MPPT controller price

[clyst]

Iv just been quoted £150 ish for one ....is this about average ?
Cheers
Terry

 

[RichardS]

It depends so much on the current/voltage capacity of the controller and the make. Compare your price to a Victron model of the same capacity to get an idea of how much you would need to pay for a top quality MPPT controller.

Richard

 

[clyst]

Thanks for your reply Richard ....Its for 3 X 100W panels feeding 4 X T145s ...price quoted is for a Victron .

 

[RichardS]

If that's as Victron 100/15 then it's expensive. However, the 100/15 will be definitely be too small in my view so you should go for the 100/30 and £150 for that is a very good price.

Richard

 

[GrahamM376]

The are also 2 types of Victron, the more expensive one has built in bluetooth, the other needs the dongle or cable.

 

[clyst]

If that's as Victron 100/15 then it's expensive. However, the 100/15 will be definitely be too small in my view so you should go for the 100/30 and £150 for that is a very good price.

Richard

thanks for the advice ..I will ensure that its a 100/30 many thanks

 

[GrahamM376]

Have just installed a Victron 75/15 Smart-solar MPPT this afternoon. Surprised the battery type menu doesn't list lead acid, just - 3 types of gel, lithium iron or, 3 types of PzS tubular plate traction. No mention of open lead acid (Trojans) so I've entered charging parameters manually.

Bluetooth to tablet display is brilliant. At 15.58hrs (Algarve) shows 31w solar, 16.81v , battery 13.14v, current 2.3a, State = bulk.

Solar panel size is 4 x 43w Kyocera in parallel. Sun's fairly low now and on the beam so panel's not in the best orientation.

 

[RichardS]

Have just installed a Victron 75/15 Smart-solar MPPT this afternoon. Surprised the battery type menu doesn't list lead acid, just - 3 types of gel, lithium iron or, 3 types of PzS tubular plate traction. No mention of open lead acid (Trojans) so I've entered charging parameters manually.

Bluetooth to tablet display is brilliant. At 15.58hrs (Algarve) shows 31w solar, 16.81v , battery 13.14v, current 2.3a, State = bulk.

Solar panel size is 4 x 43w Kyocera in parallel. Sun's fairly low now and on the beam so panel's not in the best orientation.

The bluetooth display is good but it's a pity it doesn't show maximum current over the 24 hour cycle.

Richard

 

[Richard10002]

I bought the Epever Tracer:

http://www.bimblesolar.com/offgrid/mppt/Tracer4215BN £170

You could get away with the 30A one at about £140 for 3 x 100W panels, if I understand things correctly

 

[gregcope]

Victron stuff is very good and worth the money.

The bluetooth link is worth it for the ability to monitor from a phone, tablet or other device.

Their tech support is good too.

 

[DuncanHall]

Or you could install Victrons Venus OS on a raspberry Pi to monitor and connect with a usb cable. That way one it should only cost about £65 to monitor via their VRM portal. I have one set up connected to a multiplus and battery monitor and find it excellent for remote logging and monitoring.

 

[Daesal]

"You could get away with the 30A one at about £140 for 3 x 100W panels, if I understand things correctly"

- a rough equation to work out the controller size us:

Solar Panel Wattage ÷ Battery Bank Voltage.

So if its 12v battery bank:
(3×100) ÷ 12 = 25. so 30amp needed

Or for 24v battery bank:
(3×100) ÷ 24 = 12.5 so 20amp plenty

I know its a old thread but hopefully this is useful to someone .