Question for Solar Experts

Thanks all for your input- I appreciate it!

Mppt controller will Not help your converter
The answer is no to any charging benefit
The solar mppt accepts higher voltage and steps it down to 14v while increasing the amps
A steady 13.6 voltage or two stage converter can not be used with the mppt
There is no excess voltage for it to work with
It will just pass it thru
And any AC ripple put on the input side, might harm the controller

I doubt it will boost voltage. MPPT only talks of boosting amps.
Converter is probably over the input wattage rating.
Controller not rated for other input such as hydro or wind.
If you cannot afford to do the job right then you certainly cannot afford to do it wrong.
Best to call Tracer to verify.

If you are charging with a generator I think you would be better with a converter upgrade over the solar for now.

smkettner wrote:
NO.

Why not?

Fire Instructor wrote:
Not without panels or a steady DC power source, as the controller only accepts a DC input, then optimizes the charge to the battery.

You mentioned "battery", singularly. Most solar panel system, other than the simple ones for just keeping the battery charge up during storage, have multiple batteries. My system depends on four 6v golf cart batteries, wired in series, then parallel, so that they act as two big 12v batteries.

Thanks for your response.

My DC Source would be my converter (120-12V)plugged in when the van is stored to maintain the battery while I save for the 24 Volt Panel. I am asking if I can consider the Controller as a "Smart Charger" with the 12V DC from the house power converter that routinely charges the battery when it is plugged in, but is not a true Boost/Float/maintain charger. I have seen videos where controlled 12 volt sources are connected to these Controllers to evaluate them and there seems to be no problem.

As far as my energy needs currently (no pun intended) I only need to run some LED Lights and a stove hood vent fan very occasionally. Maybe recharging a pad or laptop from time to time as well. I think 80AH is plenty for this need right now. GC Batteries are out of the question because of the location so I am accepting the compromise of an AGM Battery.

Thanks again!

Considering that it is for a van...first get one or two batteries. If two then 100
ah will do, or if one then get at least 160ah. If you plan to get solar panels that are more than 12v then get the mppt controller, if just 12v then get a pmw controller and whichever get at least 30
amp so you can expand your system. 6v batteries are great but sometimes overkill.
they will last through a lot more recharges, but you do have to get 2. Once your batteries are in place you can consider solar panels. Windy Nation does not have the best prices from what I've seen. Look on
amazon or go to Renogy.com Do you have space for 2 batteries, that is your first question?

NO.

Traveler7 wrote:
I cannot afford to buy all the pieces of my solar power system at once and intend to purchase piece by piece. My question is:

If I get a good storage battery and an MPPT Controller, can I plug my converter battery charge cables into it to get the benefit of the 3 stage battery charging and monitoring?

I am looking at an 80 AMP hour Deep Cycle Battery by WindyNation
and a 20AMP Tracer A Controller.

Thank you!

You could start out with two 6 volt GC batteries, but you would be waiting your money on the 80 amp battery.

Not without panels or a steady DC power source, as the controller only accepts a DC input, then optimizes the charge to the battery.

You mentioned "battery", singularly. Most solar panel system, other than the simple ones for just keeping the battery charge up during storage, have multiple batteries. My system depends on four 6v golf cart batteries, wired in series, then parallel, so that they act as two big 12v batteries.