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Thread: solar chargers from ebay......

  1. #1
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    solar chargers from ebay......

    I'm looking to set up a solar panel up on the roof permanently......to keep the batteries topped up between trips and from lack of driving.......
    then whilst out camping i want to connect another pair of panels in one of them suitcase configurations which i can move around to follow the sun with....

    the panels i have at the moment are only 3 small 45watt panels......

    I'm trying to find a solar charge controller to go between the panels and the battery.....so i won't fry my battery.....i need one that stops charging and just goes to a float charge.....
    i have found plenty on ebay.....and i think i need an mppt type charger....the ones i have seen are selling for around $60.....but are a cheap chinese charger...they are not a true mppt....but rather a pwm charger with a mppt controller.......

    my question is.....will these work for my purpose....?
    i understand that a true mppt is upwards of $200......and closer to 300....but my budget won't allow that.....

    or should i just get a pwm charger.....?

    any advice or info will be greatly appreciated as I'm starting to confuse myself from too much research.......


  2. #2
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    this is one of the pwm chargers......
    20A 12V 24V LCD Display PWM Solar Panel Regulator Charge Controller Timer PWN | eBay


    and this is the mppt one........
    Solar Panel Regulator LCD 30A 12V 24V MPPT Three Timer Charge Controller USB FB | eBay


    i know they are cheap crap.....but if they work then the price is right for my setup.....i do plan on upgrading to bigger panels at some stage.....

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    For a small input that you get from the suitcase panels, I don't think you need the benefits of a full MPPT.

    This is the one I have next to my battery under the bonnet. I have an Anderson plug right beside it that I plug the suitcase style 120w solar panels into.

    10A MPPT Solar Panel Regulator 12V 24V LED Display Charge Controller Metal | eBay

    It is from the same seller as your first one and I have bought quite a bit from him with no problems at all.
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    i plan to upgrade to bigger panels if and when funds allow......so was looking to get a slightly bigger controller.....

    if the cheap fake eBay controllers actually work then i will get one....if there are any serious issues to watch out for.....i will have to wait to find a proper controller.....

    i want to have one panel permanently fixed to the car.....so i don't want it to fry my batteries when they are fully charged......

    also.....would you know if it stops the power backfeeding to the panels in the dark....?
    since it will be connected 24hrs......

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    Those mppt controllers aren't mppt, youtube has reviews on them, buyer beware.

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    Quote Originally Posted by DEFENDERZOOK View Post
    ...and this is the mppt one........
    Solar Panel Regulator LCD 30A 12V 24V MPPT Three Timer Charge Controller USB FB | eBay


    i know they are cheap crap.....but if they work then the price is right for my setup.....i do plan on upgrading to bigger panels at some stage.....
    That is not an MPPT controller / charger. It does not even do proper PWM charging. Many of the Chinese so called 'MPPT' controllers seem to be fake.

    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la-gvy0DfJs"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la-gvy0DfJs[/ame]
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    If you are up grading panels later than buy a decent MPPT controller now........buy right the first time and you won't be buying twice.

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    I know they are fake....I've done my research and seen all the YouTube videos and reviews.......but I was only looking to see if they work......then I was going to get one for now and get it all set up and running......it could take me a year or more before I upgrade.........

  9. #9
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    OR...

    12V 5A Battery Charging Regulator for Solar Panels | Solar Charge Controllers | Solar Power | Ecotech | PRODUCTS | AA0348 | Jaycar Electronics

    20-Amp 12V Super Solar Panel Regulator | Solar Charge Controllers | Solar Power | Ecotech | PRODUCTS | MP3126 | Jaycar Electronics

    been using them for years for small cheap systems and no-one complained yet.

    I think I still have the very first 2 5 amp units that I bought when I first started out doing solar and they are (were) still working well for use with my small panels as set and forget chargers.
    Dave

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  10. #10
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    What Dave said if you just want to maintain the battery while the vehicle is unused.

    The advantage of a MPPT charger is that it maximises the useful output from a panel(s). Since even your single 45W panel is ten times what is needed for this purpose, anything that regulates the output is all that is needed - you don't need the extra efficiency.

    John
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