Good MPPT Charge Controller

Ron20324 · Feb 17, 2015

I have two solar panels, attached to the mid and aft bow of the bimini. The panels rest on two SS tubes atwartships, and they rest on two SS tubes that rest on the two bows (like a tic-tac-toe grid). Taking the bimini off just requires undoing the 4 bolts that go through the panels, the two tubes, and the bimini bows. You can undo one or two bolts at a time, pull out the canvas, replace the two bolts, then do the other two bolts. I leave the panels on for continued charging without the bimini in place. The connectors, I can't help you with, as my wires attach right into boxes on the back of the panels.

arf145 · Feb 17, 2015

Ron, do you have any pictures of your collector setup?

Sumner · Feb 17, 2015

Personally I wouldn't buty that controller unless I could see some reviews on it vs. the 'name brand' ones or if I could find a reputable solar dealer that will put his reputation on it.

The controller is the heart of the system. I have 3 MPPT controllers between the two boats and 2 are Blue Sky and one is a Morningstar. Besides these two there are other well know good brands out there. You will have to spend $72 to $100 more for one of these vs. that one but over the life of your system that isn't much per month difference (I know you have to spend that money now

).

Just my opinion and good luck,

Sumner

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gettinthere · Feb 18, 2015

I went Blue Sky fpr about $170 after reading that the cheap controllers can cause interference with ssb.

Chris & Lenore · Feb 18, 2015

I'm planning on this one - a lot more features for $100 more.
Also voltage and current in & out - nice feature.

http://www.blueskyenergyinc.com/products/details/solar_boost_2000e

Charlie Jones s/v Tehani · Feb 18, 2015

MorningStar.. Used mine for a long time now. Back a few years ago, I was cruising and the controller conked out. I called Morningstar, the guy asked for info off the controller, told me it had several weeks left on the warranty and drop shipped me a new one to a port ahead of me. HIS idea. Nice to do business with folks who care

http://www.morningstarcorp.com/product_category/mppt-charge-controllers/

keys please · Feb 18, 2015

just ordered the blue sky 2000e for two 100 watt flexable panels.... been looking to long so its time to do it.... pretty much replace all electronics so should be good to go...

mitiempo · Feb 18, 2015

Bad Obsession said:
Victron makes a good battery monitor so I figured that they would make a good charge controller. It is strange how no one has used them or heard of them.

Victron does make good MPPT controllers which we sell in Victoria. 3 models starting at 15 amp/75 volts for $138 Cdn

http://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers/mppt7515

Maine Sail · Feb 19, 2015

Bad Obsession said:
For those of you with solar experience:

Who makes a reasonably priced MPPT charge controller?

I know that Genasun is highly suggested by some as being a good one but they are a little pricey for my budget right now.

I was thinking of this controller: http://shop.pkys.com/product.asp?itemid=2779&gclid=CPSfkPySxMICFcvm7AodARQA3w

Has anyone had any experience with this one?
Any better ones for around that price?

I think the Victron represents a decent value in an MPPT. Is it as fast as a Genasun, KID, ProStar etc. at tracking the power point, probably not, but it is still a decent performing MPPT. With a USB/VE you can program it too, where with a Genasun you have to order it pre-programmed..

I would buy from Victron 50X before buying a single Cheap eBay Chinese "MPPT" controller.....

Information that I have not been able to get from Victron or that is not offered in programming.

-How much time is the absorption cycle? They do not offer any adjustment for time on this controller, just voltage.

-How does the controller determine absorption to float transition is it simply an egg timer or is it smarter..?

-How does the controller react each new day? Does it start fresh with a new complete absorption cycle, like many cheap Chinese controllers do, or does it have a threshold which will keep it in float if the battery bank was still otherwise full from sitting over night? While this is not a huge issue with flooded batteries it can be with VRLA batteries.

walt · Feb 19, 2015

One additional somewhat interesting thing to point out..

In the past, Maine Sail had been recommending a MPPT controller per panel in cases where one panel may get partial shading. I have a work related project going on now that is making me appreciate using one controller per panel a lot more than I did in the past.

It’s not just that the controller can’t find a maximum power point that is optimized for both panels at times, it is also that there can be cases where one panel out of several on a single controller gets biased so that it puts out close to zero current even though it could be making a significant contribution. A controller per panel keeps each panel always optimized.

The drawback from multiple controllers is that each has its own "self consumption". This spec is almost always given by the manufacture and for the one talked about here, that spec is only 10 ma ... which is overall a low number. I think the Genasun also had a very low self consumption number..but I didn’t check to see how it compares with the one discussed here.