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I have been impressed by these guys: GSL Electronics GSL Electronics : MPPT & BMPPT Solar Chargers. Australian. If you have a question, you can ring up and speak to the guys who designed it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil B
Their products are available from specialist 12V shops, or on eBay. $250 to $280 for a basic 30A model.
Thanks for the advice Spudboy
The main reason is that a cheap Mppt controller probably won't actually be an Mppt controller but just have a sticker on it that says it is. The cheap arse EBay panel I bought says it has one - but it isn't - it's just a $10 regulator with some flashing LED's.Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil B
Not that that matter greatly for me, it's been chugging away for 3 years without issue. I've always said I'd buy a proper Mppt controller when this one dies, but it hasn't. It won't match what a proper controller can do, but it does charge the batteries. :D
Food for thought
Thanks
Our camper has a 40 litre Engel fridge and some LEDs running off a 105Ah AGM and charged by an 80 Watt Jaycar panel with a 10A regulator. It works just fine.
Basically, no matter how much power we use overnight, the battery is back reading at least 12.7 (fully charged) by mid to late morning and then the panel just keeps it charged. On overcast days it takes a bit longer, but it still works even when the sky is cloudy. I move the panel 1-2 times daily just to shift from pointing NE in the morning to NW in the afternoon.
As for fridge power consumption, remember that your fridge is actually off most of the time, and then starts up to cool down again. I'd be surprised if the Engel is drawing more than 2 amps per hour.
The bit deals 120w folding panel i bought recently was advertised as having an MPPT reg but its actually a PWM , not that it matters for my simple setup and it works well anyway.
When i first had the panel out on a very overcast Melbourne day i was still getting 19.2V out of the panel before the reg.
I had the idea getting a 2 position isolator switch and using one input for the load output of the reg so that in good sun i could switch to load and run directly off the panel then switch to battery once the sun goes down.