HQST Solar charge controller PWM 30 Amp

[@fratermus5502]

0:30 "it has a touchscreen interface" . I think you mean it has a display since the interface is button-driven. 0:50 "I'm putting 15.1v into 12v parallel." The manual I found for it suggests that screen is Vpanel, and the panel icon seems to reinforce that. Not sure how useful knowing Vpanel is with PWM. Does the manual that shipped with it say more about that screen?

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

yeah sorry it is listed in the desc, click the show more if its not shown. i did mean LCD screen! "Vpanel" according to the manual is listed as SPV or solar panel Voltage and reads: SPV = how much current is being received in Volts by PV panel to controller it has many sections, Volts, Amps, bulk,boost,float,equalize amp hrs, temps, battery capacity, battery voltage, its a mid range unit, but still good for the price i paid.

[@willarddevoe5893]

Batteries wired in parallel fight each other unless they are utterly identical in characteristics. They never are for long. Divide your batteries and their loads then charge them on separate chargers, but the chargers can all share the same solar panel source.

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

All mine are matched

[@enterthelegions]

Even if they are mismatched capacity (in parallel only) then it does not matter. What matters is matching of battery chemistry . You can’t mix lead acid with Lithium or AGM . The electron charge and discharge is a natural phenomenon like having two or more water tanks of different capacity . They will fill up and empty at the same rate . However , one should not use a low capacity battery with a higher capacity one I.e 200 Ah with a 45 Ah . Personally i have been using three strings of 24v batteries of 185+185, 210+210 and 165+165 since about three years now and batteries are fine still. There are other factors at play here and they are too many to name here.

[@Solarsystemrdffdfyyhh]

I'm new to all of this I have that model. Could you show me what the settings need to be?

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

its all in the manual, specify your battery type, lipo, lead acid, agm, etc. then the low and hight voltages for that battery type, and walah, automatic after that. I do use mode 15 for manual on and off of the built in 12v out from the charger. I run a small inverter with a light and some small stuff from it i manually turn on when needed. otherwise i use my large inverter from my main battery bank.

[@billbill5743]

I have this controller. The battery types are flooded, gel, solid and lithium in the settings. Which setting is for AGM?

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Gel

[@billbill5743]

Thanks!!!, I been trying to figure that out for days. Lol

[@williamsantiago320]

What cable do you recommend for a parralell connections?

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Depends on what you are referring to , batteries or panels, if batteries to batteries and 12v i would use at least 4 or 6awg, for panels 10 is good. And still affordable and will fit inside a mc4 connection and fuse everything. From this controller im 10awg on all

[@williamsantiago320]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration if I connect 4 batteries 12 volt in parralell 100Amps, I will have 400amps in total so 6 awg won't fit my batteries is this right?

[@williamsantiago320]

Would you recommend 4/0 awg cables instead of 6 awg? let me know thanks

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

@@williamsantiago320 thats fine, i have 4 and 6, its still only 12 volts., the Amp hours are run time based on load. your per battery links i would recommend 4 but you can do 6 as long as the loads are not beyond excessive 3000+ for extensive times, this could generate heat. the main connection to inverter i would do 0-1awg

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

@@williamsantiago320 4 i would do, you can do 6 if loads are not excessive

[@alanheadrick7997]

I have this controller and it seems to be working, but my deep cycle batteries are almost too hot to touch during the day. It seems like its boiling the batteries. My charge status is always "Bulk" what the hell is that? Its set up for 24vdc. Something is wrong somewhere.

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

You need to program the low and high limits so it will go into float

[@alanheadrick7997]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration I think I might have found the settings. Double whats displayed for a 24v system. Even though I am still not 100% sure what I set. One number was 12.6 and the other something like 11.1 I think the 12.6 should be the max charging voltage, 13.6? I'll get my multimeter in the morning and watch what its doing. Thanks for the reply.

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

@@alanheadrick7997 yes one is the low limit and one is the high limit. my high is 14.3 and my low is 11.0. keeps it nice on bulk and float. yours being 24v, Bulk should be 28vdc and float around 26 or so low should be around 22-23vdc. are you in 24volt mode? are you charging (2) 12v series batteries on a 24v battery. make sure your in the correct voltage of 24v for your setup otherwise it will not work correctly.

[@alanheadrick7997]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration Yes its set for 24vdc. But some of the voltages show 12 or 13, so I think I read double for two batteries. I am watching it today, but its been cloudy. Thanks!!!

[@alanheadrick7997]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration I ran across a posts that said the controller will set the voltages needed and not to adjust anything. They said it will run Bulk for 4 hours after its charged. Then it will drop to float. I have never seen float. Maybe my batteries are bad?

[@brianbailey462]

I backed out one of the terminal screws and for the life of me cannot put it back in.... anyone have any explanation or help?

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Theres a small metal piece behind the screws that wiggles around

[@brianbailey462]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration for some reason the screw wont go in more than 2 turns... getting stuck.. I dont think its cross threaded but what else could it be?

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

@@brianbailey462 prob cross threaded. just give her the onions and man tighten it down... it will cut new threads.

[@brianbailey462]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration lol, thank you very much for your opinions. I was actually using a really crappy screwdriver and I finally found the proper tip and put it in my screw gun for plenty of power and it went right in and now it works beautifully and I have it all plugged in and everything's working great.. but I really do appreciate the trouble shooting help from a stranger on the internet. I know it takes time to reply to people so I really do appreciate that. I try to help out others when I can as well

[@flangerfn2784]

Is the battery percentage accurate

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Depends on your type of battery, pretty accurate in my uses

[@williamsantiago320]

I hace a 40 amps charge controller like yours how can I get the app on my phone do you know?

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

you need a rs232 to usb or wifi either hooked to your pc w usb or wireless to your internet,. then register for any tracker and link your account you create, then use app of choice with whatever provider you choose, there used to be "free" ones, but now sense,neurio or emporia have all gone paid w expensive modules, emporia was the cheapest at 35$ for the device and that was it, but they changed and went to wall monitoring. so you need to plug into an outlet,. i used to use sense but its like 300$ now. F that,.Im looking into a audrino or pi solution now.

[@williamsantiago320]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration ok thanks for your response it will help

[@williamsantiago320]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration do you have any idea how can I turn off the light mode at night? Let me know thanks

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Yes set to mode15. That is manual on and manual off. If you need a day mode the instruction manual mode 0 is light mode. Wish i could attach a photo

[@williamsantiago320]

Mine wont work like yours

[@flangerfn2784]

How do you make it power go through the usb

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Set the mode to 15 manual then press the very right button w the light in the off and it turns on

[@flangerfn2784]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration ok thanks

[@flangerfn2784]

@@ChrisEdwardsRestoration would it be the same for the 40 amp

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

Most likely

[@willarddevoe5893]

Faulty installation. Batteries in parallel. Don't copy.

[@ChrisEdwardsRestoration]

what do you mean, of course they are in parallel its what i use for my 12v system. not faulty installed at all.

[@enterthelegions]

Your system seems to be fine .