Charge controller recommendations

smk, it is summer-time and the living is easy.... If only mena's sister the mermaid would leave us and go back to sea then it might be safe to put the solar contraption back down on the ground.

:)

BFL suddenly likes simple, generic, out of the box, unmodified, plain vanilla system, and just leave it alone?

What happened to the temp sensor in the freezer? Rotating solar mount contraption? Custom converter voltage adjustment? Are you giving up the hydrometer? Gasp... even the battery monitor is becoming redundant. ;)

Are the four B&D chargers for sale?

What on earth will we have to talk about...

That's what full programmability is for ;)

Hi,

And I want set it and forget it.

Me too. I really want full programmability of everything.

Jim

I want to choose my voltage and absorption time.
10 minutes seems short while in use, 2 hours seems long in storage.

I like my LandStar too BFL. MPPT is real and it works, but it is very expensive $ per watt compared to just buying more solar if you have the room.

Oh and put some ice in a Baggie on that temp sensor if you want to run the voltage up a little ;)

Jim

smkettner wrote:

Salvo wrote:
That doesn't sound right. You mentioned Voc = 21V. Connect two panels in series and you get 42V, not 12V.

As mentioned before, your best bet is to connect panels in parallel and use a pwm controller.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/5-30A-Solar-Charge-Controller-Regulator-12V-24V-Battery-Charging-PWM-Solar-Panel-/221142180373?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item337d19e215

Now I see the concern of dropping to float early.

14. Boost Charge Voltage: 14.6V; x2/24V(time of duration:10 minutes)
15. Direct Charge Voltage: 14.4V; x2/24V(time of duration:10 minutes)

I am happy with my LandStar 20a PWM controllers of the Series three stage (vs older type Shunt on/off method). I was concerned the two- hour timed Absorption Stage was too short, but it is working out in real life no problem.

After a month now on solar, the batts are fine and even their SG is staying up near baseline, indicating that longer Absorption time at 14.8v is not required.

One set of 6s needed water while the other didn't (the Exides, not the Interstates) and after a few days of normal solar after adding water, the SG reading on those had caught up, indicating sufficient agitation---I did not expect that, so I am extra pleased.

As I have said before, MPPT is some kind of scam IMO, where "they" target gullible techno geeks for their money. Or perhaps the target is the same guys who want STP, F-310 in their gas, or a Tiger in Their Tanks!

Who knows. Anyway, Salvo is right. You can't do better than perfect, and I am getting perfect with my "cheap-Chinese" PWM controllers (that work perfectly and are well-built--sorry about that! :) )

I don't know where you buy them in the States, but I suppose Google knows. Here is the manual for interest--BTW the same guy seems to write the MorningStar manuals and uses the same diagrams---and everyone likes Morningstar and hates cheap Chinese stuff. :) (LandStar, MorningStar, AfternoonStar---tee hee ) It's your money and you are over 21.

http://www.pvsolarchina.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/User-Manual-of-LS1024-LS1524-LS2024-Solar-Controller.pdf

Not here to sell one brand over the other
Just determine the users needs and make suggestions
Suggest you check this out
http://www.morningstarcorp.com/en/support/item.cfm?ItemId=111

I have several PWM controllers powering outbuildings around the property
Many of them exhibit excessive EMI / RFI Interference
The "cheap" ones switch at a low frequency and cause a lot of AM radio reception issues for me

Sorry no recommendations as to which brand make or model to purchase - Doing that only gets you in trouble