Bogart Solar Controller...Comments?

BFL13 wrote:
If the solar controller by itself-- nothing to do with the Tri-- has adjustable voltages and timings, then that can make it superior to others which don't.

Their controller doesn't have anything adjustable, by itself. Fixed 13.2 Float, and 2 choices of V Abs - 14.2 or 14.7. Without a Tri it would've been inferior to most any other charger.

But since the OP is going to buy the whole farm - both Tri and controller, it's different. The "brains" of this pair are in the Tri, so to speak.

PS: few more thoughts.

BFL13 wrote:
... a "matching" controller, so that controller depends on the Tri to be right...

You're onto something here. It's a very basic controller that is, in turn, controlled by Tri. Now, I don't remember all the bells and whistles of the Tri, BUT, if the adjusting commands in this combo are triggered by Amp-Hr counter, this is good - though might not be the best.

My MPPT controller terminates the Abs stage when charging current drops to certain level. Still not perfect 'cause there can be loads affecting the current, but better than a fixed Timer. In my controller the Timer is still adjustable manually, forcing it to transition to Float when Timer expires, no matter what the charging current is.

So... if they want PWM for 280W - which means running a beefy cable or limiting future expansion options because of cable not beefy enough - and if they want something "automatic" that won't require any manual intervention, and if they want a monitor, and not just "a monitor" but a Tri, then... well, then this is what they will have. And it will work. Perfect - no. Nothing is.