Plasmatronics PL controller issues.

Submitted: Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:51
ThreadID: 44635 Views:2581 Replies:3 FollowUps:6
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Plasmatronics PL controller issues.

I have a product which I wished to simply turn off overnight to save power
and also shed this load if for some reason the solar panels weren't able to
sufficently re-charge batteries to prevent them going flat.

Some people here use these mid-range solar panel controllers and might find the following helpful.

What I wished to do seemed straight forward enough - but it didn't work
and one gets into a loop - >

Have I blown up the controller !

Its got complex instructions - do I understand them !

The manufacturer insists the product should work - he must know what he is talking about right !

Will I send it back as a warranty claim !

Its not to easy to take on a supplier backed by local engineering support
on a well known documented product, and care is needed.

Eventually got them to listen and sure enough the following limitations
should be kept in mind when using these solar controllers.

The state logic theory logic doesn't work fully in an inverted mode , so to
turn off a load and protect the battery , one should set the logic
backwards. (not needed if don't care about a flat battery)

I.E to turn something off from 12:30 am to 5am with battery protection
you set your Event controller logic Lset to 4 (=turn on) and invert your times
so that the on becomes off outside the times.

I.E. set times to on at 5 Am and off at 12:30 am so that it will be on in between.

(Bear with me as I do this step by step as there is another point)

The above inverted logic should be correct however the event controller
has issues working across midnight under some conditions hence you need to
adjust you switching times to not include midnight and consequently advance your
clock to compensate.

I.E to turn something off from 12:30 am to 5am with battery protection
set switch on to 4am and switch off to 11:30pm and advance clock to 1 hr before
the actual time so that the 4am switch occurs at 5am

Robin Miller
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Reply By: Gramps (NSW) - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:57

Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 14:57
LOL does an alternative product exist ?
AnswerID: 235310

Follow Up By: Robin - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 15:07

Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 15:07
Not sure Gramps , maybe someone here will know.

Its complex enough already without the work arounds.

I will be looking as I wished to have the product act as a time clock and switch a second item as well.

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Follow Up By: Member - Duncs - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 13:06

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 13:06
I'm foncused.

Duncs
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Reply By: Member - Jeff H (QLD) - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 22:16

Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 22:16
Gees Robin, I don't know: Plasmatronics (Aust made, as I understand), seem to be very highly regarded. I opted for the MorningStar 'Sunsaver' (Yank), simply because it's encapsulated, and mounted above gerry-cans in the (open) back of the 'ute.
While it would be comforting to have a 30 day readout etc etc, I'm happy enough to trust the controller to maintain the battery : other than that, a multimeter is enough to high-light errors/deficiencies.

Such are the concessions associated with a 'Johnny Blue' lifestyle on a 'home brew' income. (Ask me dog, eh). Jeff. H.
AnswerID: 235444

Follow Up By: Robin - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 07:54

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 07:54
Hi Jeff

Its a good unit Jeff - just has software bugs , this is a commercial situation and I have worked with the engineers who provided a solution albiet messy.

My main part was to convince them in first place of a complex logical error - as they gets lots of customer queries with programming difficulties and almost always it turns out to be "user errors"

I think your encapsulated unit would be good in that situation , the plasmatronics unit is actually conformally coated but wouldn't survive your use.

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Reply By: Mainey (WA) - Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 23:34

Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 23:34
the German made Steka is a decent solar regulator, however about the same price as the Plasmatronics.

Excuse my ignorance but can the PL20 turn of 'individual' items at different times?
Eg: turn off the fridge, while not turning off the freezer etc?
AnswerID: 235454

Follow Up By: Robin - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 08:03

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 08:03
Hi Mainey

No the Plasmatronics unit only has one event controller against which you can set times.

It has some extra logic though, such as the ability to repeat a switch every timed interval

It also has a secondary control though so that in can seperately initiate a generator or pump based on digital inputs, or lack of sun from say a photocell.

I actually need 2 independant timed controls myself , so I will be looking around however I'm started to suspect I will design my own.

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Follow Up By: Russ n Sue - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 10:59

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 10:59
G'day Robin,

I know of the limitations of the Plasmatronic when multple switching programs are required. Last year I had a need to switch individual objects at differing times. The solution turned out to be relatively simple.

I purchased a cheap irrigation controller with a battery backup built-in. I needed this type because many controllers use the frequency of the mains to synchronise their clocks and battery backup units have their own oscillator to do the same.

Whilst these controllers are designed to operate on and switch 24V AC, their internals use DC. I found it was a simple task to power it from my 12v DC source. I used the solenoid outputs to switch DC and then drive relays to switch the actual load. It worked a treat. I think it's up in the Northern Territory at the moment and from all accounts it survived the "wet" without dying from green decay.

Just an idea,

Cheers,

Russ.
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Follow Up By: Robin - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 11:23

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 11:23
Hi Russ

Thats good idea , I need to do some creative thinking along those lines.

Bit annoying when the device has the hardware capability , and is limited by software support.

Thanks

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