Small waterproof / weatherproof solar controller - FOUND!
For my 26' TT I had been looking for a controller for the small solar install I want to do. The TT comes pre-wired with 10GA cable which is large enough for what I want to do. The wires come out under the floor by the front wall and the batteries are inches away on the tongue. For this small install I didn't want to go drilling more holes with larger wires in the roof or drilling holes up through the floor to a controller and then down through the floor again to the batteries. Therefore, what I wanted was a controller that could be mounted outside in the weather. Until this morning I hadn't been able to find one.
What I found was a Zamp Solar Digital Deluxe 5 Stage 15 Amp PWM Solar Charge Controller – ZS-15AW. They also make a smaller 10A unit.
NEW! Digital Deluxe 5 Stage 15 Amp PWM Solar Charge Controller for Wet, AGM, Gel and Calcium batteries. Zamp Solar 15 AMP stage Controller
Our 15 amp PWM solar charge controller has a large digital display showing volts, amps and amp over a period of time while LED lights show charging status and battery condition. Our Digital Deluxe 10 & 15 Amp PWM Solar Charge Controller is designed to do it’s job with out the need for maintenance but it also is feature rich to monitor and indicate system functions.
Each unit has 3 LED (colored) lights to indicate charging status, and they are bright. There are also 3 LED lights to indicate battery condition – is is full? The best feature of this solar charge controller is the LCD display that indicates voltage, charging current, charging capacity (amp hours), battery types, full charge and any faulty codes.
Features –
-For Gel, AGM, Conventional Lead Acid (WET) and Calcium Batteries
-Advanced MCU control pulse width modulation (PWM) technology to ensure best battery life and high efficiency
-Built in regulator to prevent batteries from overcharging
-Built in regulator to prevent battery undercharge; The unit provides an automatic equalization feature for deeply drained conventional lead acid or calcium batteries, as well as provides a cycling automatic equalizing feature every 28 days (when constantly connected)
-Floating feature to keep the batteries as topped off as possible. This process reduces water loss and prevents the batteries from drying out
-Protects batteries from discharge at night preventing current flowing back from the batteries into the panel
-External battery temperature sensor (optional)
-Multi-charging protections against reverse polarity, short circuit, over temperature, over voltage, etc.
-Surface or flush panel mounting options
***Waterproof/Weatherproof***
I talked to Back Country Solar about them. They have had no failures with them installed out in the weather - meaning rain. Their price is $124. It's not an MPPT controller, but I don't think I need one for a small 200W - 240W install. It's not the fanciest controller, but it's the only one I can find to do what I want.
Now I need to choose two panels that come close to the 15A input rating.
Bill
What I found was a Zamp Solar Digital Deluxe 5 Stage 15 Amp PWM Solar Charge Controller – ZS-15AW. They also make a smaller 10A unit.
NEW! Digital Deluxe 5 Stage 15 Amp PWM Solar Charge Controller for Wet, AGM, Gel and Calcium batteries. Zamp Solar 15 AMP stage Controller
Our 15 amp PWM solar charge controller has a large digital display showing volts, amps and amp over a period of time while LED lights show charging status and battery condition. Our Digital Deluxe 10 & 15 Amp PWM Solar Charge Controller is designed to do it’s job with out the need for maintenance but it also is feature rich to monitor and indicate system functions.
Each unit has 3 LED (colored) lights to indicate charging status, and they are bright. There are also 3 LED lights to indicate battery condition – is is full? The best feature of this solar charge controller is the LCD display that indicates voltage, charging current, charging capacity (amp hours), battery types, full charge and any faulty codes.
Features –
-For Gel, AGM, Conventional Lead Acid (WET) and Calcium Batteries
-Advanced MCU control pulse width modulation (PWM) technology to ensure best battery life and high efficiency
-Built in regulator to prevent batteries from overcharging
-Built in regulator to prevent battery undercharge; The unit provides an automatic equalization feature for deeply drained conventional lead acid or calcium batteries, as well as provides a cycling automatic equalizing feature every 28 days (when constantly connected)
-Floating feature to keep the batteries as topped off as possible. This process reduces water loss and prevents the batteries from drying out
-Protects batteries from discharge at night preventing current flowing back from the batteries into the panel
-External battery temperature sensor (optional)
-Multi-charging protections against reverse polarity, short circuit, over temperature, over voltage, etc.
-Surface or flush panel mounting options
***Waterproof/Weatherproof***
I talked to Back Country Solar about them. They have had no failures with them installed out in the weather - meaning rain. Their price is $124. It's not an MPPT controller, but I don't think I need one for a small 200W - 240W install. It's not the fanciest controller, but it's the only one I can find to do what I want.
Now I need to choose two panels that come close to the 15A input rating.
Bill
