Choosing a Solar Charge Controller

[Genesis V]

I am in the process of purchasing 300watts of flexible solar panels for a Hunter 356 and down the road may be 200 more watts I have been offered a TriStar TS-60 PWM charge controller by Morningstar at half-price. Being new to solar systems I'm not sure just what to do I understand that a MPPT controller is the way to go but just how efficient are they here in the Canadian Great Lakes (lots of cloudy days)

Looking online for MPPT controllers I couldn't find a Genason charge controller to match the wattage. I did find a Blue Sky SB 2000E, SB 3000i, SC 30 and SB 50 but the price gets up there. Here in Ontario I did find a marine outlet store offering a EP-Solar 40 amp MPPT controller for only $309 CAD out of China. Should I just go with the Tri-Star TS 60 for now or hold out for a MPPT charge controller.

 

[richstar100]

I am in the process of purchasing 300watts of flexible solar panels for a Hunter 356 and down the road may be 200 more watts I have been offered a TriStar TS-60 PWM charge controller by Morningstar at half-price. Being new to solar systems I'm not sure just what to do I understand that a MPPT controller is the way to go but just how efficient are they here in the Canadian Great Lakes (lots of cloudy days) Looking online for MPPT controllers I couldn't find a Genason charge controller to match the wattage. I did find a Blue Sky SB 2000E, SB 3000i, SC 30 and SB 50 but the price gets up there. Here in Ontario I did find a marine outlet store offering a EP-Solar 40 amp MPPT controller for only $309 CAD out of China. Should I just go with the Tri-Star TS 60 for now or hold out for a MPPT charge controller.

you are right in the fact that the mppt charge controller is the way to go if you need maximum efficiency out of the system that said the Tristan 60 is a good charge controller and I have lots of customers out there with them working for years. Some of the cheaper China models are failing repeatedly so it's up to you. I would probably start off with the Tristar and go from there. I would say don't cheap out if you do go for the mppt controller and the best you could buy would be the midnite "KIDD which is a great and very versatile high end product.

 

[Maine Sail]

Grab that TriStar 60, it's one of the best...

 

[seadaddler]

Nice

I added solar to my 2007 H-36 and have 2 - 195 watt panels mounted off
my arch and over Bimini and here in florida protection from the sun is much needed so we always have the Bimini on any way but any way I also have the wires from the panels going down into the arch and on my arch the port rear
pipe is the one that carries the wires from the speakers and light and so used that hole with wires coming out to the Nav Station where I mounted my charge
control under the nav station and added the remote above with my other electronics.
You may have your batteries in the port compartment but I moved mine into the salon for better balance do to my Gen in that compartment.
You will love the solar.
Nick

 

[uncledom]

I really like the Morning Star Corp. Equipment. It is bullet proof. It is all designed for unforgiving job locations. I don't work with the volume that many others do but I haven't see much failure in their product.

 

[patrickince]

http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/products/details/solar-boost-2512i-hv-2512ix-hv

This is the controller that came with the boat we bought and it has been great. I am near you on Huron and we get lots of charge from solar. I also leave my 3 agm batteries hooked up to it for the winter and so far no issues. I checked them a lot last year due to worry but no issues through the summer at all. I have 2 panels mounted on top of Davies for tender.

 

[Jeff Jellick]

I am in the process of purchasing 300watts of flexible solar panels for a Hunter 356 and down the road may be 200 more watts I have been offered a TriStar TS-60 PWM charge controller by Morningstar at half-price. Being new to solar systems I'm not sure just what to do I understand that a MPPT controller is the way to go but just how efficient are they here in the Canadian Great Lakes (lots of cloudy days)

Looking online for MPPT controllers I couldn't find a Genason charge controller to match the wattage. I did find a Blue Sky SB 2000E, SB 3000i, SC 30 and SB 50 but the price gets up there. Here in Ontario I did find a marine outlet store offering a EP-Solar 40 amp MPPT controller for only $309 CAD out of China. Should I just go with the Tri-Star TS 60 for now or hold out for a MPPT charge controller.

On our Hunter 45 CC we mounted three Kyocera panels, and used the Blue Sky 2512i X-HV Controller, with their IPN Pro Remote panel mounted at the Nav. Station. Have had the system for about 4 + years, and have no problems. You might also want to check out Arizona Wind and Sun's website for the panels, junction box, and controllers. They really carry quality components, and will help you. Good luck with your project.

Jeff

 

[Genesis V]

Thanks for the input, the Tri-Star 60amp PWM unit as suggested is a great unit however at 11" high, 5" wide and 3" deep is quite large along with the cabling and air space it would need, installed in the lazarette close to the batteries becomes an issue when storing sails, cushions ect. In addition I would also possible need a remote display at the nav. panel-board which would add another $200+ to the install.
The blue sky 2512 MPPT unit along with a optional remote display would cost $474. At this point I am leaning toward the Blue Sky 3000i 12v/30amp MPPT which retails here in Ontario for $319 CAD. I hope I am on the right track.
I spoke with the blue sky dealer here in Ontario this morning and he tried to steer me away from MPPT controls, saying that with a simple 12v to 12v system like mine a PWM would be better as I wouldn't gain much from MPPT (as they are more efficient with a 12 V to 24 V system) and the PWM pulse system would help to keep my battery plates cleaner ??? I hadn't heard that before.

 

[Maine Sail]

Thanks for the input, the Tri-Star 60amp PWM unit as suggested is a great unit however at 11" high, 5" wide and 3" deep is quite large along with the cabling and air space it would need, installed in the lazarette close to the batteries becomes an issue when storing sails, cushions ect. In addition I would also possible need a remote display at the nav. panel-board which would add another $200+ to the install.

You don't really need the remote panel as the TriStar can be custom programed via computer interface. A battery monitor will give you the info you need on the bank.

The blue sky 2512 MPPT unit along with a optional remote display would cost $474. At this point I am leaning toward the Blue Sky 3000i 12v/30amp MPPT which retails here in Ontario for $319 CAD. I hope I am on the right track.

I will not install the Blue Sky's without the IPN Pro Remote. Without the IPN Pro Remote they are not very user or dealer configurable.

I spoke with the blue sky dealer here in Ontario this morning and he tried to steer me away from MPPT controls, saying that with a simple 12v to 12v system like mine a PWM would be better as I wouldn't gain much from MPPT (as they are more efficient with a 12 V to 24 V system) and the PWM pulse system would help to keep my battery plates cleaner ??? I hadn't heard that before.

#1 You will have gains over PWM with MPPT in the 15-20% range even with 12V nominal panels. MPPT uses excess panel voltage and converts it to usable current. It relies on the voltage spread between the panel and the battery to work. In Northern areas our panels heat up less than they do in the South and we can still get decent gains, even with 18V panels. If you bump to 24V panels you will pick up some additional gains early in the day and late in the day but most still use 12V nominal panels. I try to use 24V panels when I can but it is not always possible.. We must remember is only a boost going on when MPPT is in bulk mode and on sailboats, with deeply cycle banks, we are in bulk most of the time with solar, which means the MPPT is in boost mode most of the time...

#2 You dealer clearly does not understand how these devices work. To sum it up simply once your batteries hit absorption voltage your MPPT controller essentially becomes a PWM controller pulsing on and off to not over shoot target voltage..... There is no boost once your batteries hit absorption voltage because instead of the array & controller deciding how much current it can supply to the bank the battery is now in control telling the controller how much current it can accept so as not to over-shoot the voltage limit. Once out of bulk an MPPT controller simply begins a PWM mode to match current to the battery to maintain the absorption voltage without going above it..

PWM vs. MPPT Testing

 

[Genesis V]

Thank you Maine Sail for your information and the link to the test comparison that you did, that is excellent information and is much appreciated. You said in earlier posts that the TriStar TS-60 PWM is an excellent controller and is programable, and can be monitored via my Victron battery monitor, "BUT" a MPPT controller will output between 15 to 20% more to the battery during bulk mode so which MPPT controller would you install in my case or would you go for the Tristar PWM 60amp offered at half price.
(money is not the issue but hay, we all want a deal, keeping it below $350 would be good but I don't want a deal to steer me to install the wrong unit, but it is a 60amp PWM compared to a 30amp MPPT) you also said you wouldn't install a blue sky without Remote monitor, given that the blue sky 3000i has a monitor http://www.solartrader.ca/Blue_Sky_SB3000i_MPPT_Charge_Controller
would that be an acceptable unit.

 

[BJV]

MPPT is definatley the way to go to max your panel output.
We like Blue Sky, very reliable and easy to install, many cruisers use them.
That being said, there are other good controllers out there as well, technology progressing well and prices coming down.

 

[Maine Sail]

Thank you Maine Sail for your information and the link to the test comparison that you did, that is excellent information and is much appreciated. You said in earlier posts that the TriStar TS-60 PWM is an excellent controller and is programable, and can be monitored via my Victron battery monitor, "BUT" a MPPT controller will output between 15 to 20% more to the battery during bulk mode so which MPPT controller would you install in my case or would you go for the Tristar PWM 60amp offered at half price.
(money is not the issue but hay, we all want a deal, keeping it below $350 would be good but I don't want a deal to steer me to install the wrong unit, but it is a 60amp PWM compared to a 30amp MPPT) you also said you wouldn't install a blue sky without Remote monitor, given that the blue sky 3000i has a monitor http://www.solartrader.ca/Blue_Sky_SB3000i_MPPT_Charge_Controller
would that be an acceptable unit.

Not a big fan of the 3000. When I look at an MPPT I want to see full programmability including custom charge profiles, on battery temp sensing and a fast state of the art MPPT product. Data logging is nice too but not critical.

My favorites include the MidNite KID, Outbacks, Rogue & the TriStar 30, 45 & 60.. I think the Blue Sky controllers are a good product if they fit the banks voltage profiles but I think for the money, with the IPN Pro Remote the value is just not there, as it was three years ago. A TriStar 60 at half price is a deal. Course if you only need 30A then the TriStar 30 MPPT, Midnite KID or the Rogue 3048 would be my choices today..

 

[Genesis V]

Thanks again. The Toronto intl. Boat show is next week and hopefully I'll be able to get a deal on one of the recommended MPPT controllers.

One other thought that crossed my mind is if one goes with a good PWM controller, the money saved could be put back into adding an additional panel, this would gain you perhaps more than 15-20% (with a 300 watt system adding 1x100 gains you 33%) of course real estate becomes an issue.

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Thanks again. The Toronto intl. Boat show is next week and hopefully I'll be able to get a deal on one of the recommended MPPT controllers.

One other thought that crossed my mind is if one goes with a good PWM controller, the money saved could be put back into adding an additional panel, this would gain you perhaps more than 15-20% (with a 300 watt system adding 1x100 gains you 33%) of course real estate becomes an issue.

Good luck on the controller ! What panels will you use ? Will they just sit on the bimini ?
Bob

 

[Genesis V]

Hi Bob good to here from you. I am getting 3x100 flex panels for the Bimini top and down the road a single larger Kyocera panel like yours installed on the hopefully yet to be installed davits.

 

[seadaddler]

solar

Just info on the Hunter with arch and I did install 2-195 watt panel
over Bimini mounted off the arch making the panels really strongly
mounted and the wires go into the arch down into the port compartment.
Prices for flex panel or solid panels.
Nick

 

[Bob 04 H260]

Hi Bob good to here from you. I am getting 3x100 flex panels for the Bimini top and down the road a single larger Kyocera panel like yours installed on the hopefully yet to be installed davits.

You will have power to spare ! I'll have to look at your boat when we get down that way. If you will be in FL this winter look us up !

Bob

 

[seadaddler]

Bob

What parts Fl. you visiting Fl. east coast & Bahami I guess,Java now in Fl.
and doing Keys and over to Ft Myers.
I will be going to keys in April and every year try to talk my wife into
Bahama just once but she.
But she does go for 3 weeks with me and PGSC :dance::dance::dance:
Nick

 

[seadaddler]

Solar

I wanted to use solid solar panels mounted to the boat with out
using anything that would be flexing or mounted on canvas or any temporary install that had to be removed for any reason and have the panels on 24/7 and had seen so many solar panels on so many different sailboats and the ones that were mounted on some kind of strong frame so would not get beat up or flex.
And so mounting on the Hunters arch was a no brainer and nice and strong
and would handle any kind of weather or wind and not worry when the boat
would get hit with any kind of wind also and nice neat installing the wires down into the arch with no wires hanging all over and nice neat very strong install
for sure and been on my boat a few years now with no problems and picked up the panels over in Miami at very good price.
The Hunter arch so great for solar panels and the solar panels work so good
I never use shore power for charging batteries and leave ref on 24/7 and around 4 fans all off solar panels with a BLUE Sky 3024 charge controller.
Nick

 

[Maine Sail]

Thanks again. The Toronto intl. Boat show is next week and hopefully I'll be able to get a deal on one of the recommended MPPT controllers.

One other thought that crossed my mind is if one goes with a good PWM controller, the money saved could be put back into adding an additional panel, this would gain you perhaps more than 15-20% (with a 300 watt system adding 1x100 gains you 33%) of course real estate becomes an issue.

Yes panel wattage is less costly than an MPPT but when you are out of real estate, with nowhere to go, MPPT wins. The other thing to consider with PWM is that good ones are almost as much as MPPT and most PWM's are bare bones in terms of charge profiles and how you can customize them for your bank. The PWM controller I like best is the Morningstar TriStar 45 PWM...