Charge Controller

Zakarume
Zakarume Solar Expert Posts: 143 ✭✭
in Solar Beginners Corner #1
I am looking for a good charge controller for 400 watts solar that is digital. I want to see how much solar is coming in, what is volt reading of my batteries and possible how much is going out in the way of power i am using if possible. If possible link me the controllers
1460 Watts Solar @24v. 675 AH Battery Bank using 12 6v Trojan T-105. 1 Midnite Classic 150. 1500 Watt 24v Samlex Pure Sine Inverter
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Charge Controller

    Sort of short on details there. Let's see if we can extrapolated.

    400 Watt PV array?
    So probably a 12 Volt system; about <30 Amp range.
    You want a digital display showing input Volts/Amps/Watts?
    You also want it to show output Volts/Amps/Watts?
    No mention of whether this needs to be MPPT or PWM type controller.
    How much is going out as power you are using for loads is a completely different matter as that requires differentiating between the charge controller's output and how much is actually going to the batteries.

    Here's our host's section on charge controllers. It will give you a place to start: http://www.solar-electric.com/inverters-controllers-accessories/chco.html
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  • Zakarume
    Zakarume Solar Expert Posts: 143 ✭✭
    #3
    Re: Charge Controller

    It is a 12v System. preferably at 30 amps. Want to stay less than $200 if possible, so MPPT or PWM is ok. I will only be using 2 batteries ProGuide 27M200 Deep Cycle Battery. And as far as load is concern. I will be using up to about 1000 watts for a 3 - 4 hours a day. I dont want nothing fancy. Just a charge controller showing how much solar is coming in. What is volt reading on the batteries. Thats it
    1460 Watts Solar @24v. 675 AH Battery Bank using 12 6v Trojan T-105. 1 Midnite Classic 150. 1500 Watt 24v Samlex Pure Sine Inverter
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  • vtmaps
    vtmaps Solar Expert Posts: 3,741 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Charge Controller
    Zakarume wrote: »
    I will be using up to about 1000 watts for a 3 - 4 hours a day.

    I don't know the capacity of your battery, or whether it can sustain a 1000 watt load for 3 hours... I doubt that it can.

    Regardless of the battery, the 400 watts of panel will not be able to replace the 3-4 kwh per day that you are using.

    --vtMaps
    4 X 235watt Samsung, Midnite ePanel, Outback VFX3524 FM60 & mate, 4 Interstate L16, trimetric, Honda eu2000i
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  • Zakarume
    Zakarume Solar Expert Posts: 143 ✭✭
    #5
    Re: Charge Controller

    All i want to know is a good charge controller to get. Thats all. But since i cant get a straight answer i will go somewhere else
    1460 Watts Solar @24v. 675 AH Battery Bank using 12 6v Trojan T-105. 1 Midnite Classic 150. 1500 Watt 24v Samlex Pure Sine Inverter
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  • ILFE
    ILFE Solar Expert Posts: 364 ✭✭
    #6
    Re: Charge Controller
    Zakarume wrote: »
    All i want to know is a good charge controller to get. Thats all. But since i cant get a straight answer i will go somewhere else

    Sometimes, ya gotta be patient. I was sizing images to post for you, as soon as I noticed your thread.

    The first two would be within your budget. All three are 30 ampere controllers.

    1. MorningStar ProStar 30m (PWM controller) Available through NAWS, the host of this site, for about $178 USD. I have one of these and it has been quite dependable. It shows incoming amperes from the pv array, battery voltage, and load amperes.
    Attachment not found.

    2. Midnite Solar Brat (PWM controller) This one is not publicly available yet. So, if you are in a rush, this one will not work for you. But, it will be offered, retail, at probably $120 USD or so? I imagine it will be available before the end of the year? (You can confirm that with Midnite Solar representatives.) The drawback with this one is, it has no meter. You would have to use your own meters in order to know the voltage and current readings. Or, install your own ampere and voltmeter in line? The reason I listed it, is it will be one of the cheapest, yet I am sure, most reliable controllers on the market. It is also the only weatherproof controller that I know of.
    Attachment not found.

    3. Midnite Solar Kid. (MPPT controller) The best option of the three. Available for about $285 USD, through NAWS (the host of this site.) It will show you more than what you want. It has options available to it that no other comparable controller currently offers. A very reliable unit, as well.
    Attachment not found.

    If you are unsure of the differences between PWM and MPPT controllers, MPPT controllers are far more efficient. You will get a lot more "bang" for your buck. It turns unused voltage into additional amperes, getting more efficiency from your solar array. You can also connect higher voltage arrays, to lower voltage battery banks. With PWM controllers, your solar array voltage MUST be the same as your battery bank voltage.

    Anyway, if you are in a rush, and really do not wish to go over your $200 USD budget, I would suggest going with option number 1.
    Paul
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  • Zakarume
    Zakarume Solar Expert Posts: 143 ✭✭
    #7
    Re: Charge Controller

    http://www.solar-electric.com/inverters-controllers-accessories/chco/misoclchco/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-charge-controller/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-solar-charge-controller.html this 1 has got me interested. So i will be looking at this one more closely. However http://www.solar-electric.com/inverters-controllers-accessories/chco/misoclchco/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-charge-controller/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-solar-charge-controller.html. i have been looking also
    1460 Watts Solar @24v. 675 AH Battery Bank using 12 6v Trojan T-105. 1 Midnite Classic 150. 1500 Watt 24v Samlex Pure Sine Inverter
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  • ILFE
    ILFE Solar Expert Posts: 364 ✭✭
    #8
    Re: Charge Controller
    Zakarume wrote: »
    http://www.solar-electric.com/inverters-controllers-accessories/chco/misoclchco/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-charge-controller/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-solar-charge-controller.html this 1 has got me interested. So i will be looking at this one more closely. However http://www.solar-electric.com/inverters-controllers-accessories/chco/misoclchco/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-charge-controller/midnite-solar-kid-mppt-solar-charge-controller.html. i have been looking also

    You posted the same link twice? But, as an owner of a Midnite Kid, you can rest assured that you will have a very reliable controller. Mine performs quite well.

    Here is the manual for the Midnite Kid Controller, if interested in reading up on its features.
    Paul
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  • vtmaps
    vtmaps Solar Expert Posts: 3,741 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: Charge Controller
    Zakarume wrote: »
    All i want to know is a good charge controller to get. Thats all. But since i cant get a straight answer i will go somewhere else

    And after you buy a good charge controller, be sure to come back and get a straight answer to your next question: "why doesn't this system work?".

    Preview to answer: No matter how good the charge controller, you can't run a 1000 watt load for 3-4 hours per day with 400 watts of panels.

    --vtMaps
    4 X 235watt Samsung, Midnite ePanel, Outback VFX3524 FM60 & mate, 4 Interstate L16, trimetric, Honda eu2000i
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  • 2twisty
    2twisty Solar Expert Posts: 199 ✭✭✭
    #10
    Re: Charge Controller
    vtmaps wrote: »
    No matter how good the charge controller, you can't run a 1000 watt load for 3-4 hours per day with 400 watts of panels.

    And here I was....looking for the "like" button.

    People always seem to think that these systems are 100% efficient... If they were, and you had 8 hours a day of strong sun... a 400W array would work.
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  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #11
    Re: Charge Controller
    2twisty wrote: »
    And here I was....looking for the "like" button.

    People always seem to think that these systems are 100% efficient... If they were, and you had 8 hours a day of strong sun... a 400W array would work.

    Well if it's running a 1000 Watt load for 4 hours that's 4000 Watt hours.
    If you divide that by 400 Watts of PV you still need 10 hours of direct sun to provide the power.

    Add in the real losses and it's as vtMaps says: no way will it work.
    In reality the array needs to be about 3X that size, possibly even more.
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  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #12
    Re: Charge Controller
    Zakarume wrote: »
    All i want to know is a good charge controller to get. Thats all. But since i cant get a straight answer i will go somewhere else

    BUT, you have to ask an answerable question. Folks are trying to help you. If you get a $210 controller, and find it's not right, you wasted money. We're just trying to find out what would be best for you.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

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  • Photowhit
    Photowhit Solar Expert Posts: 6,006 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #13
    Re: Charge Controller
    Zakarume wrote: »
    It is a 12v System. preferably at 30 amps. Want to stay less than $200 if possible, so MPPT or PWM is ok. I will only be using 2 batteries ProGuide 27M200 Deep Cycle Battery. And as far as load is concern. I will be using up to about 1000 watts for a 3 - 4 hours a day. I dont want nothing fancy. Just a charge controller showing how much solar is coming in. What is volt reading on the batteries. Thats it

    Hope your still following this thread, The "Pro Guide" is a Marine starting battery, they do make a "Pro-Series" 27M200 which is a sort of deep cycle battery hybrid trolling motor battery, this is likely what you have. If you haven't purchased yet you might do better with a pair of Black box Trojan 6v Golf Cart batteries. I suspect they would last longer in most deep cycle applications.

    Knowing the voltage will typically just get you in trouble, Voltage varies with weather the battery is charging or discharging. A battery at 12.4 volts could be around 50% State of Charge and Charging, or 95% and have a heavy load!

    You are looking at the correct Charge Controller for 'more correct' information. There is an attachment called a Wiz-Bang Jr for this charge controller, which combined with a shunt can tell you more accurately your current state for charge, It allows for the measuring of the current going into the battery with out regard for the loads and can give a good idea of the current state of charge.
    Home system 4000 watt (Evergreen) array standing, with 2 Midnite Classic Lites,  Midnite E-panel, Magnum MS4024, Prosine 1800(now backup) and Exeltech 1100(former backup...lol), 660 ah 24v Forklift battery(now 10 years old). Off grid for 20 years (if I include 8 months on a bicycle).
    - Assorted other systems, pieces and to many panels in the closet to not do more projects.
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