Another key parameter is incoming voltage from the panels - some controllers are limited to around 25V or so, and a 300W panel or an array in series may exceed that.hi guys, need to get a new controller, has anyone got any recommendations?
the one I have just now is dead ;(
output 25A
capacity 300w
cheers
That is a remarkably cheap price for an MPPT Solar Controller.Bought one of theses,they do a bigger one,cheap as chips and mine is working 100%
That one is an MPPT controller, though only for the main output. The secondary output is just a trickle charge.
Good controller: I have one, kept as a spare in case one of my even better controllers fails.
Unless something is badly wrong, you don't need a solar panel at all. My starter battery gets charged when the engine is running. Just like almost every other vehicle on the road. Why would I need to add solar charging?
There is also this for folk wanting to charge engine battery as well.
I had this kind of problem with my 2005 RAV4, If I didn't use it for a week (and I worked from home, so was quite possible) the battery would often be flat. Toyotas standard reply was "lock the car with the key so the alarm would not be set". Useless response.Trouble is with a lot of modern vehicles the ecu doesn't always fully shut down (alarm and central locking fob functions/radio/tracker etc) so there can be a current draw, on the starter battery...
Not noticeable on a daily driver BUT on something that doesn't get run between trips or is parked up in a compound can lead to a flat starter battery when you next need to use it.
I am, I have been using that make and model for about 10 months and use the trickle charge to the starter battery as well
As in mppt versus pwmActually that's why l asked the question because of your post on motorhomer .
Unless something is badly wrong, you don't need a solar panel at all. My starter battery gets charged when the engine is running. Just like almost every other vehicle on the road. Why would I need to add solar charging?
If you leave the motorhome parked for months at a time, perhaps you should sell it. If you don't, fix the issues, or get a bigger starter battery.