Charge Controler

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Silverfish
Silverfish Registered Users Posts: 4
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
Tried searching and did not see the info I needed. Wondering the main difference between the $35 mppt and the $150. I'm assuming I would need to assess my needs and pick one from there. Basically, I have 2 12v 130w panels in series, need a 24v cc and 2 12v batteries in series. Nothing huge, but since I need to change out my cc, wanted to look into mppt. I hope to expand later also. Thanks!
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
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    Re: Charge Controler

    A $35 MPPT controller has a sticker on it that says "MPPT". A $150 MPPT controller might actually work. A $500 MPPT controller does what it claims to. This is why for most small applications (<400 Watt array) the MPPT controller offers no advantage.

    Where are you seeing these controllers with such low prices? Used? A $35 controller probably wouldn't be any good even if it was a PWM type.
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  • Silverfish
    Silverfish Registered Users Posts: 4
    #3
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    Re: Charge Controler

    Saw this on Amazon. :)
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #4
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    Re: Charge Controler
    Silverfish wrote: »
    Saw this on Amazon. :)

    Used? Or just really poor quality Asian imports? :p
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  • WillBkool
    WillBkool Solar Expert Posts: 35 ✭✭
    #5
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    Re: Charge Controler
    Cariboocoot wrote: »
    A $35 MPPT controller has a sticker on it that says "MPPT". A $150 MPPT controller might actually work. A $500 MPPT controller does what it claims to. This is why for most small applications (<400 Watt array) the MPPT controller offers no advantage.

    My Morningstar sunsaver 15A MPPT is rated for a max of 400 watts at 24v. It's probably the smallest MPPT that works decently that I know of. I just wish it could communicate with the bigger Morningstar MPPT controllers for when I upgrade in the future. If you're expanding in the future, you may want to lay out the money for a Morningstar or perhaps even a Rogue MPPT controller now, and you won't have to upgrade when you expand like I have to.
    1220 Watts, 4 Evergreen 120 watt, 1 Eoplly 190 watt; 1 Sungold 200 watt; 2 175 Watt; M-Star 15A MPPT; C40 PWM; 6 105 AH AGM Configured to 315@24V
    Cotek 1500 watt/24v
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #6
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    Re: Charge Controler

    This is why I wrote "for most small applications".
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  • Shadowcatcher
    Shadowcatcher Solar Expert Posts: 228 ✭✭✭
    #7
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    Re: Charge Controler

    Caraboocoot there is one situation where having an MPPT controller does pay and that is when you use a high voltage panel. We have a 185W 66cell panel on our teardrop trailer and we get usable current from sun up to sun down and with the panel shaded to some extent. It was a beginner mistake when I bought the panel not knowing it put out the higher voltage that it required a Morningstar MPPT controller, but it works great.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #8
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    Re: Charge Controler
    Shadowcatcher wrote: »
    Caraboocoot there is one situation where having an MPPT controller does pay and that is when you use a high voltage panel. We have a 185W 66cell panel on our teardrop trailer and we get usable current from sun up to sun down and with the panel shaded to some extent. It was a beginner mistake when I bought the panel not knowing it put out the higher voltage that it required a Morningstar MPPT controller, but it works great.

    Thank you for that. Otherwise I wouldn't have known. :roll:
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