Off-Grid Solar Systems
What is a Motor Controller?
A motor controller is a device that manages the performance of an electric motor by governing the input power, providing current, voltage and temperature management protection and enabling specific, even precise operation of the motor, such as speed and torque control.
What is a Solar Motor Controller?
The SMS Solar Motor Controller series combines several components – an MPPT controller, voltage booster and 3-phase inverter in a single compact, lightweight and durable package. The SMC series are purpose designed to maximize the energy from solar DC power, convert that energy into clean digital AC power to run high-efficiency 3-phase (AC) motors and provide advanced controls generally found only in larger motor sizes.
The Solar Only series serves off grid applications to power 3-phase devices that have no access to other sources of power.
What types of devices can a Solar Only controller run?
The Solar Only Series supports standard and high frequency variable speed motors. Solar panels plus an SMS controller can run 3-phase devices, such as; motors, pumps, compressors and condensers. The series runs motor sizes of: 0.5HP, 1HP, 1.5HP and 2HP. It can also run SMS specialty 3-phase solar motors and pumps.
What is required to run a motor using only solar power?
Solar Panels + a Solar Motor Controller + 3-Phase Device. The Solar Only controller series connects to conventional solar panels using standard connections (in series or series/parallel). Standard 3-phase electrical wiring is used to connect to practically any off-the-shelf 3-phase AC motor.
Always use a Certified Electrician for electrical work! Follow US National Electrical Codes (NEC2011) for installation guidelines and restrictions to conform to local electrical codes. For a certified professional it’s an easy setup.
More power from fewer solar panels
Proprietary High Frequency Interleaved Booster technology accommodates the variable nature of solar power using circuit-level MPPT technology that runs even on cloudy days/partial shadowing. In low light conditions, when other systems fail to start or simply shut down – an SMC controlled motor keeps running. The controller dynamically monitors and automatically adjusts for maximum performance.
As input power fluctuates (dawn, dusk, shadowing), the SMS controller recalculates for the compensated run sequence, automatically adjusting the motor at a revised speed and torque based on the available light. This reduces start/stop cycles, which increase the output in a 24hr cycle and reduces stress on the motor. When sunlight falls below the critical minimum (nighttime) the motor shuts down and automatically restarts when the minimum required light resumes.
Smaller footprint and fewer components – less cost.
Get more power from the sun with fewer panels. Advanced and proprietary SMS technology does what no other controller can. Solar Only Series controllers combine an MPPT Controller, 3-phase inverter and 3-phase motor controller ALL in one compact unit. Our proprietary design employs software controls and advanced circuitry to produce a long lasting solution for commercial/industrial applications in a compact, lightweight and durable package.
Our advanced algorithms are able to run a 180v AC motor using a single 36v (300w) solar panel. These capabilities are unmatched in the industry. Compare other systems that require 3 to 10 panels for the same output!
What makes an SMS controller better?
- More power from fewer solar panels
- Clean, digital AC power – motors run better and last longer
- Smaller footprint and fewer components – less cost
- Programmable – with remote controls and monitoring
- Plug n' play set up – Anywhere
Plug n’ play set up – Anywhere
The SMC-Series of Solar Motor Controllers are designed to accommodate standard solar panels on the input side and standard 3-phase motors on the output side. As with all solar and 3-phase electrical systems a certified electrician is required, but for a qualified installer the system is easy to setup:
- ANY standard PV solar panels (100w to 310w) and standard connections.
- ANY standard 3-Phase AC motor – 0.5HP 1HP 1.5HP 2HP.
- ANY Standard 1” plumbing connection
As with all solar and 3-phase electrical systems a certified electrician is required, but for a qualified installer the system is easy to setup.
Programmable – with remote controls and monitoring.
Now you can monitor and control off-grid systems from anywhere. SMS controllers utilize The Internet of Things (IoT), which makes advanced connectivity, remote monitoring and controls, beyond machine-to-machine communications (M2M) possible.
The Solar Only Series (check specific product for availability) allow you to set programmable SMS (text) based monitoring and alerts, specify runtimes, provide dry run monitoring and make other closed-loop controls possible.
Solar power’s problem is not a problem here.
Solar is a variable energy source, when shadowing occurs a panel's voltage output fluctuates. These variations in current are bad for motors – they can cause them to run hotter, reducing performance, efficiency and shortening lifespan. It also forces the motor into more stop/start cycles – reducing performance and output.
When an electric motor hums, vibrates or heats up – those are signs that the power being fed to the motor is not clean. A variation in current or a modified sine wave puts stress on motors – they produce less, die sooner and cost you money. Like the fuel in your car, water in the gasoline is not good for your engine. Similarly, the signal you 'feed' to electric motors has a big impact.
Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) are proving to be ever more useful and powerful. They increase motor efficiency, reduce noise, extend the lifespan of devices, and add useful features like soft-start and speed control. The more advanced VFD controllers on the market today deliver pure sine wave power to motors, but that's not the whole story.
The next evolution in VFDs is here now – SMS controllers do what others can’t .
Pure vs. modified sine wave, soft-start and speed control are all great. Other systems also have this capability, but ONLY SMS dynamically manages changing solar input using our proprietary High Frequency Interleaved Booster technology. The SMS controller maximizes the solar DC input to produce high-quality conditioned power. In low light conditions, when other systems fail to start or simply shut down – an SMC controlled motor keeps running and automatically adjusts for maximum performance.
How it works: Simply put; advanced algorithms. As input power fluctuates (dawn, dusk and shadowing), the SMS controller recalculates for the compensated run sequence and automatically adjusts the motor at a revised speed and torque based on the available light. These advanced and proprietary algorithms are unmatched in the industry! When sunlight falls below critical lighting minimum the motor will stop and attempt a restart with the available light at revised toque and speed.
Scientific breakthrough meets practical benefit
These capabilities produce several practical benefits:
Model/Sizes: 0.5HP 1HP 1.5HP 2HP
SMS-SMC00005OGO 374W / 0.5HP
SMS-SMC00010OGO 748W / 1.0HP
SMS-SMC00015OGO 1.2kW / 1.5HP
SMS-SMC00020OGO 1.5kW / 2.0HP
- Proprietary High Frequency Interleaved Booster technology boosts voltage to run 3-phase motors with fewer panels.
- Proprietary Circuit-Level MPPT dynamically manages and automatically adjusts to variable solar input – even on cloudy days or with partial shadowing.
- Digital Signal Processing (DSP) – practically eliminates electrical and electromagnetic noise. Our digital, pure sine wave, vector-based inversion technology produces clean AC power to dramatically improve motor performance.
- Soft start technology.
- Speed and torque control.
- Reversible motor (not recommended for pumps).
- Temperature management of controller and 3-phase devices.
- Overload/over voltage protection.
- Use any standard PV solar panels.
- Use any standard 3-Phase AC motor.
- Light weight, compact design is more reliable requiring less maintenance
Plug n’ play set up – Anywhere
The Solar Only Series provide commercial/industrial-grade performance in a wide variety of off-grid applications. SMS controllers are compact, lighter and more reliable and run longer with less maintenance that single-phase or DC systems. SMS systems are compatible with most off-the-shelf components:
- Use ANY standard PV solar panels (100w to 310w) and standard connections.
- Use ANY standard 3-Phase AC motor – 0.5HP 1HP 1.5HP 2HP.
- Standard 1” plumbing connections.
As with all solar and 3-phase electrical systems a certified electrician is required, but for a qualified installer the system is easy to setup.
Perfect for commercial/industrial-grade off-grid applications
- Domestic supply, animal water tanks, construction sites.
- Gardens, fountains, agriculture, horticulture, irrigation.
- Aerate ponds or fish farm tanks.
- Circulation/cooling fans, condensers (HVAC) and compressors.
Application examples
Filling Animal water tanks: Ed runs a cattle ranch. His cattle need up to 30 gallons each per day. No power lines exist where these tanks are and it would be very expensive to pull lines. Ed solves his off-grid water need with an SMS water pump system. Using ONLY two conventional 300w solar panels, an SMS Controller (Solar Only/Off-Grid) and an SMS 0.5HP water pump, Ed is able to pump 660GPH for 6+ hours each day. The surface water pumping system moves up to 4,000 GPD. The unit continues to run even w partial shadowing, auto-restarts each am and is rugged enough to last for years.
Application examples
Keeping the wife happy: Ed's wife keeps a small garden. She has a small drip irrigation system. There's a small stream nearby and using ONLY one conventional 300w solar panel, an SMS Controller (Solar Only/Off-Grid) and an SMS 0.5HP water pump, she is able to pump 330GPH for 6+ hours each day. She's won the county tomato contest 3 years running.
