BillyW wrote:
my cheap WFCO 35 amp converter charges my batteries just fine despite the cable runs, and my meager 150 watt solar setup keeps 'em topped off
Missing Absorption stage can't be fine, IMO. Any solar will handle Float if there are no major loads, but it takes a good size panel to bring it to Absorb and keep it there for some time.
Q. to senor Mex:
Converter like WFCO with Megawatt set to 14.8 would still be a manual process requiring your presence (and a good meter). You look at the meter, wait until it hits 14.8, wind up kitchen timer to 30-50 minutes, wait until it rings, then down-adjust Mega to 13.6 - and then can go fishing, sleeping and so on. Reminds me some Chinese single-stage solar controllers that you have to re-adjust few times a day because they can't do it on its own. Why those engineers even bother making 3-stage chargers and auto-adjustable solar controllers? ;)
