MPPT controller recommendation

[Shuggy]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a 12v MPPT controller that shows the current flowing? I'd like to replace my PWM controller and would also like to see what contribution the panels are making without putting in a separate ammeter.

Thanks.

 

[MarkCX]

Victron SmartSolar. Not the cheapest, but connect with a phone app and it will give plenty of information with a downloadable 30 day history.

 

[Jamie Dundee]

I use one of these 12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine
With one of these 12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine

 

[Goldie]

Victron 15/75 produces a ‘phone image giving you want you want I think:

 

[Buck Turgidson]

+1 for victron.

 

[PaulRainbow]

Victron is my go to manufacturer for solar controllers.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

+1 for Victron ....

 

[Yngmar]

We've got a Victron MPPT + MPPT Control (the non phoney appey way of showing solar data) since 2016 and it's never caused the slightest trouble while covering all our energy needs at anchor.

MPPT Control - Victron Energy

Shows panel and battery current and voltage and panel power output. The display is a bit small for my liking, but it does the job.

 

[Shuggy]

Thanks all - that's really helpful. Looks like a Victron then.

 

[Lomax]

I'll have to be the dissenting voice and suggest Morningstar TriStar MPPT, provided that your installation is over 200 W in size. Morningstar use open standards interfacing (RS-232 & Ethernet, RS-485 options) for which they provide extensive documentation. If you do not want to hook it up to your computer (you really should) their remote displays all relevant data, including historical performance for the last 60 days. I'm not a fan of proprietary "secret" protocols, requiring a specific smartphone with a closed source "app" (what permissions does it ask for, and why?). So many manufacturers have become hooked on ever expanding intrusion into their customers' lives, and it saddens me that a venerable company like Victron haven't been able to resist the temptation.

Another benefit with the Morningstar controllers is the fanless design (mine is installed in the engine bay), and the general "built like a tank" construction (comes with a 5 year warranty). They also have a claimed efficiency of 99%, which I believe is unmatched. Certainly not the cheapest option, but as they say...

 

[GHA]

I'm not a fan of proprietary "secret" protocols, requiring a specific smartphone with a closed source "app" (what permissions does it ask for, and why?). So many manufacturers have become hooked on ever expanding intrusion into their customers' lives, and it saddens me that a venerable company like Victron haven't been able to resist the temptation.

So far off the mark there.....Victron are very likely right at the very front of the field for embracing opensource. The VE direct protocol isn't secret in any way. A few milliseconds on google you could have found that.
Already many alternative ways to get at the info inc a signalk app to get all the data.

Open source [Victron Energy]

-------------------------------
Victron mppt solar regulator messages
PID 0xA04C -Product ID

FW 130 -Firmware version

SER# HQ1621FRG7Z

V 13260 - battery voltage (mV)

I 0 - battery current

VPV 0 - panel voltage (mV)

PPV 0 - panel power

CS 0 - State of operation

ERR 0

LOAD OFF

IL 0 - load current

H19 9418 - Yield total (user resettable counter) KWH

H20 0 - Yield today kWh

H21 0 - Maximum power today W

H22 0 - Yield yesterday kWh

H23 0 - Maximum power yesterday

HSDS 120 - Day sequence number (0..364)



CS
The state of operation. See the table below for the possible values.
MPPT Inverter
Off 0
Low power 1
Fault 2
Bulk 3
Absorption 4
Float 5
Inverting 9

 

[Graham376]

I'll have to be the dissenting voice and suggest Morningstar TriStar MPPT, provided that your installation is over 200 W in size. Morningstar use open standards interfacing (RS-232 & Ethernet, RS-485 options) for which they provide extensive documentation. If you do not want to hook it up to your computer (you really should) their remote displays all relevant data, including historical performance for the last 60 days. I'm not a fan of proprietary "secret" protocols, requiring a specific smartphone with a closed source "app" (what permissions does it ask for, and why?). So many manufacturers have become hooked on ever expanding intrusion into their customers' lives, and it saddens me that a venerable company like Victron haven't been able to resist the temptation.

Another benefit with the Morningstar controllers is the fanless design (mine is installed in the engine bay), and the general "built like a tank" construction (comes with a 5 year warranty). They also have a claimed efficiency of 99%, which I believe is unmatched. Certainly not the cheapest option, but as they say...

No specific smartphone with Victron Smartsolar and it doesn't have a fan

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Epever is an alternative to Victron for a few less £. They also provide a smartphone app that can connect via Bluetooth or WiFi to show the power and current if you have the external comms box accessory, or you can use a wired cable to a Windows laptop for the same thing, or you can look at the display on the front of the device. Avoid cheapo ebay charge controllers that say they are MPPT but are not. There are plenty of youtube videos where they tear them down to have a look inside.

 

[Lomax]

So far off the mark there.....Victron are very likely right at the very front of the field for embracing opensource.

Happy to hear it! ? Pretty sure the only official ways to talk to them used to be thier own VE.Bus devices or smartphone app. But I've only installed one Victron solar controller, and that was some years ago. I cannot help but notice that they've chosen to distribute their own OS images as the open source solution, which seems somewhat odd - though I'm sure there's nothing nefarious hidden in there...

 

[GHA]

Happy to hear it! ? Pretty sure the only official ways to talk to them used to be thier own VE.Bus devices or smartphone app. But I've only installed one Victron solar controller, and that was some years ago. I cannot help but notice that they've chosen to distribute their own OS images as the open source solution, which seems somewhat odd - though I'm sure there's nothing nefarious hidden in there...

The VE direct data protocol is wide open for anyone to use however they want, it's just some text over serial.

 

[Lomax]

The VE direct data protocol is wide open for anyone to use however they want, it's just some text over serial.

Yes, I found the PDF and had a look. Not sure why I had the impression this had not been published. Grovelling apology offered to anyone offended by my rash assumptions, and Victron in particular. Still interested to hear what permissions their smartphone app asks for.

 

[GHA]

. Still interested to hear what permissions their smartphone app asks for.

Then why not look?

Takes a few seconds on google.
VictronConnect - Apps on Google Play

This app has access to:

Photos/Media/Files

• modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
• read the contents of your USB storage

Storage

• modify or delete the contents of your USB storage
• read the contents of your USB storage

Location

• approximate location (network-based)

Other

• full network access
• prevent device from sleeping
• pair with Bluetooth devices
• view network connections
• access Bluetooth settings

And before your paranoia kicks in again victron aren't happy about location but android needs it to scan for bluetooth.
VictronConnect manual [Victron Energy]
Why is Access to location services required?
Android 5 and later requires access permission for VictronConnect to the (coarse) location services. Otherwise it can not scan for the Bluetooth products.
Besides permitting access to its data, the location services also need to be enabled in many (but not all) cases.
Note that after enabling location services, the GPS itself, can be switched off again: the Android location services are more than GPS. Bluetooth, and WiFi-, scan results can technically also be used to approximate the phone's location; hence these requirements.
Despite the above, you can be sure that Victron is not interested in, nor tracking your location.
Being sensitive to privacy issues at Victron ourselves, we are not happy with this requirement. But there is nothing we can do about it, unfortunately. More information about why it is needed to enable the location services is here.

 

[MarkCX]

Got my Victron battery monitor hooked up to a Raspberry Pi which I programmed to use as a data logger and for remote viewing of data when away from the boat. Plus it emails me when state of charge begins to get low after a succession of low solar days so i can pop down and deal with it before killing my batteries. Could do the same with MPPT controller, but not particularly useful compared to data from monitor. Fairly straightforward, especially compared to reverse engineering NMEA 2000 sentences.

 

[Lomax]

paranoia

That's a little unfair. I admit I was wrong about Victron, but they really are an exception. Which I am happy to note. I have already apologised, but don't mind doing so again; I am deeply sorry for the thoughtless and baseless accusations I made against Victron, and I apologise for any offense caused.

Edit: And I sincerely hope that my faux-pas won't discourage anyone from also considering Morningstar's solar charge controllers, they really are quite good.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

I applaud the efforts of people who employ Raspberry Pi, Arduino etc. to solve their electronic boating needs, I wish I had the time and energy to have a go at some of the numerous available projects out there.

Unfortunately, after a brief spell trying to replace my Windows PC with a Linux equivalent about a decade ago I ended up having all the enthusiasm for such "projects" knocked out of me. I spent more time fiddling and tweaking the system, hunting for drivers etc. than I did actually using it - I had loads of compatibility issues and was often disappointed with open source offerings compared to their commercial equivalents.

I have no idea what the overhead is in terms of ongoing maintenance of current Pi or Arduino based projects, but a huge advantage of using hardware and apps that are "off the shelf" is that someone else does the maintenance and bug fixing so I don't have to.

It would be great to hear from a few of the ardent DIY enthusiasts as to the amount of time and effort that is spent creating and maintaining their projects. Anyone got any data they want to share?