MPPT solar controller

[Graz]

I fitted a Ctech dual 12v to 12v battery charger to my 130. I fitted this because the charger has an integral MPPT solar battery charger fitted as well. The alternator to aux battery charger is very good and works well however the solar charger part of the equipment is very poor. I have an 80 watt panel fitted to the truck and it won't keep up with the engel. Barely puts a float on to the aux battery. (12.6 volts)
Can anyone recommend a good MPPT solar regulator? Would like to see at least 14.2 volts at the battery as I am planning to fit AGM's ex my Karavan.
Thanks

Graham

[Vern]

Morningstar psm-30. This is a great solar charger, i run this and have installed many of these in vans etc..however i think your solar panel is to small.

[rovercare]

PS30M are good for the price

MPPT regs are generally bigger in size and of a much! higher price, but they extract alot more from the panel/s

I'll be setting up 2x200W and a morningstar TS-MPPT-45 when I'm back in the country, with for 6V batteries

80W is not very big at all, considering thats peak, in ideal conditions, you would be lucky to get it to spit a bit over half that out for a sustained perios of time, time to purchase some 200W

[Vern]

I've done a few of the ts60's, way overkill for camping but good for small stand alone systems, generally the ones i've done have done have had 12 or so panels
Ps30m is more than enough for a camping set up with acouple of panels.

[rovercare]

I've done a few of the ts60's, way overkill for camping but good for small stand alone systems, generally the ones i've done have done have had 12 or so panels
Ps30m is more than enough for a camping set up with acouple of panels.

MPPT is upto 30% more efficient, with better features and battery care, its customers choice, I'd be happy with PS30m

[Graz]

Looks like I may need another 80 watt panel and put both in parallel to the controller. The 80 watt panel fits neatly on the LHS gull wing door which why I purchased it. An additional panel would have to go on the opposite door as I carry a tinny.
So you don't think a Good MPPT controller will get enough out of the one panel? The aux battery only runs the engel and occasionally a light when I'm looking for gear in the back.
Thanks

Graham

[rovercare]

A good MPPT controller is $$, an 80W panel is cheap

I gave one away (80W panel that is) just a while ago, pulled it off a van ages ago as it wasn't really cutting it trying to charge 3 AGM's

[Vern]

Oh yeah true, but for two panel? In series or parallel? Overkill for just two panels.
How many a/hr batteries?

[Vern]

Looks like I may need another 80 watt panel and put both in parallel to the controller. The 80 watt panel fits neatly on the LHS gull wing door which why I purchased it. An additional panel would have to go on the opposite door as I carry a tinny.
So you don't think a Good MPPT controller will get enough out of the one panel? The aux battery only runs the engel and occasionally a light when I'm looking for gear in the back.
Thanks

Graham

May be look at a good fold out kit. I'm trying one out whilst in tassie, 150watt, built in reg, seems to be going fine, but haven't stopped for more than 3 nights yet. Its charging a 120a/h battery, running a 50litre waeco, led and flouro lights, 600w inverter charging phones, tablet, I pods, torches etc...

[Rok_Dr]

Hi Graham

I'd agree with Damien that an 80w panel is marginal. Theoretical best amps produced will be about mid 4s. Not sure what an engel will consume but I'm guessing mid to high 2amps so there won't be a lot of capacity left. Plus if the panel is in the shade the amps produced will be lower.

I have a folding 130w solar panel and feed this through a Ctek DS-250 dc-dc charger fitted to my van to charge the house battery (120 amp hr). On a good sunny day the panel produces mid 7 amps output and has no trouble keeping up with demand.

It would also probably be worth calculating what your total power requirement is to drive everything and then select the size of panel based on that with a little bit extra. The caravan forums are a good place to look for further info in this regard.

Cheers

Steve