What controller and all to use

solar_dummy · June 2017

Help. I know almost nothing about solar and want to learn... Looking for some advise on hooking up a solar system in a small fiberglass 14.5' trillium RV trailer and want to hook up a solar panel to keep the battery charged and run some small appliances, 700 watt microwave, charge phones, charge and run 2 laptops, ventilation fan, and led house lights and maybe a small crock pot. Most item would not be used every day as we are boondockers and just need a few luxuries' in the wild.

I have some new solar panel and would like to use the best one and will buy a charge controller to fit the system and upgrade to more batteries in the future but weight and size are a problem until we get a larger rv and tow vehicle. I only have room for I panel.

the panels I have available are:

1. Triex U300 300 watt 57Vmp 5.27Imp

2. Triex U305 305watt 57.5Vmp 5.32Imp

3. Sunlink 205watt 26.8vmp 7.65Imp

4. Sunlink 230watt 29.9vmp 7.69Imp

Also, I only have room for 1 Trojan t-1275 battery 12volt 150ah.

I need to know what budget minded controller would give me good service for a few years and then I would use it in an off grid location or sell the trailer and build another system. I have several of the Triex 300 and 305 panels for future use and will spent the extra money for a 48volt battery system and high end controller for a off grid cabin in a couple of years.

Any help would be greatly appreciated and passed on to others.

Photowhit · June 2017

I would rather you look at 2 smaller panels and get 12 volt nominal panels, they will cost a bit more per watt, but can utilize a much less expensive charge controller.

Something like these Renogy, while they cost $1.23 a watt,
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-Volts-Monocrystalline-Solar/dp/B00KI14U5C/ref=pd_day0_86_5?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00KI14U5C&pd_rd_r=4EKS75E0PQKQED40WH2X&pd_rd_w=Zi7XA&pd_rd_wg=FDtUz&psc=1&refRID=4EKS75E0PQKQED40WH2X

they can use an inexpensive PWM charge controller like this;, (I'd likely spend a bit more money, but it has pretty good reviews);

https://www.amazon.com/XCSOURCE®-Intelligent-Controller-Regulator-LD296/product-reviews/B00KWWSCJC/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_hist_5?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=five_star&reviewerType=avp_only_reviews&pageNumber=1#reviews-filter-bar

For the panels you are looking at, first are they available locally? if not shipping may cost as much as the panel, and they must use a MPPT type charge controller which are more expensive, minimal cost would be something like this (I doubt I'd trust this brand);
https://www.amazon.com/HQST-MPPT-Solar-Charge-Controller/dp/B01B28RV96/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497853490&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=mppt+charge+controller&psc=1

With an RV be sure to look for a charge controller without a fan but with cooling fins as fan noise is a frequent complaint with RV solar systems.

mcgivor · June 2017

Since you have the panels on hand and already planning for expansion, in the future, I would be inclined to use one off the panels you have and go for the cheap MPPT controller @Estragon suggested, I know someone who has one and it seems to work fine. Seems that would be the least expensive route to go. Got to love those Trillium's, used to have one behind a diesel Land Cruiser, so light you didn't even notice you were to towing something.

Aguarancher · June 2017

Unless your appliances run on 12V you also need an inverter. Inverter output voltage will depend on the country in which you live.

nickdearing88 · June 2017

I returned that HQST controller to Amazon, spent the money and got a Morningstar ProStar MPPT. I'm very glad I did.

https://www.solar-electric.com/morningstar-prostar-mppt-controller-meter-ps-mppt-40m.html

The HQST did *work* but the display does not. Yes, it does physically have a display built-in, but it is not connected.

solar_dummy · June 2017

I already own the panels all of them are new, unused. The Triex panels, I paid under $100 each for and have several of them for future use and possible barter to have an off grid system, remote cabin, setup with some of them and trade others for needed equipment and installation. I realize I will have to spend more money to setup off grid and that will be ok. Just couldn't pass up the deal on the panels. Even if I only use half of them and trade or sell the rest I will be way ahead but don't want to sell any until I have the off grid set up built.

I live in the Mojave desert in winter and northern Michigan in summer, and yes I plan on buying an inverter, 12v 1000watt, to start that I can use in the future off grid system or larger rv.

I am looking at these to go with the

Morningstar - PS-MPPT-40M CHARGE CONTROLLER
COTEK SK1000-112 INVERTER.

Hope to do something in the next couple of days.

mcgivor · June 2017

Being that your future plan is to build a 48v system, it may be better to get a controller which has the ability to charge 12, 24 and 48 volts and be able to utilize it in the future, since you're making a good choice and not going the cheap route. For around the same price a Morningstar TS 45 MPPT would offer this flexibility.
https://www.solar-electric.com/motr45ampmps.html

nickdearing88 · June 2017

mcgivor said:

Being that your future plan is to build a 48v system, it may be better to get a controller which has the ability to charge 12, 24 and 48 volts and be able to utilize it in the future, since you're making a good choice and not going the cheap route. For around the same price a Morningstar TS 45 MPPT would offer this flexibility.
https://www.solar-electric.com/motr45ampmps.html

Absolutely, I wish I would have done that also. But it never crossed my mind at the time.......hindsight is 20/20.

westbranch · June 2017

search for postings by Shadowcatcher, he has done a bunch of work on his teardrop trailer and Pv system...hth

solar_dummy · June 2017

Thank all of you for your help. Unless you buy a package system there are no 2 systems alike from what is see, just what works for you. I took all the information given to me and read reviews and shopped price and quality, imo for what that is worth, and decided on the following.

I just order a Tristar MPPT 45 and TS-RM-2, charge controller and remote meter. Not Quite sure of an inverter yet but it can wait a few days to order it.
Now I need to know about placement and sizes of fuses in the system with what I have. 1-Triex U305 305watt 57.5Vmp 5.32Imp panel, 1- trojan t-1275 12volt 150ah battey, and the above cc and for now an unknown brand pure sine 12volt 1000watt inverter. Yes, the some of the equipment may seem like over kill but I plan on using with more panels and batteries in the future. They say buy once, cry once.
I read a lot of each of your post to have better ideas of what I may want to build into my systems in the future as I see everyone has more then one system for special applications.

mryimmers · June 2017

Re inverter, I bought my Exeltech inverters on eBay, all of them at a small fraction of the cost of new.

Lumisol · June 2017

I recently did what you are talking about. I chose the Tristar mppt 30 controller and Cotek 2000 watt inverter. I put an RV outlet on the inverter and plug in the RV to that as if it were shore power. I went with 48 volts for the system voltage to be more cost effective.
I used breakers in the system with a 60 amp between the controller and bank and a 70 amp between the bank and inverter.
I used a combiner box I built myself with 2 circuit breakers rated for the panel strings I used (2x 580 watt strings)
And I chose a 225 ah bank of 8x 6volt batteries. (Vmax tanks)
I used the advice of the members her to make the choices I did.
I run a refrigerator, tv-DVD combo, small microwave, evaporative cooler and led lights.

nickdearing88 · June 2017

Lumisol said:

I recently did what you are talking about. I chose the Tristar mppt 30 controller and Cotek 2000 watt inverter. I put an RV outlet on the inverter and plug in the RV to that as if it were shore power. I went with 48 volts for the system voltage to be more cost effective.
I used marine type breakers in the system with a 30 amp between the controller and bank and a 70 amp between the bank and inverter.
I used a combiner box I built myself with 2 circuit breakers rated for the panel strings I used (2x 580 watt strings)
And I chose a 225 ah bank of 8x 6volt batteries. (Vmax tanks)
I used the advice of the members her to make the choices I did.
I run a refrigerator, tv-DVD combo, small microwave, evaporative cooler and led lights.

Lumisol, what circuit breakers did you use that are rated for DC 48V? I just bought some from our host but there are only rated up-to 48V (not the 60V+ that would be required for a 48V system). I'm currently using a 24V system but will be upgrading in the future.

Estragon · June 2017

> @nickdearing88 said:
>
> Lumisol, what circuit breakers did you use that are rated for DC 48V? I just bought some from our host but there are only rated up-to 48V (not the 60V+ that would be required for a 48V system). I'm currently using a 24V system but will be upgrading in the future.

Most of the dc breakers sold by our host are rated for much higher than 48vdc. The few rated for 48vdc would be for 12v systems that never see higher voltages. If you're at 24v and planning to go 48v, I would return the breakers and order some better suited to your application.

nickdearing88 · June 2017

Estragon said:

> @nickdearing88 said:
>
> Lumisol, what circuit breakers did you use that are rated for DC 48V? I just bought some from our host but there are only rated up-to 48V (not the 60V+ that would be required for a 48V system). I'm currently using a 24V system but will be upgrading in the future.

Most of the dc breakers sold by our host are rated for much higher than 48vdc. The few rated for 48vdc would be for 12v systems that never see higher voltages. If you're at 24v and planning to go 48v, I would return the breakers and order some better suited to your application.

I bought the MRCB ones: https://www.solar-electric.com/mr60ampdccib.html

They seem to be nicely made and perfect for my 24v system. I guess I should have stated without a distribution box, bus bars, etc.
Was just curious what Lumisol used.

Estragon · June 2017

They probably are well made, and I'd be happy to use them on my 12v boat system, or 12v night cabin system. I wouldn't use them for a 48v system though. I'm also curious what @Lumisol used.

littleharbor2 · June 2017

The only way to plug in your shore power cable into an onboard inverter would require you to disable the converter in the system, otherwise your batteries will be trying to charge themselves off of themselves and eventually the system dies.

Lumisol · June 2017

I use an inverter to plug shore power into. You do not use the battery cables in the RV to connect the bank.
The panels connect to the controller and the controller to the bank and the inverter to the bank and then plug in the power to the inverter.
Disconnect the battery cables from the RV panel.
The converter stays connected to power the DC loads.

What controller and all to use

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