Hot Victron Solar Controller

[Jack!]

Recented viewed a couple of YouTube videos where they mentioned the Victron solar controllers get very hot. I had believed mppt solar controllers ran cooler than pwm controllers, which bleed off unused current as heat. MPPT controllers reportedly use all available current & sent it to the batteries.

Do Victron solar controllers get hot inside the Escape benches?

[alanmalk]

Originally Posted by Jack!

Recented viewed a couple of YouTube videos where they mentioned the Victron solar controllers get very hot. I had believed mppt solar controllers ran cooler than pwm controllers, which bleed off unused current as heat. MPPT controllers reportedly use all available current & sent it to the batteries.

Do Victron solar controllers get hot inside the Escape benches?

Neither MPPT nor PWM technology is designed to convert unused current into heat. The heat that they do produce is mostly a byproduct of high current flowing thru the various parts. They should be designed to be running cool if possible.

Old fashioned linear voltage regulators, and especially shunt regulators (my favorite) convert unused energy directly to heat.

I have no information regarding Victron specifically.

[Perry Butler]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

Neither MPPT nor PWM technology is designed to convert unused current into heat. The heat that they do produce is mostly a byproduct of high current flowing thru the various parts. They should be designed to be running cool if possible.

Old fashioned linear voltage regulators, and especially shunt regulators (my favorite) convert unused energy directly to heat.

I have no information regarding Victron specifically.

If SCC's are 95% efficient that leaves 5% as heat. Our Victron 100/30 SCC gets warm at the peak hours, but not hot. There is a heat sink and the Victron mounts keep the heat sink from touching anything.

I don't worry about that little bit of heat. I wouldn't store my manuals behind there though.

Enjoy,

Perry

[Jack!]

Originally Posted by alanmalk

Neither MPPT nor PWM technology is designed to convert unused current into heat. The heat that they do produce is mostly a byproduct of high current flowing thru the various parts. They should be designed to be running cool if possible.

Old fashioned linear voltage regulators, and especially shunt regulators (my favorite) convert unused energy directly to heat.

I have no information regarding Victron specifically.

Good info, Thanks!

[Jack!]

Originally Posted by Perryb67

If SCC's are 95% efficient that leaves 5% as heat. Our Victron 100/30 SCC gets warm at the peak hours, but not hot. There is a heat sink and the Victron mounts keep the heat sink from touching anything.

I don't worry about that little bit of heat. I wouldn't store my manuals behind there though.

Enjoy,

Perry

Thanks for this real world info. Will plan on keeping flammables out of that bench.