Solar regulator recommendation (1 Viewer)

Feb 27, 2011
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@Techno

Just wondering if you could recommend a decent MPPT solar regulator from either Ebay or Amazon please?

I previously had a MorningStar MPPT which was excellent. I also had a Victron MPPT previously. However when I was building my current setup the budget didn't allow for such nice toys.

I bought a cheap Chinese one six years ago and although it does vaguely provide MPPT it is really crap. The maximum charge voltage is only 13.6V so the batteries never get a full charge when on solar.

I am looking for a decent solar regulator that will fully charge the batteries and does MPPT properly. However budget is still restrained somewhat so don't want to go for a £100+ one if I can avoid it.

This van goes next year one way or another so I don't want to spend sunk money if I can help it. The regulator needs to handle 3 x 80 Watt panels.
 

Techno

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May 31st
image.jpeg

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Lenny HB

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I brought the one Andy recomends, very impressed with the output in low light levels.
Just cross your fingers & hope you don't get caught for import duty & VAT, mine came through OK.
 

Techno

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Abacist

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@Techno Will one of these MPPT Solar charge controllers charge more than one battery bank? I have in mind getting two or three 100 watt solar panels and using one to supplement the solar charging of the existing hab battery bank and the other two to solar charge my new battery bank. In other words does the controller have separate outputs that would feed separate battery banks or should I buy separate controllers for each battery bank?
 

Abacist

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Many thanks. I'll increase the budget then!

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Lee Fryer

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I brought this one it was delivered from Taiwan and took 3 1/2 weeks paid £80 works great
Lee
 

Techno

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If you have a B2B which I believe you do then the Sterling unit is mainly an insurance when in storage.
My solars only supply my inverter battery bank before surplus goes to the hab 12 volt bank
 

Techno

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I brought this one it was delivered from Taiwan and took 3 1/2 weeks paid £80 works great
Lee
Mine have never taken longer than 7 or 8 working days from Taiwan. On one occasion it was only longer due to Parcelfarce dragging their feet.
As it is now available from Germany I'm sure it will be even quicker

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Oct 20, 2010
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Mine have never taken longer than 7 or 8 working days from Taiwan. On one occasion it was only longer due to Parcelfarce dragging their feet.
As it is now available from Germany I'm sure it will be even quicker
Recently bought the one from Germany, 3 days tracked delivery, I offered £79 and it was excepted, now installed and working really well. (y)
Cheers
Ed
 

Techno

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This is the maintainer I use. Yes it's dearer than a £22 CBE unit but it's very robust
 

Abacist

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If you have a B2B which I believe you do then the Sterling unit is mainly an insurance when in storage.
My solars only supply my inverter battery bank before surplus goes to the hab 12 volt bank

Are you saying that you have a way of diverting the power from your solars once the inverter battery bank is full to your other battery bank other than just 3 amps via the Sterling maintainer? I expect something like that is beyond my skill level! I was also keeping the AutoTrail setup completely separate from my additional B2B, Battery bank and inverter so that I can rip my second bank setup out when I sell the van ready to use in the next one. That's also why I have not yet committed to more solar as its a biggish investment to make if I then sell the van. I expect we'll have a holiday to see how what I've done so far works before spending any more. The original AT Sargent setup with single solar panel and 2 125amp hour Hankook sealed wet acid batteries is still a bit iffy in terms of lasting and I suspect that they don't get enough charge to compensate for what we take out of them hence my thought to add another panel and in due course to perhaps add 2 panels to my new setup to give us a charging mechanism if we stay in one spot and don't therefore use the B2B other than running the engine at idle.

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Techno

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My hab bank is charged by mains / B2B and when surplus is available from the solar at up to 3 amps
All the solar are focused on the inverter batteries first
I have in the picture a battery selection switch which can select which bank feeds the hab or combine both.
Because my 12 volt bank is 500ah it would take a very very long time to deplete it even without any input. If my solar/inverter bank (also 500ah) is struggling due to weather so that I have a situation of 12.6 volts up front and 12.2 volts at the back for example, I can combine the banks and the voltage will equalise giving the inverter bank a boost and less work for the solars to top them up. I'd only do that immediately prior to a drive as the B2B will replenish the 12 volt bank.
If like on my recent holiday the sky is not playing ball I simply have to accept a 24hr hook up.
This is great value if on fixed price electric :LOL:

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Abacist

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That sounds very good but as I said before - a bit beyond my skill level and a more long term solution than I'm looking for. A bit late now to think I should have been an electrician!:ROFLMAO:
 
Feb 10, 2013
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I will soon be fitting a 100 solar panel to my van so is a regulator the same as a controller as I intend to wire from the panel to a regulator then to existing wiring (autocruise )which goes to the Sargent 400 ec400 psu as shown on the swift Web site but then marquis $$$ said it requires a separate unit!? and the cost would be around 1000£ fitted.
fitted up more like.
 

Techno

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Solar regulator/controller same difference.
The EC400 doesn't play any part in solar activities so you can ignore it.
Yes you just want a regulator between your panel and your battery

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Abacist

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I will soon be fitting a 100 solar panel to my van so is a regulator the same as a controller as I intend to wire from the panel to a regulator then to existing wiring (autocruise )which goes to the Sargent 400 ec400 psu as shown on the swift Web site but then marquis $$$ said it requires a separate unit!? and the cost would be around 1000£ fitted.
fitted up more like.

I wince when I see things like this! I have just done a few things to my van using the expertise provided by fellow members and provided you follow their advice and common sense and read up about you should be able to do this yourself! 100w Biard Panel say £90 solar controller £80 plus Sikaflex £20, Panel fittings or Aluminium angle say £20 plus some cable and fittings its got to be less than £250 in parts and your labour is free!
 

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