Upgrading ( again ! )

[Jaws]

Currently got a 40a Epever MPPT controller that, although it says is lithium compatible, I am not really happy with

What would the panel recommend I fit ( please keep in mind I, like many others, am on a budget having spent out on the battery and mains charger

 

[Al n Val]

Victron for me

 

[Steve and Denise]

Victron for me too

 

[Floydster]

Yep....Victron

 

[poppycamper]

Votronic. Duo 250. ( other sizes available) for me.

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[BwB]

Doesn't the EPever controller have a custom setting? You could set up your own charge profile if your model does

 

[Two on Tour]

Victron here.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

I have Victron.

Victron and Votronic seem to be the big boy brands. Victron bluesmart stuff works well especially if you have other stuff from their range as they can start to "talk" to each other over a bluetooth network. But won't be that cheap.

But the question is what is wrong with the epever unit. I suspect you wouldn't get much gain from an alternative controller as other limitations are at play such as the quality of the wiring from solar to controller and controller to battery. Even the Victron standard lithium profile may need to be tweaked to suit your other kit.

 

[Toady]

Victron for me

 

[Jaws]

Doesn't the EPever controller have a custom setting? You could set up your own charge profile if your model does

Yes indeed it does, but see below

I have Victron.

Victron and Votronic seem to be the big boy brands. Victron bluesmart stuff works well especially if you have other stuff from their range as they can start to "talk" to each other over a bluetooth network. But won't be that cheap.

But the question is what is wrong with the epever unit. I suspect you wouldn't get much gain from an alternative controller as other limitations are at play such as the quality of the wiring from solar to controller and controller to battery. Even the Victron standard lithium profile may need to be tweaked to suit your other kit.

Me being me, when I bought the Epever ( from Amazon ) it seemed cheap, so I took it apart to make sure it had a decent sized induction coil in it ( a sure sign it IS an MPPT and not just a label jobby on a cheapy )
I was just not that impressed with the build quality
Yes, it works well and yes it is programable .. I just want something better

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[Jaws]

Victron for me

Victron for me too

Yep....Victron

Victron here.

Victron for me

So folks, WHICH Victron do you have ?

 

[Two on Tour]

So folks, WHICH Victron do you have ?

I have two arrays on our van and I have a Victron Smart Solar 100/20 MPPT on each array.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Never felt the need to look inside the case of my electronics stuff. It either works, or it doesn't. All I can say is the Victron stuff is installed by the likes of Vanbitz so those who are in the know seem to rate them.

I have the Victron Smartsolar 75/15 (works from a 175W solar panel). Allows you to monitor what it's doing, and tweak settings, via bluetooth off your smartphone (android / iphone). The size you need will depend on how much solar you have. The bluesolar models don't have the bluetooth stuff inbuilt so would be cheaper but you then need other stuff to enable monitoring.

Victron stuff can cost a bit. I do see occasional offers from places like battery megastore usually over a bank holiday weekend.

 

[Tombola]

So folks, WHICH Victron do you have ?

I guess Victorn are smashing the market

100/50 here but I have 600w on the roof..well did have till one came off on the motorway

Solar panel came away on motorway,

I just got away with this by the skin of my teeth. Came back from Montpellier on a mad 24 hour dash and arrived home this morning. As we were on the A16 this side of Paris, i heard a slight clunk clunk clunk... and it seemed to be UNDER the van, check my mirrors, nothing, it didnt seem like...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Ditcha]

Hi John,

I would also recommend victron, currently have a 100/30 mppt with 480w solar I am over panelled but you would never see 100 output anyway I have 4 120w panel's in 2 series 2 parallel config.
The victron connect app is excellent the one main feature I like on the app is you can turn your solar off so you can keep your battery at any state of charge you want.

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[Al n Val]

So folks, WHICH Victron do you have ?

I have the Victron Smartsolar 100/30 and 2 x Victron 24v 225w panels

 

[Jaws]

Looks like I am gonna have to do another boot sale and go for the Victron 100-30 then
I have also looked at the Renogy option but cannot get any feedback on it

 

[Steve and Denise]

100/30 Mppt smart solar 3x 175w in series over panelled really but in summer I do get the full 30 amps coming in

 

[Jaws]

So gentlemen, is this the correct one ?
I would rather appear thick than get the wrong one !

Victron Smart Solar Mppt 100/30 Solar Charger Controller With Bluetooth 12/24v 30a - Scc110030210 - Alpha Batteries

VICTRON SMART SOLAR MPPT 100/30 SOLAR CHARGER CONTROLLER 12/24V 30A – SCC110030210 These ultra-fast, Maximum Power Point Tracking […]

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

 

[Two on Tour]

So gentlemen, is this the correct one ?
I would rather appear thick than get the wrong one !

Victron Smart Solar Mppt 100/30 Solar Charger Controller With Bluetooth 12/24v 30a - Scc110030210 - Alpha Batteries

VICTRON SMART SOLAR MPPT 100/30 SOLAR CHARGER CONTROLLER 12/24V 30A – SCC110030210 These ultra-fast, Maximum Power Point Tracking […]

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

How many watts of solar have you on the roof John ?
Don't buy bigger than you need unless you are expecting to add more solar in the future.

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[Al n Val]

So gentlemen, is this the correct one ?
I would rather appear thick than get the wrong one !

Victron Smart Solar Mppt 100/30 Solar Charger Controller With Bluetooth 12/24v 30a - Scc110030210 - Alpha Batteries

VICTRON SMART SOLAR MPPT 100/30 SOLAR CHARGER CONTROLLER 12/24V 30A – SCC110030210 These ultra-fast, Maximum Power Point Tracking […]

www.alpha-batteries.co.uk

That’s the one John and from the same guys I got my controller and panels from, no one I could find at the time could touch them on price when I was looking

Very good service tbh

 

[Jaws]

How many watts of solar have you on the roof John ?
Don't buy bigger than you need unless you are expecting to add more solar in the future.

400 at the moment..
To be honest would buy a 40a one if I had the wonga as I know a man with a pair of 250w panels that are sitting in his shed doing bugger all and there is a chance a deal for some stuff I have he wants

 

[MisterB]

It's a lot of money to spend IF your current set up will work 'adequately'. Wouldn't you be better off trying it and possibly adding extra solar for that amount of money and improving your set up that way? Then further down the line, if something comes up cheap enough, then change the controller?

 

[Jaws]

It's a lot of money to spend IF your current set up will work 'adequately'. Wouldn't you be better off trying it and possibly adding extra solar for that amount of money and improving your set up that way? Then further down the line, if something comes up cheap enough, then change the controller?

No room left for more panels really, and the change to lithium means I want to improve the controller

 

[Two on Tour]

400 at the moment..
To be honest would buy a 40a one if I had the wonga as I know a man with a pair of 250w panels that are sitting in his shed doing bugger all and there is a chance a deal for some stuff I have he wants

Here's the cheapest 100/30 price I have seen John and they are Funsters both father and son, but it's not the Smart Solar version.

Victron BlueSolar Controller MPPT 100|30 | Off-Grid Camper

Using the latest, fastest technology, BlueSolar maximises this energy-harvest, driving it intelligently to achieve full charge in the shortest possible time.

www.offgridcamper.co.uk

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[Jaws]

Here's the cheapest 100/30 price I have seen John and they are Funsters both father and son.

Victron BlueSolar Controller MPPT 100|30 | Off-Grid Camper

Using the latest, fastest technology, BlueSolar maximises this energy-harvest, driving it intelligently to achieve full charge in the shortest possible time.

www.offgridcamper.co.uk

excellent !

 

[Ditcha]

excellent !

John you know that version isn't Bluetooth worth a couple of quid more to have the app in my view.

 

[Al n Val]

for £11 more get the smart one

 

[Abacist]

Vanbitz fitted mine and they use Victron but 1 controller per panel of 130w and I have the Victron smart shunt and Bluetooth so I can check it all on my phone

 

[Jev88]

Victron Smart Solar for us. Recent software upgrade means it displays the voltage and temperature when opening the app Without having to actually click connect (but that can be useful to see previous day's high and low and wattage produced etc ..). I also fitted the remote battery sender from Victron as cable run is longer than I like and the clever box can adjust current to battery based on real voltage being transmitted from the monitor rather than the degraded voltage it senses down the long cable.

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