outback solar mppt controller

Almot wrote:
If you go 48V, you can double your solar wattage without buying another controller.

x2

N7GLD wrote:
I live in an off grid home with 2400 watts ( and expanding ) of solar panels with and Outback 80 amp charge controller. I've maxed this controller out

You've maxed it up at 24V battery bank. If you go 48V, you can double your solar wattage without buying another controller.

SMK is right, this controller is not too automated when it comes to absorption.

I wonder if my Rogue 30 is the only MPPT with automatically adjusted Abs time. It terminates Abs stage when current drops to preset (adjustable) value. And, if it doesn't drop, then preset Abs timer (also adjustable) kicks in. In storage it's keeping Abs time very short, some seconds, as the current drops quickly after it hits Abs voltage. I already hear all the flooded crowd screaming - "Heresy! Keep'em jars boiling!" - well, mine are not flooded. I don't think they need much boiling in storage, either.

Absorption of 2 hours is fine in-use. I want the absorption time to be a bit shorter while in storage. I see it is adjustable but I would prefer this was automatic.

I live in an off grid home with 2400 watts ( and expanding ) of solar panels with and Outback 80 amp charge controller. I've maxed this controller out so as I add 800 more watts I'm going to add another in parallel. This controller comes with more user selectable operating parameter than is feasible to list. A simple answer is yes I'm very satisfied with Outback..... funny thing is I haven't added solar to our 5th wheel yet.... http://www.backwoodssolar.com/outback-80a-charge-controller

Educate me, people - why would anyone want a 10A MPPT?

Golden_HVAC wrote:
If I wanted to replace my 415 watt solar system, I would be buying 140 watt solar panels from this place for around $229. SunElec.com

And I would be buying $14 PWM controllers. AliExpress.com and then search for PWM 20 amp controller.

They way I figure it, you are much better off spending the money on solar panels than on a very expensive MPPT controller.

That said, I did buy a Solarbost 50 amp controller back in 1999. Back then, it cost $430 to buy a 120 watt solar panel, and installing more solar panels would have been more expensive than changing to the MPPT controller.

Now MPPT controllers are much less expensive (I think I paid over $300 for mine in 1999). But PWM Controllers are really cheap.

So lets look at two theoretical systems.

Say you pick 3 each 100 watt panels at say $200 each, and a $150 MPPT controller.

Or you could pick 3 each 140 watt panels for $229 each and a pair of $14 controllers. I would guess that the cheap controllers will put more power into the battery for about the same cost.

Good luck with your solar system.

Fred.

for most cases your right on for cost/$$/watt. And any more with the price of panels dropping, PWM controllers really do make a lot of sense, especially when one had to jump from a 15A MPPT to the next step up from morningstar. With the prices coming down on MPPT controllers it's at least something one can contemplate. Especially when the MPPT in question will let one series 3 maybe panels. Some of the earlier inexpensive ones really would only let you series two panels.

In my case, we have portable panels, often needing to place them 100-150 ft away from the trailer. And camp for a week or more and want batteries charged. Now panels aren't exactly light weight, or small, so panel size and weight to lug around has some influence in my case, and minimizing I2R cable loss with the long cables as well. not big, but every amp counts. Now it wasn't worth the price for the morningstar bigger controller in the past, but for $150, something I'd consider. And the morningstar 15A doesn't go to waste since I'd put it on my smaller trailer that doesn't usually need as much solar.


But yes, for most cases I'd agree with you that more panel amps and PWM controller is the better choice.

The manual shows a comm cable to/for a computer to change parameters. However, an * comment states it is not common but has no listing to order.

BFL13 wrote:
Ok it does 2 hours at Vabs of 14.8 on Wets then drops to float. About the same as the standard EP Solar profile, which I have used and found to be ok. So this compares with the Tracer (but without its new remote that does the adjustable settings) at a better price in the OP link. Good find.

http://www.outbackpower.com/downloads/documents/smartharvest_sccm20_100/SCCM20_manual.pdf

Looks good, I hope they work out well. There needs to be more affordable smaller system choices to take advantage of these cheap grid tie panels.

While I have no experience with that new product from Outback I have installed many Outback 60 and 80 amp controllers. The only failure I can recall in 10 years was from another installer doing an improper installation and hitting the controller with too much voltage. I have had to replace 2 fans in the early MX60 units. The latter FM series seem to have better fans.
Outback is one of the toughest products out there in the home scale solar market. I wouldn't hesitate to use their new charge controller.

If I wanted to replace my 415 watt solar system, I would be buying 140 watt solar panels from this place for around $229. SunElec.com

And I would be buying $14 PWM controllers. AliExpress.com and then search for PWM 20 amp controller.

They way I figure it, you are much better off spending the money on solar panels than on a very expensive MPPT controller.

That said, I did buy a Solarbost 50 amp controller back in 1999. Back then, it cost $430 to buy a 120 watt solar panel, and installing more solar panels would have been more expensive than changing to the MPPT controller.

Now MPPT controllers are much less expensive (I think I paid over $300 for mine in 1999). But PWM Controllers are really cheap.

So lets look at two theoretical systems.

Say you pick 3 each 100 watt panels at say $200 each, and a $150 MPPT controller.

Or you could pick 3 each 140 watt panels for $229 each and a pair of $14 controllers. I would guess that the cheap controllers will put more power into the battery for about the same cost.

Good luck with your solar system.

Fred.