Powertech MP3720 Carge Controller Question
Submitted: Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 12:18
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Kelpie D
Inside the MP3720 charge controller there are 8 jumper terminals (or pins if you like). A row of 6 and below a row of 2. These pins protrude through the epoxy and clearly are intended for connecting "something".
Apparently there is a very similar Powertech model which has dip switches. It is probable that the jumper pins in the MP3720 are used for connecting the dip switches in the other model. One of those dip switches is used to disable the night light function enabling the controller to be used as an actual charge controller with full load terminal function.
Does anyone know if those pins are in fact used for the dip switches and if so, which of those pins need to be connected together in order to disable the night light function.
Thanks for you help.
Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 15:15
Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 15:15
The easiest way to disable the night light function is to not connect the nightlight.
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542842
Follow Up By: Kelpie D - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 16:03
Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 16:03
Thanks Allan,
But that would also disable the low voltage protection. Which is half the reason for having a controller. The other half being to protect against over charging.
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Follow Up By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 17:25
Thursday, Dec 11, 2014 at 17:25
The "low voltage protection" in this model only operates to disconnect the "night light" circuit so that if the battery runs low it will disconnect the light so as to not run the battery below a safe level of charge.
The 3-stage charging function is not related to the 'low voltage protection".
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Follow Up By: Flighty ( WA ) - Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 10:36
Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 10:36
Kelpie D
I purchased a panel and 1 of these units as a "kit" from jaycar, when it came to hooking it up I had similar queries on it.
After some discussion with staff on this I decided to simply purchase an MP 3129 unit instead.
this unit does exactly the same thing but the instructions on it were much easier to understand,
well for me anyway.
And it has the "night light" function but simply not hooked up.
Can I maybe suggest you venture to Jaycar and ask for a copy of them and have a bit of a read through.
It seems that your going to spend a heap of wasted time, money and effort to satisfy yourself on this rather than simply buying a unit to suit your needs.
cheers
Flighty
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Follow Up By: Kelpie D - Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 11:35
Friday, Dec 12, 2014 at 11:35
Thanks Flighty,
The question is actually, what are those 8 pins for?
It seems there is nothing on the internet about the pins. Even Youtube doesn't have any guru's talking about them. Which is odd because the guru's on Youtube have a DIY work around for just about every device in the known universe.
Yes, I could ask Jaycar, they are one of the bigger retailers of the product. But Jarcar have lost me as a customer because of the way their self appointed spokespeople and self appointed representatives speak to people.
I could ask one of the other bigger retailers of the product, like Battery World etc. But I think it is more a question for a DIY guru and there just might be such a guru here.
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