MidNite Solar Integration Guide

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SimpliPhi Power, Inc. | 3100 Camino Del Sol | Oxnard, CA 93030, USA | [phone] | [e-mail] | SimpliPhiPower.com
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1.0 – Introduction
This Integration Guide is intended to supplement the PHI Battery and Midnite Solar Installation Manuals. It
covers the recommended set up and configuration of Midnite Solar Charge Controller equipment for
optimizing performance with SimpliPhi PHI batteries. More information on SimpliPhi products can be found on
our website: https://simpliphipower.com/
. Specifically, the Product Documentation section of SimpliPhi’s web
site (https://simpliphipower.com/product-documentation/) includes Specification Sheets, Warranties,
Installation & Operator’s Manuals, and Integration Guides for all SimpliPhi’s current and legacy products.
SimpliPhi Power offers solutions for a range of Midnite Solar products covering 24V to 48V PHI battery
applications, which are too numerous to be covered here. If the Midnite Solar product you are looking for is not
covered in this Integration Guide, the parameters listed here should be used as a general guide. The specific
Midnite Solar products covered in this guide include, but are not limited to:
• Midnite Solar Classic charge controllers
o Midnite Solar Classic 150, 200 & 250
o Midnite Solar Classic 150, 200 & 250 LITE
2.0 – Charge Controller Settings
Based on tests and evaluations of the PHI 3.8 kWh battery with Midnite Solar’s equipment, the following
parameters (refer to table below) have been established. More information on Midnite Solar Classic series
charge controller products can be found on their website: http://www.midnitesolar.com/documentIndex.php
.
3.0 – Battery Bank Sizing
A properly sized PHI battery bank should be sized to handle the maximum potential solar array output. The
following calculation method assumes the nomenclature below:
• Maximum battery charge current = I
BatChrgMax
• PV charge controller maximum = I
PVChrgMax
• Recommended minimum number of batteries = B
#
Charge equation:B
#PV
≥ I
PVChrgMax
/ I
BatChrgMax
3.1 – Charge Calculation: Charge Controller Power Bank Sizing
To optimize solar harvesting, a properly sized PHI battery bank should be able to accept the maximum PV
charge current. To determine the minimum number of PHI batteries required to optimize PV, divide the output
of the charge controller(s) by the “max continuous charge current” per PHI battery. Be sure to verify the “max
continuous charge current” for the PHI battery model that you’re using, because it may differ from C/2,
depending on model.
Charge Example: B
#PV
≥ I
PVChrgMax
/ I
BatChrgMax
• Max continuous charge current for PHI 3.8 kWh 48V = 37.5A
• PV charge controller max = 86A
B
#PV
≥ 86A / 37.5A = 2.29
A properly sized PHI battery bank based on available PV charge would have a minimum of 3 batteries. This
maximizes the use of available PV while ensuring the batteries are never stressed by overcharging. If the PHI
battery bank has fewer batteries than calculated, special care must be taken with the charge controller settings
to limit the charge rate below the specified rating of the PHI battery. These settings are described in the
following sections of this Integration Guide.