Each year Solar Power World recognizes and provides details about the top solar products on the market. It was recently announced that Morningstar’s new Prostar MPPT solar charge controller made the list of best balance of systems technologies for 2015. The following features helped to secure the Prostar MPPT’s inclusion on this list: Field adjustable charging and lighting control Advanced battery support for lithium, nickel cadmium, and lead acid batteries Self diagnostics Data logging of detailed power and load information High efficiency and reliability Advanced power point tracking and electronic protections
Morningstar’s TriStar MPPT 600V Solar Controller with DC Transfer Switch has been deployed successfully to retrofit an existing grid-tied solar system with battery backup in Barbados. Future Energy Caribbean, a provider of solar energy solutions, added the Morningstar controller, a Solis inverter, Trojan batteries, and other balance of system components to provide backup power in the event of an outage at its commercial office. Backup power is now available for lights, refrigeration, computers and cell phone charging. This installation serves as a model that can be replicated and modified to meet the needs of other light commercial facilities and residential establishments throughout the Caribbean. The DC Transfer grid-tied battery backup solution is clean, quiet, and relatively maintenance-free as opposed to backup power from generators. Compared to traditional DC coupled backup, this recently installed DC Transfer solution does not lose efficiency when selling to the grid. Moreover, this solution requires no modifications to the existing solar array, and it is compatible with virtually any battery, inverter-charger, and string inverter brand. The battery size requirements associated with the DC Transfer solution are smaller than what would have been required in an AC Coupled deployment, and it is easy to add batteries to accommodate scaling should backup needs increase over time.
Morningstar wishes all of its distributors, dealers, employees, and other stakeholders a happy holiday season and a healthy, happy and successful 2016. The Morningstar Team will be finalizing its partner award nominations and selections, and delivering recognition and awards to those distributors, dealers, and partners whose accomplishments far exceeded expectations in 2015. The company will hold its holiday party for employees on 12/17/2015 in Newtown, Pennsylvania USA. The event will allow for celebration, recognition of achievement, and announcements about company plans for an exciting 2016, including new product developments and trade show initiatives.
Morningstar is pleased to announce the release of its new ProStar MPPT™ solar charge controller with detailed battery programming options that support the latest Lithium, Nickel Cadmium, and Lead Acid battery types in off-grid industrial and residential solar applications. This mid-range charge controller comes in 25 and 40 amp versions at up to 120 Voc, and it complements Morningstar’s existing line of MPPT controller offerings. It uses Morningstar’s innovative TrakStar™ MPPT technology to maximize energy harvest from the solar array into the battery under all operating conditions. Additional features and benefits include: High reliability – conformally coated circuit board and corrosion resistant terminals 98% peak efficiency and high efficiency across low, medium, and high power levels Data logging – detailed logging of power and load data confirms performance and helps isolate system inconsistencies Low noise design – meets FCC Class B specifications Continuous charging and no damage from PV array oversizing Data Logging – up to 200 days of detailed logging of power and load data confirms performance and helps isolate system inconsistencies High Strength / Polycarbonate Case and extruded aluminum heatsink without fans or moving parts Optional Wire Box to cover and prevent the exposure of conduit and wire connections Allows multiple 60-cell modules in series on a 12V or 24V battery system MODBUS Communications – Solar Industry Standard MODBUS communications protocol allows for easy programming, control, remote data access and charge synchronization with other system hardware Self Diagnostics – The ProStar MPPT continuously monitors and reports any internal hardware issues or system problems through its status LED’s, optional display or communication port Automatic PV Based Lighting Control – multi-event load control enables powerful options for PV lighting systems and settings can easily be adjusted in the field
Morningstar will be conducting a special presentation of its soon-to-be launched ProStar MPPT™ charge controller from 9am -12pm during Tech Day at the Phaesun Off-grid Workshop on September 24, 2015 at Stadthalle Memmingen, Germany. To attend the Tech Day and the rest of the Phaesun Off-grid Workshop through September 26th, simply sign up via the www.off-grid-experts.com website. If you are a Morningstar customer, please contact us for a voucher code to attend for free.
Morningstar will be exhibiting its solar charge controllers, inverters and accessories at Booth 26 at the 2015 SolarWorld Installer Summit on August 25-27th in Portland, Oregon. At 4pm on August 25th and 26th, the TriStar MPPT 600V Charge Controller with DC Transfer Switch will be featured in Morningstar’s presentation about retrofitting existing grid-tied systems with battery backup.
Morningstar Corporation will be exhibiting at Booth #328 at Solar Power International (SPI) 2015 in Anaheim, California from September 15-17. SPI is one of the fastest growing trade shows in the US and over 15,000 attendees will be able to see Morningstar’s recently launched TriStar MPPT 600V Controller with DC Transfer Switch for retrofitting grid-tied systems with battery backup. Attendees will also be able to see the soon-to-be-launched Prostar MPPT controller in addition to Morningstar’s complete product line of existing controllers, inverters, and accessories.
Be sure to visit Morningstar Corporation at Intersolar North America, BOOTH 8547 on July 14-16, 2015 in San Francisco, Moscone Center where we will be introducing our new controllers: TriStar MPPT 600V with Transfer Switch for retrofit grid-tie battery backup ProStar MPPT (to be launched late 2015) And don’t miss the workshop: “TriStar MPPT Charge Controller Design for Off-Grid and Grid Tie Retrofit” on Wednesday July 15th from 10:15 am – 12:15 pm during Intersolar North America. We hope to see you in San Francisco!
Morningstar will be exhibiting at the 26th annual MREA Fair in Custer, Wisconsin from June 19-21. Stop by Booth C1 to learn more about the recently launched TriStar MPPT 600V Controller with DC Transfer Switch that enables retrofitting existing grid-tied systems with battery backup. Also on display will be Morningstar’s complete line of charge controllers, off-grid inverters, and accessories for use in solar, wind, and hydro systems.
See Morningstar controllers, inverters, and accessories at Intersolar Europe, Booth B1.789 on June 10-12, 2015 in Munich, Germany. The new TriStar MPPT 600V Controller With DC Transfer Switch will be on display. This product and its application to retrofit existing grid-tied systems with battery backup is an ees AWARD 2015 finalist. Stop by the Morningstar booth for more information about existing products and what’s on the horizon for the future.
