The only one I'd put in Barry is a victron .Thanks very much Merl. I am more than happy to be guided by you. Totally agree about the cabling. I was never happy with that. Not averse to changing the controller either or how the engine battery is topped up. Lets have a chat over the weekend maybe. Ill see if I can get measured up on the roof as well.
I always liked my old MPPT Controller as it displayed all the voltages / watts going in and out on an LCD screen. Old hat now I would imagine and as suggested its probably best to have something thats future proof for Lithium.
This was my old one.
MPP Solar Inc » PCM2012/3012 Series
www.mppsolar.com
I have the top one of these Barry,
12V solar panels charging kits for caravans, motorhomes, boats, yachts, marine
12V solar panel solar charging kits for motorhome caravan boat campervan yacht marine off-gridwww.photonicuniverse.com
Dropbox
www.dropbox.com
It seems to work okay, but not in winter due to the low angle of the sun and why I'm adding more solar, it wasn't doing much in the garage.
I know Jeff, not got a fancy set up like you, I can park and get a better angle but I have to slip the clutch due to the awkwardness of the drive and slopes and I only put a new one in about 18 months ago, hence doubling the bit I do get, and a new fancy gizmo is going in so the VB get a charge from the LB a bit like a Clive Motts method but with bells and whistles.
The Tw@ who fitted mine didn't do it very well and I can't even read it to see what is happening, it is getting moved into the wardrobe at eye level.
I did look for a Victron that did both, but that is a site for more knowledgeable folk than I Jeff, and I didn't find it.
What a shame you don't have any qualifications in reading and comprehension.
I had the 100/30 at first but it would only do up to 420watts of solar so I had to go up to the 100/50 as it does 720watts of solar and I have near enough 600watts of solar + 400amps of lithium so never need to be plugged in to main + mine as Bluetooth so you can see what's going on Barry.
I have 200 watts of solar running on a very small Victron controller. I think it's a 75/15. 15a at 13.8v is over 200 watts into the batteries.
Thanks. All of their SmartSolor controllers have bluetooth built in apparently. This one would suffice I think. I would prefer a screen to an app but it doesnt really matter.
Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controller 100/20
Victron Smart Solar 100/20 MPPT Charge Controller with Bluetooth built-in. For 12V & 24V systems in motorhomes, caravans, campervans & boats.www.12voltplanet.co.uk
Might be better to add a reflectorI just put 2 wheel ramps on one side of the van Jeff one under the front wheel and one under the rear and tilt the whole fekkin van over towards the sun.
For some reason my fridge has stopped working though?
Does that charge the VB too?Thanks. All of their SmartSolor controllers have bluetooth built in apparently. This one would suffice I think. I would prefer a screen to an app but it doesnt really matter.
Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT Charge Controller 100/20
Victron Smart Solar 100/20 MPPT Charge Controller with Bluetooth built-in. For 12V & 24V systems in motorhomes, caravans, campervans & boats.www.12voltplanet.co.uk
The tricky bit is covering the live terminal.to avoid short circuits from things falling onto it.
Not difficult so long as you are aware.
Are you sure about that? 30 amps output means it will only cope with 420 watts of output, but I'm pretty sure it will cope with a LOT more than 420 watts of panels. It'd just limit the output to 30 amps when insolation was high. As long as the panel.voltage didn't exceed 100v, which really means you're limited to four 12v panels in series.