Advice on cheapish MPPT solar controller (1 Viewer)

[peterc10]

My Son is putting a 150W solar panel on his VW Bay campervan. He wants to get the best solar controller he can, but doesn't want to pay too much. Preferably wants to be able to charge both hab and engine batteries. Both batteries are normal lead acid.

Can anybody recommend a cheap but reasonably good MPPT solar controller he can buy please. He would prefer one with a display. Plenty on Ebay I know, but it is a case of wanting some advice to sort the wheat from the chaff.

Thanks for any help you can give.

 

[tacr2man]

This firm are very helpful , and the mppt Tracer controllers are good , and computer connectable The Mt50 allows monitoring display and programming etc .
https://www.bimblesolar.com/offgrid/mppt

 

[peterc10]

This firm are very helpful , and the mppt Tracer controllers are good , and computer connectable The Mt50 allows monitoring display and programming etc .
https://www.bimblesolar.com/offgrid/mppt

Thanks, but he wasn't thinking of spending that much I suspect.

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[two]

A batterymaster-type charger would look after the starter battery from both solar and when charging from mains.

If he doesn’t go out over winter, he may find a PWM controller adequate. You only need to consider MPPT when there’s a shortage of rays and need to make the most of whatever you can catch.

I’d rather buy a more expensive PWM than a cheaper MPPT. I read that some of the cheap MPPTs are just PWMs in disguise. They’ll still “work” though.

 

[peterc10]

Andy @Techno What MPPT controller would you recommend please with only 150W total solar

 

[Allanm]

Be careful buying cheap MPPT chargers off eBay, they will be PWM but with some electronic wizardry inside that makes them act a little like MPPT, but they don’t really work as a full MPPT unit. ( I’ve tried one myself)
I went for a Victron 75/15. It will handle up to 200watts. They don’t come with a display, so I bought the Bluetooth dongle which connects to my phone via the Victronconnect app.
All in around £120 for the controller and dongle. I don’t think you will get anything cheaper that will do as you want and be built to last.

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[Techno]

Andy @Techno What MPPT controller would you recommend please with only 150W total solar

I only use these and they seem to have stopped selling the 200watt version.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MPPT-Sol...-controller-/132605083923?hash=item1edfe10113

 

[Techno]

I have a 200watt I've been saving in case of previous customer warranty. Everyone is well out of warranty now and I no longer for quite some time fit. If you want it it's yours for £60 delivered. That's a personal offer to you and well below what I paid

 

[peterc10]

I have a 200watt I've been saving in case of previous customer warranty. Everyone is well out of warranty now and I no longer for quite some time fit. If you want it it's yours for £60 delivered.

Andy. Thanks. I will speak to me son if you could just hold it for him for a day or two please. Are you going to any meets in the near future?

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[Techno]

Andy. Thanks. I will speak to me son if you could just hold it for him for a day or two please. Are you going to any meets in the near future?

yes and no

 

[Techno]

If you decide you don't want it it is spoken for already so no enquiries please.

I think I have a 300 watt surplus too but I need to check under my van floor as my memory fails me. If there is one there then the one I'm looking at in the cupboard is spare That would be £75 delivered.

 

[Ivory55]

Are these ones you have brought because you was bored . Have you took them to bits rewired to stand 3 phase electric or 40,000 volts just for something to do ? Haha

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[Techno]

Spares for customers during warranty period. Never had one fail and mine has been charging my inverter battery bank more than 5yrs and the batteries are still good.

 

[chippy63]

Andy. Thanks. I will speak to me son if you could just hold it for him for a day or two please. Are you going to any meets in the near future?

Buy it now i just paid £80 last week for exactly the same

 

[two]

My money would be on a Victron 75/15, from around £70.

In my mind Victron has a good pedigree and their product may outperform other controllers merely having the “MPPT label”, because of the amount of R&D that size of organisation has at its disposal. I cannot be sure that they’re better, however, because I’ve not had chance to compare one with others, side-by-side.

A fancy display is not essential but, if desirable, could become a welcome birthday or Christmas gift for a son who has everything else. Similarly, a batterymaster to attend to the starter battery. The add-ons could be retained for another vehicle, leaving a comparatively small investment to transfer to the next owner.

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[peterc10]

Yes Andy @Techno he would like it please. I will PM you to arrange details of payment and where to send it. Thanks.

 

[Techno]

Sold

The 300watt will appear in the classifieds if I find it is a spare spare