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.
Click here to go to the EPEVER download site
If the link does not work, try to search for EPEVER charge controller download.
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.
The Solar Station Monitor "live" data
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
- 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.
- 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.
Updated
FAQs
How do you set up an EPEver? ›
The Epever solar charge controller can also be connected to PC software or an MT50 tracker for constant monitoring. Select the “User” battery type. Press the “ENTER” button and hold 5s under the battery voltage interface. Press the “SELECT” button when the battery type interface is flashing.
How do you program a solar charge controller? ›Click on the charge controller that you would like to program. Click on the cog icon in the upper right part of the screen: Click the 'Battery' menu to access the battery settings menu. And fill in the values as appropriate for the specific battery bank that you are programming the charge controller for.
Can I install a solar system myself? ›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.
Which software is best for solar system? ›- Best free solar design software for small to medium companies – Photonik.
- Best solar design software with CRM for large companies – Pylon Observer.
- Best software for designing energy storage and off-grid systems – SolarPlus.
- Best free solar design software with CRM package – OpenSolar.
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.
What happens if you overload a solar charge controller? ›Charge controllers also offer some other important functions: Overload protection: If the current flowing into your batteries is much higher than what the circuit can deal with, your system may overload. This can lead to overheating and cause fires.
Do you need a fuse from solar controller to battery? ›They are not necessary for the system to run properly, but we always recommend using fuses or circuit breakers for safety purposes.
Do you need fuse between solar panel and charge controller? ›In most cases, a solar system fuse is required between a solar panel and its charge controller because fuses and circuit breakers protect the wiring from overheating. This also avoids any appliances from catching fire or being damaged in the event of a short circuit.
Do I need a fuse between MPPT and battery? ›There should always be a fuse between the battery and the rest of the circuits.
Does MPPT convert voltage to current? ›MPPT is DC to DC converter which operates by taking DC input from PV module, changing it to AC and converting it back to a different DC voltage and current to exactly match the PV module to the battery.
What does an MPPT controller do when the battery is full? ›
When the battery voltage reaches a point where the battery charger decides that the battery is full, the charger will cut out, and stop drawing power from the MPPT controller. In other words, the battery charger will present a high impedance to the MPPT controller.
What voltage should I set my solar controller to? ›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.
What do I connect first on solar charge controller? ›- Battery to the controller first.
- PV array to the controller.
- Electrical load to the controller.
The answer depends on a variety of factors, including the size of your battery, the amount of sunlight available, and the efficiency of your solar panel. In general, though, you can expect to fully charge a 12V battery in around 2 to 4 hours using a 100W solar panel.
Can I charge from alternator and solar at the same time? ›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.
Can I directly charge battery from solar panel? ›Don't connect a solar panel directly to a battery.
Doing so can damage the battery. Instead, connect both battery and solar panel to a solar charge controller.
If you are at home during the day, you can charge your electric car directly from your Solar Panel system. As and when it generates solar energy. However, if you are like most electric car owners and wish to charge your EV overnight, then a solar battery is a worth while investment.
Can any electrician install solar panels? ›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.
Can solar be installed for free? ›No, there is no such thing as a no-cost solar program. These types of programs are really solar leases or power purchase agreements. In these types of agreements, a company installs solar panels on your roof for no money upfront but charges you to use the power they produce each month.
What is needed to install solar system? ›In order to go solar, you need solar panels, inverters, racking equipment, and performance monitoring equipment. You also might want an energy storage system (aka solar battery), especially if you live in an area that doesn't have net metering.
How many solar panels do you need to run a computer? ›
If you own a regular PC that requires 300 Wh power to run and runs for 6 hours every day, then you are going to need a solar system that generates 1800 Watts total in a day. Now, solar panels are available in a 100-300 Wh power range, meaning they can produce 100 to 300 Watts per hour.
What applications can run on solar power? ›- Solar Water Heating. Solar water heating is becoming an eco-friendly alternative to traditional water heaters. ...
- Solar Heating for Buildings. ...
- Solar-distillation. ...
- Solar Cooking. ...
- Solar Electric Power Generation. ...
- Solar Thermal Power Production. ...
- Solar at Night.
Other examples of proposal/design software include MODsolar, Sighten, enACT, solarnexus, Ra Power Management, solarnexus, Clean Power Finance, Energy Toolbase, UtilityAPI, Genability, HST Solar and PVComplete.
What is solar design software? ›Solar design SW allows easy automation of solar systems designing, enabling solar companies to provide their clients with quick and precise estimation. Some software allows users to model both the layout of a future photovoltaic system and to forecast its performance.
What are the tools used in solar? ›- Digital Multimeter. The solar panel uses a photovoltaic system to convert light into electricity using semiconductors. ...
- Battery Operated Drill. ...
- Hack Saw. ...
- Flat Pry Bar. ...
- Caulk Gun. ...
- Conduit Bender. ...
- Screwdrivers. ...
- Wire Stripper/Cutter.
Should the battery bank become full, it will stop absorbing power from the solar system. The solar panels will continue to generate voltage, but that voltage will not be used or stored until there is available energy demand, or battery space.
What stops solar panel from overcharging battery? ›Higher charging voltage from the solar panels leads to higher Ah being delivered to the battery and ultimately leading to overcharging. The easiest way to control over charging of the batteries is to control the output voltage of the solar panel. A hybrid inverter can do this.
How many solar panels can a 40 amp charge controller handle? ›5. How many watts can Renogy Rover 40 amp charge controller handle? The Rover MPPT charge controller can work with standard off-grid 12/24V solar panels with high voltage or multiple panels with voltage up to 100V. And the maximum combined input solar power is 520W for a 12V battery system or 1040W for a 24V system.
Can a solar controller drain a battery? ›A good solar panel won't drain your battery; even during nighttime. If it happens the main reason is that its blocking or bypass diodes are broken and need replacement. Even then if you have a Solar Charge Controller it'll prevent battery drainage.
Can we charge battery directly from a solar panel without charge controller? ›Charging your batteries with a solar panel is a great way to use clean, renewable energy. However, before you can get started, you'll need to install a charge controller, which regulates the voltage from the solar panel as it's transferred to the battery.
What happens if a solar panel is not connected to a battery? ›
Nothing happens to them. Solar panels will generate electrons when sunlight strikes their surface, but with no closed circuit they go nowhere. Since there is nowhere for the voltage to go, it may increase the temperature of the panels by a few degrees.
How many solar panels can I connect to a controller? ›Since most 48V solar charge controllers have a max voltage (Voc) of 150V, this generally allows up to 3 panels to be connected in series.
Do I need to ground my solar controller? ›Just like in your home, your PV solar system needs to grounded. This includes all of the equipment connected into the system; inverters, mounting, controllers, and any other equipment that makes up your system.
What size breaker do I need for a 200 watt solar panel? ›To connect your solar panel to your charge controller you will need some solar cable and a 20 amp inline fuse.
How many amp should my MPPT charge controller handle? ›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.
Can MPPT raise voltage? ›As the battery recovers some of it's charge the voltage will increase. The MPPT controller will raise the voltage in steps to keep it just ahead of the battery voltage. On the average, MPPT charge controllers offer a 30% boost in performance, which is like having a free solar panel that isn't really there.
Which converter is best for MPPT? ›Different load resistance is considered for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) with different converter topologies, and it has been observed that buck-boost converter is suitable for any load resistance connected in the PV system.
Which is the best MPPT technique? ›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.
Can I connect a MPPT directly to inverter? ›MPPT charge controllers help to flow the current efficiently into a depleted battery. If we connect an MPPT charge controller directly to the inverter, your system can get damaged, but if not damaged, there will be zero input in the inverter. So connecting MPPTs directly to the inverter is a bad idea!
Is higher voltage better for MPPT? ›With MPPT, the total array voltage needs to be greater than the battery bank voltage, but it also uses that extra voltage to boost the amperage going to your battery.
What can damage solar battery? ›
About 80% of failures are caused by sulfation, a process where sulfur crystals form on the battery's lead plates and prevent chemical reactions from happening. Sulfation occurs when the battery has a low charge or electrolyte level.
How do I connect my solar charge controller battery? ›Connect both positive and negative battery cables to their respective battery terminals on your solar charge controller. (You charge controller should have the battery terminals labeled with a battery icon or something like “BATT.”) To connect them, insert the stripped end and screw the terminal shut.
What is the Victron password? ›Multi – is the short name for all inverter-chargers, whether the model is a MultiPlus, a Quattro, or an Easy Solar. Victron reminds you that there is a manual link on each of the products' specific pages. For a password to de-select a country code if needed. The password is TPWMBU2A4GCC.
Where is the code on Victron charger? ›Using VictronConnect
Enter the PUK code and select 'OK'. The PUK code is located on a label stuck to the back of the Blue Smart Charger.
Connect the battery terminal wires to the charge controller FIRST, then connect the solar panel(s) to the charge controller. NEVER connect solar panel to charge controller before the battery.
What happens if you connect solar panel directly to battery? ›Don't connect a solar panel directly to a battery.
Doing so can damage the battery. Instead, connect both battery and solar panel to a solar charge controller.
If the solar battery is hooked to the solar system but doesn't charge properly, the failure is likely to be caused by a battery problem, wrong system wiring, or a problem with the solar charge controller settings. (Note: The Panels, charge controller, and battery must be configured correctly.)
How do I know if my solar controller is charging? ›- First, you should measure the voltage of the solar panel itself. ...
- Next, you should measure the voltage of the point where the solar panel is connected to the battery. ...
- Finally, you can measure the voltage of the battery itself, with the wires still unattached.
Since most 48V solar charge controllers have a max voltage (Voc) of 150V, this generally allows up to 3 panels to be connected in series.
Do I need a fuse between solar panel and MPPT? ›In most cases, a solar system fuse is required between a solar panel and its charge controller because fuses and circuit breakers protect the wiring from overheating. This also avoids any appliances from catching fire or being damaged in the event of a short circuit.