Solar controllers

[Ant-t]

A bit of advice please, I'm looking at getting my solar setup going, my van has very low power requirements and cabling in place. So I want to source a controller for a basic setup, 100w panel to a single leisure battery. lve read that PWM controllers are good and would an lcd display be worth paying for? Any makes, models and pointers welcome.

[davegsm82]

There are hundreds of different models out there, but beware of the crap sold on ebay because you can't trust anything they say.

PWM is good, MPPT is better. Cheap ebay ones are neither usually, some of the better ones (with LCD, USB out etc) are PWM.

In saying that, I have a cheap 'neither' controller on my 120W panel and it does the job ok, batteries are always charged, ventillation fan runs 24/7 as does the alarm etc, you just dont get the benefit in low light or high energy consumption times.

Dave.

[Ant-t]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated

[CovKid]

Went through three before finding this one. Brilliant as it charges both batteries.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Duo-Batt ... Swl8NVXg~y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Ant-t]

Excellent, thank you

[weegaz22]

Went through three before finding this one. Brilliant as it charges both batteries.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Duo-Batt ... Swl8NVXg~y" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Wouldn't you need a 20a one? with your 2 panels? 200w/12v=16.6a?, been looking into the solar and thought you aimed for 10amp for every 100w panel you have, maybe I've picked it up wrong.

[CovKid]

Mine produce (theoretically) 5.5amps max each. Its stamped on them. Thats optimistic on the part of the manufacturer if not all solar manufacturers. I've NEVER seen that as we just don't get that good sunlight here in the UK. Most I've seen is 7amps (they run in parallel) combined on a very bright day although to be fair I think the version I bought was good up to 15 amps. That said, it is highly unlikely you'd see anywhere near 10 amps anyway. I never have. Solar panel specs assume close to 100% efficiency which you'll never get. As panels get very warm, their output drops too.

[Mocki]

i often see 11amps from my 150w panel, but that is dependant on the level of charge in the battery anyway, the lower the voltage the higher the amperage.....

[CovKid]

Exactly. But they never achieve their maximum potential for long, if at all. That said, they charge my batteries in under an hour in the brighter months so as long as they do the job, thats all that matters. Bear in mind mine are stuck down (which suits me). Those who swing them around like a man possessed will get more for sure, at times.

What I did like about that controller is the simplicity of it. I do have an accurate meter I can switch in if I really want to read figures (input or output) but basically if the LEDs for each battery output are flashing, I know they're fully charged and in maintenance mode. I can concentrate on other stuff like cooking bacon etc.

[Synkraut]

Have only had the solar panel (140w) for a few months but I got this: http://www.ctek.com/lu/en/chargers/D250S%20DUAL" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
as a controller because it appears to be a P&P thing, charges the starter battery when the leisure one is full and appears to do the voltage boost when on alternator like the sterling setup does. Had no issues with it. So far it is working perfeclty

[CovKid]

Struth - £200.

[slowcoach]

110677_RB_00_FB.EPS_1000.jpg

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I've got one of these, it's never let me down in last 5 years. It's got two modes, to get that nice graph all the loads have to come right out of the controller (which mine don't, can't remember why now!)
E D I T: oh yes, because I charge off the alt too and it gets confused