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Description:

The Remote Meter (RM-1) cannot be used to change charging parameters. The RM-1 only displays data and provides basic user commands, such as resetting Amp-Hour counters.

For further information, please consult the RM-1 manual.

Description:

The internal switches of a controller, called MOSFETs or power transistors, switch current on and off to control solar current and load current. Because these components are in the power path, the controller will no longer be able to switch current if they fail.

Power transistors can fail for the following reasons:

• Over-voltage: lightning or other high voltage transients on the PV power cables.
• Over-current: too much PV for the controller or a short in the PV line pulls too much currentout of the battery through the controller.
• Extreme temperatures during charging.
• A premature failure of the component. The transistors are solid state devices that are manufactured in huge volumes with extremely low failure rates. However, no electrical components are 100% defect free and can pass test and then fail after a short period of time.
• Old age

Description:

Do Morningstar Controllers regulate according to SOC (State of Charge) calculations?

No. Morningstar Controllers regulate according to battery voltage setpoints. Because battery health and other factors affect charging over time, using voltage setpoints is a way to naturally track these changes and affords the user a complete understanding of the controllers operation. SOC calculations and algorithms may not be precise under all conditions and may leave the user with a “fuzzy” understanding of the workings of the unit.

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MSView contains a built-in Help File (accessible from the Help menu -> Help Topics) which provides detailed information about using the software to connect to Morningstar devices, program custom settings, view and/or log real-time data, and evaluate system performance.

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The note below assumes the meter is powered and displaying text on the screen.

If a button(s) for any one of the following display models appears to stop working:

– TS-M / TS-RM
– TS-M-2 / TS-RM-2
– RM-1

there may be several explanations:

1) You have reached the end of a menu, and there are no more screens to display in that direction (e.g. if you go to the bottom of a menu and continue to push the DOWN arrow, nothing will happen)

2) If the backlight is OFF, the first button press will turn the backlight ON, but will not change the meter screen. E.g. if the backlight is OFF and you would like to move LEFT in the display, you must press LEFT twice – the first to turn the backlight ON, the second to move LEFT in the display). In brightly lit rooms or sunny conditions, it may be difficult to detect whether the backlight is ON or OFF.

3) The button contacts have become dirty. To clean the button contacts:

– Disconnect the meter cable from the back of the meter
– Remove the two screws on the back of the meter, holding the meter circuit board to the faceplate
– Wet a Q-tip or small paper towel with a small amount of alcohol
– Clean the 4 contact points on the circuit board and the contact point on each of the buttons

If the meter button(s) still do not function correctly after checking the points above, contact your Morningstar re-seller / dealer for warranty replacement.

Description:

SureSine inverters cannot have their AC outputs paralleled with other inverters. Two AC paralleled SureSines would not be able to phase align their AC output waveforms, resulting in a very messy AC signal damaging to AC equipment or the SureSine inverters.

Description:

Problem: The SureSine inverter indicates a fault with RED LEDs when one or more DIP settings switches is changed.

Solution: The SureSine will go into a fault state if the DIP switch(s) are changed during operation. Adjust the switch(s) to the desired position and cycle power by removing and reconnecting the battery. The SureSine will restart using the new configuration.

Description:

If you are having problems communicating with a Morningstar product using a serial connection, try the following:

1. Make sure that the unit is powered with a battery or power supply. The unit cannot communicate without power.

2. Verify that the serial cable is not a Null Modem or cross-over cable.

3. Verify that no other programs or managers are using the same serial port.

4. Check the serial cable for continuity using a multimeter. The cable should have continuity from Pin1<->Pin1, Pin2<->Pin2,… If possible, try another cable.

5. Shut down and restart the PC. Reattempt connection.

6. Try another PC

For products that require the PC MeterBus Serial Adapter (Model: MSC), check the RJ-11 telephone cable. If possible, try another cable. It has been reported that some USB to Serial cables will not work with the MSC because the RS-232 output signal voltages are below the RS-232 electrical specification.

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Fuses, circuit breakers and disconnects should be included in your system. Refer to your local/national codes concerning requirements. The controller’s Operation Manual outlines NEC requirements for installations in the United States.

Description:

The loads may be parasitic, drawing more than 8W (anything with a transformer). The first DIP switch may also be set to the ‘down’ position, setting the inverter to the ‘always on’ mode (provides continuous AC output). Ensure there is no power going to the inverter, then move the first DIP switch to the ‘up’ position to put the inverter into ‘standby’ mode. If a DIP switch setting is changed during operation, the inverter will display a fault. Remove and reapply power to clear the DIP switch changed fault.

Description:

When two conductors (a wire and screw terminal for instance) are mated, there is a resistance at that connection. Usually this contact resistance is very low and poses no threat. However, when connections become loose, oxidation builds on the surfaces, or corrosion accumulates, the resistance at the connection can increase to a dangerous level.

When current passes through resistance, power is dissipated in the form of heat. If the value of the resistance goes up, so does the power dissipated (for the same amount of current). When a connection has high resistance, the heat generated at the connection can melt surrounding material such as plastics and actually catch fire.

Resistive connections can occur on any electronic device that carries significant amounts of power. It is important to periodically check the tightness of the connections and inspect for corrosion as suggested in the Maintenance section of the Operator’s Manual. Along with periodically checking the connections, dielectric grease can be applied to the terminals to avoid corrosion build-up on the conductor surfaces. Mobile installations tend to be the most susceptible to developing resisitve connections because motion works cables loose from their terminals, however, resistive connections can occur on stationary installations as well.

Description:

PWM is an acronym for Pulse Width Modulation. When the battery is recharged to regulation voltage, the controller will begin limiting the amount of current into the battery so that the regulation voltage is maintained but not surpassed. The method of regulating the current, referred to as PWM, pulses current into the battery with pulses of a varying width. Wider pulses allow a greater percentage of the input current to flow into the battery, narrower pulses restrict current to a lower percentage. Refer to the accompanying download,  “Why PWM?”, for more technical and detailed information concerning PWM charging.

Description:

Direct from the FAQ at http://www.modbus.org :

MODBUS® Protocol is a messaging structure developed by Modicon in 1979, used to establish master-slave/client-server communication between intelligent devices. It is a de facto standard, truly open and the most widely used network protocol in the industrial manufacturing environment. It is literally implemented by hundreds of vendors on thousands of different devices in order to transfer discrete/analog I/O and register data between control devices. It’s really a lingua franca or common denominator between different manufacturers. One report called it the “de facto standard in multi-vendor integration”.

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We supply PC software free of charge (called MSView). It is available for download on our website. Sorry, Apple Mac is not supported.

Description:

The recommended 100A DC fuse for the SureSine may seem excessive. However, because the inverter has a large amount of input capacitance, upon startup the unit can potentially draw much higher currents than in steady-state. In order to prevent inadvertent blowing of an undersized fuse, a 100A fuse is recommended. This size provides the necessary protection to the system wiring, while also allowing the inverter to draw it’s large startup surge without tripping. Using a fuse rated less than 100A will risk nuisance tripping when the inverter is powered up.

Description:

We do not recommend wiring inverters to the load terminals of our products because of current in-rush on start up. Inverters typically have large amounts of input capacitance (for input filtering). When power is first applied, these capacitors can draw very large currents in the 100’s of amps, albeit for a short period of time. These current surges can stress our power transistors and will trip our short circuit protections. The inverter may start eventually after several attempts to reconnect from the short circuit condition, but this mode of operation is not normal. For this reason, we do not recommend wiring inverters directly. Many inverters have their own LVD circuitry and will not allow the battery to discharge too low. However, if the customer requires load control and LVD functionality, they can switch the inverter through a relay wired in series between the battery and inverter.

Description:

Yes. There can be as many Morningstar controllers as required in parallel on the same battery bank. For best performance, set each controller to as close a charge setting as possible. Since the controllers will not have direct communication with each other, it is not unusual to see the controllers transition between charging stages at different times. This is generally not a concern.

Description:

MSView is a PC software utility that allows a PC to connect to supported Morningstar products. It provides real-time data display, customizable data logging, historical graph display of logged data, and an easy to use interface with integrated help menus. MSView also features several setup and configuration wizards for the Prostar-MPPT, TriStar, TriStar-MPPT, TriStar-MPPT 600V, SunSaver MPPT, SunSaver Duo, and Relay Driver.
NOTE: The latest firmware updates for all applicable products are also included in this MSView download.SunSaver-MPPTs MUST be updated to firmware version v09 or later to enable lighting control functionality.

Version: 1.6.34.0

• – Includes support for EMC-1 & PSPWM Gen3.
• – Minor scaling fixes for other controllers

Version: 1.6.44.0

• – PSPWM / PSPPT Summary Screen Swap
• – Connection Sharing between Real-Time Data & Setup Wizards

Description:

Provides Windows drivers for:

Windows 10

Windows 8.1

Windows 8

Windows 7

Windows Vista

Windows XP

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The 2014/2015 Morningstar Product Catalog in English

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Short video highlighting Morningstar Corporation’s history and products.

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Morningstar Product Warranty

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The part numbers listed within are in compliance with Directive 2011/65/EC on the restriction of the use of certain
hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment (RoHS directives). This document also certifies that
the product declaration that has been provided by Morningstar Corporation is accurate.

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Whitepaper on Morningstar’s s high-level of innovation, R&D and engineering excellence.

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Documentation certifying that the SureSine 300W inverter conforms to the European testing requirements outlined by:

• EN 61000-6-2:2001 EMC Immunity
• EN 61000-6-4:2001 EMC Emissions
• EN 60950-1 +A11:2001 Safety
• ACMA AS/NZS CISPR22:2004 (Class B)
• ICES-003 Issue 4, Feb 2004 (Class B)
• UL458
• CSA C22.2 No. 107.1-01

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PDF file of the packed Weights and Dims of Morningstar products.