MPPT Solar Controllers?

Tim Good

Tim Good

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Ok so was going to wire my new panels in parallel and update the wiring but after some consideration I might wire them in series and buy an MPPT controller to replace my standard on (which I will use elsewhere). Hence keep the amps the same and not needing to upgrade existing solar cable.

Anyway, people always warn of watching out for some MPPT being rubbish and not actually MPPT. On eBay there are tonnes of them all claiming to be fully MPPT. Can anyone recommend a model and / or if these £40 ones in eBay are what they say they are?
 
If the expensive ones that are genuine cost hundreds of pounds, it's highly unlikely that a £40 job will be anything other than fake, particularly when we know that many cheaper ones are fake.

If I was buying an MPPT and wanted lowest cost, I would probably buy the cheapest from Bimble Solar that was capable of carrying the power from the panels.
 
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Most of the very cheap ones are fake.

EPsolar are maybe among the cheapest genuine MPPTs on ebay. I'm happy with mine, and I know other people who've had good experiences with them.
That said, some folks have complained about them (slow to reset to the correct voltage after solar panel has been momentarily shaded), and the manual isn't going to win a booker prize....

You can see an example of the old style here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EPsolar-10A-12-24V-Tracer-1210RN-MPPT-Solar-Battery-Charge-Controller-/231243580942?hash=item35d731060e:g:fBwAAOxyx0JThY3i

and the new ones (what I have) here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-12v-24v-MPPT-Solar-charge-Controller-New-Model-Tracer1215BN-PV-Panel-/291671768326?hash=item43e8fdfd06:g:3GEAAOSwAHZUP3Yn

I'm not an expert but I think that in general MPPT controllers are quite big/heavy as they need a large heatsink

This one is also from the same company, but I have no experience with it:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10A-MPPT-Solar-Panel-Battery-Regulator-Charge-Controller-12V-24V-Autoswitch-TS-/381408484156?hash=item58cdb79b3c:g:IkAAAOSwKIpV~Mi1
 
If they show a picture of the internals it should have a fairly significant inductor on the board. This is the component or transformer that converts the input voltage to that required. Yes it should have heat sinks for transistors but not really big.
Data should give max output current and a high max input voltage. good luck olewill
 
Victron... forget the bargain basement fleebay junk. Get the real thing... otherwise, when you cook your (enter # batteries here), you have no one else to blame... I have 9 batteries :-)

No kidding.
 
My choice would also be the Victron if I had two identical panels series connected.

I have just bought a single 100watt panel and will be experimenting by using a changeover relay to connect the panel directly to the battery until the voltage reaches 14.5, it will then switch the existing pwm controller into circuit to maintain the battery, unless or until the voltage drops below 12.7, when the process will repeat.

(the cheap pwm controller came with a 20watt panel I had been using and I am doubtful of its ability to fully charge the battery, hence the 'experiment')
 
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Monique said:
Victron... forget the bargain basement fleebay junk. Get the real thing... otherwise, when you cook your (enter # batteries here), you have no one else to blame... I have 9 batteries :-)

No kidding.
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I'm very glad you're happy with your Victrons, Monique, and agree with your comment about cheapies, but to suggest that they and only they are 'the real thing' is utter nonsense.
 
macd said:
Tell that to Coca-Cola's lawyers. Their letter's already on its way...;)

Fair winds and lots of sunshine.
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Have the posts got muddled up with the "cleaning rust stains off bathstone" thread in the lounge
 
macd said:
Doubt it, Vic. I never go to the other place. It's not the real thing.
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No "not the other place". I not even a member of that. ( I was for a while but resigned without making any posts)

Was puzzled by the reference to Coca cola . The only place I've seen it mentioned recently was in the cleaning bathstone thread.
 
macd said:
Monique wrote that Victron was "the real thing". (Almost) everyone knows that's actually Coke. I'll go and stand in the naughty corner now...:rolleyes:
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Oh! "Almost everyone* watches too many TV adverts perhaps.
 
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