MPPT Controller

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sailaway78

sailaway78

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May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
I need a new controller for my solar panels. I think a close by lightning strike got the last one. Does anyone have any experience with the MPPT controllers, and is there really any noticable increase in output with them. I know what all the adds say, but I just don't automatically believe all the snake oil stuff I hear these days. Would prefer to hear form someone with actual experience.
 
Ron McCoy

Ron McCoy

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Oct 10, 2008
277
Catalina 445 Yorktown
I use a Xantrex C-35 controller with my 135 watt panel. Seems to work just fine as I don't expect it to perform miracles in recharging batteries at warp speed. My Lifeline AGMs are well charged everyday and they're getting to be 7 years old and not showing any loss in storage capabilities. I think keeping the batteries recharged regularly (daily) is the key ingredient, rather than the type of charge controller you happen to use. Remember the sun doesn't shine everyday.
 
A

Alan Johnson

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Jan 22, 2008
61
Hunter Catalina 400 PORT JEFERSON, NY
I have a total of 330 watts of panels and use the Blue Sky 2512i. Works as advertized, very happy
 
zeehag

zeehag

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Mar 26, 2009
3,198
1976 formosa 41 yankee clipper santa barbara. ca.(not there)
i believe that bluesky is what mine in ericson,, now formosa is-- is great--- works well and tells your battery condition-- has numbers to look at instead of blind guessing. i now have 16-20 amps incoming solar... has no tbeen problem --wa sin ericson for over 5 yrs....
 
AbbySedge

AbbySedge

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Dec 29, 2009
51
Seidelman S-37 Mobile
solar panels

nice N Easy said:
i Need A New Controller For My Solar Panels. I Think A Close By Lightning Strike Got The Last One. Does Anyone Have Any Experience With The Mppt Controllers, And Is There Really Any Noticable Increase In Output With Them. I Know What All The Adds Say, But I Just Don't Automatically Believe All The Snake Oil Stuff I Hear These Days. Would Prefer To Hear Form Someone With Actual Experience.
Click to expand
Glad You Own The Solar Panels
 
Lee Coller

Lee Coller

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Oct 22, 2005
257
Hunter 44DS Redondo Beach, CA
I used to have a basic Sunsei controller on my 1 130 watt panels. Somehow it got fried and I replaced it with a Blue Sky MPPT controller. Big difference. On sunny days it puts 10% or more power into my batteries than the old controller did.
 
cbsailor

cbsailor

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Jul 8, 2004
155
Hunter 33.5 Portsmouth VA
I have a total of 170 watts of Kyocera panels, the Blue Sky 2512i, 4 Trojan golf car batteries and a start battery. The solar setup has been working great for over a year now. Very happy with the setup.
 
Chuck Creel

Chuck Creel

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Nov 26, 2006
381
Hunter 31 1987 Fly Creek Marina Fairhope,AL.
Phil,
i had kyocera 130 watt panel on my other hunter with a morningstar ps-15 controller.

Darn thing was bullet proof. it survived many direct shorts of 12V and always came back to life. Wholesale solar claims they have never seen one go bad.

just my 2 cents..
 
Jeff B.

Jeff B.

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Apr 15, 2009
16
Custom Nightingale 30' wood/epoxy racer/cruiser Portland
This may be a dumb question, but does your current charge controller have a simple fuse or breaker that you could simply replace? $3.99 at RadioShack sounds like an inexpensive experiment, but I'm speaking from total ignorance here.
 
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