Accessories 8 3.0 Installation Instructions 9 3.1 General Installation Notes 9 3.2 Configuration 10 3.3 Mounting 13 3.4 Wiring 15 4.0 Operation 20 4.1 LED Indications 20 MPPT Technology 22 4.3 Battery Charging Information 25 4.4 Load Control Information 27 4.5 Protections 29 4.
1.0 Important Safety Information Save These Instructions The following symbols are used throughout this manual to indicate potentially dangerous conditions or mark important safety instructions. WARNING: Indicates a potentially dangerous condition. Use extreme caution when performing this task. ! CAUTION: Indicates a critical procedure for safe and proper operation of the controller. NOTE: Indicates a procedure or function that is important for the safe and proper operation of the controller.
2.2 Features The features of the SunSaver MPPT are shown in Figure 1 below. An explanation of each feature is provided. 7 1 6 5 4 3 Figure 1. SunSaver MPPT features. 1 - Status LED An LED indicator that shows charging status and also indicates when a solar input fault condition exists. 2 - Power Terminal Block Power terminations for system Solar, Battery, and Load connections.
2.3 Optional Accessories The following accessories are available for purchase separately from your authorized Morningstar dealer. Remote Temperature Sensor (Model: RTS) NOTE: The use of a Remote Temperature Sensor is strongly recommended. Controller location, air flow, and system power can drastically affect the local temperature sensor reading. A RTS will provide optimal charging performance.
3.2 Configuration The four (4) Settings Switches and the Battery Select Jumper adjust the SS-MPPT battery type, load control, equalization, and communication settings. This section details the configuration for each setting. Battery Type Battery Jumper Switch 1 Gel INSERTED ON (↑) Sealed INSERTED OFF (↓) AGM1 REMOVED ON (↑) Flooded REMOVED OFF (↓) 1 (1) Setpoints for this battery type can be modified with custom programming. See Section 4.7 Programming Custom Setpoints for more information.
Switch 4 OFF (↓): Switch 4 ON (↑): Morningstar Remote Meter Modbus® protocol for MSView, 3rd party devices (2) Morningstar PC Meterbus Adapter (Model: MSC) required. Not included. See Morningstar’s website for more information. www.morningstarcorp.com. MODBUS® is a registered trademark of Modbus-IDA (www.modbus-ida.org) 3.3 Mounting NOTE: When mounting the SunSaver MPPT, ensure free air flow through the controller heat sink fins.
Step 3: Mark Holes Use a pencil or pen to mark the four (4) mounting hole locations on the mounting surface. 3.4 Wiring NOTE: A recommended connection order has been provided for maximum safety during installation. The controller will not be damaged regardless of the sequence of connnections. Step 4: Drill Holes Remove the controller and drill 3/32” (2.5 mm) holes in the marked locations. 3.0 INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS NOTE: The SS-MPPT is a negative ground controller.
Step 1: Load Wiring the ss-Mppt load output connection will provide battery voltage to system loads such as lights, pumps, motors, and electronic devices. see Section 4.4 Load Control Information for more details about load control. Step 2: Battery Wiring 3.0 BATTERY NEGATIVE (-) BATTERY POSITIVE (+) 25 AMP FUSE LOAD POSITIVE (+) 25 AMP FUSE LOAD NEGATIVE (-) Figure 4. Load wiring 6 in (150 mm) MAX. + - 12V / 24V BATTERY EARTH GROUND Figure 5. Battery wiring.
Step 3: Solar Wiring WARNING: Risk of electric shock! Exercise caution when handling solar wiring. The solar array high voltage output can cause severe shock or injury. Cover modules from the sun before installing solar wiring. Step 5: Confirm Wiring Double-check the wiring in steps 1 through 4. Confirm correct polarity at each connection. Verify that all seven (7) ss-Mppt power terminals are tightened. 36 V NOMINAL MAX.
BATTERY SOC LEDS 4.0 Operation 4.1 LED Indications SOC LED Indication Battery Status Load Status Green Fast Flashing (2 Flash / sec) Equalize Charge Load On Green Med.
The SS-MPPT utilizes Morningstar’s TrakStar Maximum Power Point Tracking technology to extract maximum power from the solar module(s). The tracking algorithm is fully automatic and does not require user adjustment. Trakstar technology will track the array maximum power point voltage (Vmp) as it varies with weather conditions, ensuring that maximum power is harvested from the array through the course of the day.
4.3 Battery Charging Information The SunSaver MPPT has a 4-stage battery charging algorithm for rapid, efficient, and safe battery charging. Figure 9 shows the sequence of the stages. EQUALIZE 4.0 VOLTAGE The array Vmp is the voltage where the product of current and voltage (Amps x Volts) is greatest, which falls on the “knee” of the solar module I-V curve as shown in Figure 8.
absorption stage for 3 or 4 hours before transitioning to the float stage. Equalize (flooded battery type only) If the auto-equalize feature is enabled, the SS-MPPT will equalize a flooded battery for three (3) hours every 28 days. Equalize charging raises the battery voltage above the standard absorption voltage so that the electrolyte gasses. This process prevents electrolyte stratification and equalizesthe individual cell voltages within the battery. 4.
If the battery discharges to the LVD setpoint the load will disconnect and a solid red Battery Status LED indication will be displayed. General Load Control Notes • A 15 V maximum regulation voltage limit (30 V @ 24 V nominal) exists for all battery types. This limit ensures that the battery and load terminal voltages will never exceed 15 V/30 V. This protects certain DC loads that may be damaged by high input voltage.
High Voltage Input (Charging Status LED: R flashing) If the solar input open circuit voltage (Voc) exceeds the 75 volt maximum rating the array will remain disconnected until the Voc falls safely below the maximum rating. Battery Reverse Polarity (No LED indication, not powered) Fully protected against reverse battery connection. No damage to the controller will result. Correct the miswire to resume normal operation.
4.7 Programming Custom Setpoints ! CAUTION: This feature should only be used by advanced users who have very specific charging and/or load control requirements that are not met using the factory default charge and load control settings. The factory default settings will be sufficient for the vast majority of users. Custom charging and load setpoints can be programmed into SSMPPT non-volatile memory using a PC with Morningstar MSView software installed and a Meterbus to Serial Adapter (model: MSC).
5.2 Common Problems 6.0 Warranty Problem: No LED indications Solution: With a multi-meter, check the voltage at the battery terminals on the SS-MPPT. Battery voltage must be at least 7V to power the SS-MPPT. Problem: The SS-MPPT is not charging the battery. Solution: If the Status LED is solid or flashing red, see Section 5.1 Error Indications. If the Status LED is off, measure the voltage across the Solar input terminals of the SS-MPPT. Input voltage must be greater than battery voltage.
Battery Setpoints (@ 25°C) 7.0 Technical Specifications 200 Watts 400 Watts 35 mA 1.0 % 2.0 % 6-pin RJ-11 4 x 1500 W 14.1 V 14.3 V 14.4 V 13.7 V 13.7 V 13.7 V Time until Float 3 hr 3 hr 3 hr 3 hr Equalize Voltage N/A N/A 14.5 V 14.9 V Equalize Duration N/A N/A 3 hrs 3 hrs N/A 28 days 28 days Rising V 13.1 Y to G 12.6 Flash R to Y 12.6 R to Y Note: Multiply x2 for 24 Volt systems. 7.0 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS N/A Max. Regulation Voltage1 15 V / 30 V 2 11.5 V / 11.
Mechanical Power terminals wire size (max.) Solid Multistrand Fine strand Terminal Diameter Power terminals torque (max.) RTS terminals wire size (max.) Wire gauge (min) Wire gauge (max) RTS terminals torque (max.) Dimensions Weight #6 AWG / 16 mm2 #6 AWG / 16 mm2 #8 AWG / 10 mm2 0.210 in / 5.4 mm 35 in-lb / 4 Nm #22 AWG / 0.3 mm2 #12 AWG / 3.0 mm2 0.4 Nm / 3.5 in-lb see inside front cover 1.3 lbs / 0.60 kg Efficiency and Deratings Figure 11.
Appendix A - Wire Charts 12 Volt Nominal Wire Chart One-way Wire Distance (feet) Wire Gauge (AWG) amps One-way Wire Distance (meters) Wire Gauge (mm2) 14 12 10 8 6 2.0 3.0 5.0 8.0 2 70 112 180 287 456 21 34 55 87 13.0 139 4 35 56 90 143 228 11 17 27 44 69 8 18 28 45 72 114 5 8 14 22 35 12 12 19 30 48 76 4 6 9 15 23 15 9 15 24 38 61 3 5 7 12 19 3% Voltage drop, Annealed copper wire at 20°C 24 Volt Nominal Wire Chart Figure 13.
