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Tinstar's avatar
Tinstar
Explorer
Nov 28, 2017

Difference in solar charge controllers

I've been looking for a manual for a Heliotrope RV-30DE Charge Controller. I was able to get one for the Heliotrope RV-30D Charge Controller but I don't know the difference between them.

Anyone have any ideas. Could one be PWM and the other MPPT? I know the RV-30D is PWM.

I'm trying to set the DIP switchs for my new battery bank and both controllers may have the same DIP switch settings. I switched from AGM's to wet cell Trojan's.

7 Replies

  • pianotuna wrote:
    Tinstar,

    Let me be blunt. The Heliotrope was junk when it was new.


    Got it. Still trying to learn what all is involved with the solar system.
  • Tinstar,

    Let me be blunt. The Heliotrope was junk when it was new.
  • jorbill2or wrote:

    I would suggest at some point you add a battery monitor to the mix.


    I've got a Freedom SW 2012 inverter and can monitor the battery bank from it. I'm still trying to learn the solar system and how the two work together. Very seldom do I dry camp and I'm plugged in most all the time. That RV30DE has a setting for equalizing the batteries and I can turn it on or off. I think I need to leave it off since I can equalize from my Freedom inverter but I'm not positive. It wouldn't make sense to me to equalize from both.

    It does sound like I need to switch out the charge controller. I know it's old and since I don't know anything about solar, I'm not positive how or if it works and I don't know how to check it.
  • Heliotrope made and used by the company that AMsolar in Oregon became , are old , not even used by AMsolar anymore a quality 40 amp pwm controller ( all you probably need ) are reasonably priced. I have used Morningstar and currently use a bogart sc2030 connected to a bogart trimetric tm2030 rv That monitors battery life and runs the controller.
    Probably overkill but I would suggest at some point you add a battery monitor to the mix. I don’t use grape solar controllers but I do have grape panels and they seem to be a quality product.
    If you really want info on the heliotrope.. call AMSolar in Springfield Oregon .. they made the device and can give you the info you desire.
  • +1 on Grape Solar. Contact customer support for a link to the blue tooth app. Allows you to download the history.
  • Hi,

    The Heliotrope controllers are not worth using. Go to Home Depot and acquire the Grape 40 amp controller. It will blow the Helio right out of the water.