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RJsfishin's avatar
RJsfishin
Explorer
Jul 01, 2014

Smokin Cheap China Controller ?

I had my solar just a perkalaatin today, all 290 watts worth.
2 panels on the roof now, a few degrees off the sun, and my 90 watt portable directly on the sun. I was watching the amps go up all morning, when the sun was perdy much overhead, digital ampmeter up to 14.7, I checked my $10 cheap China 15 amp controller, and it was warming up fast, maybe too much I thought, so I unplugged my portable, and let it coast at around 9 amps.
I have had such good luck w/ all the cheap China stuff,....not even 1 failure out of 10-12 items. So I ordered a new 20 amp controller, exactly the same brand as this 15 amp. Trouble is, it on a slooooooow boat from China. And for some unknown reason, this 20 amp was only 8 bucks, incl free shipping. This cheap stuff just seems to get better and cheaper all at the same time ! :)
This is the controller that coming,.....I don't know why I din't by a couple more
.http://www.ebay.com/itm/301218792237?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    Guess what? Yep, I just ordered another one.....for a spare.......just in case ! :)
    I had a spare 15 amp too, but some guy down in Quarzsite who knew I had it, begged to buy it, gave me a $20 bill for it. They were selling for $59 down there, so he stole it ! (:
    :)
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2014
    Yep. Retirement communities in AZ and FL are a Klondike for pushing anything "solar" at triple and quadruple cost. Boomers are becoming a market for anything from financial advisers to spiritual advisers to solar installers.

    Since I don't smoke :), and don't like anything smoking around, I chose not to use Ebay for items that are crucial for offgrid living.
  • 09FLSTC's avatar
    09FLSTC
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    I totally agree. My grandpa was cheap as the day is long and when we cleared out all of his stuff, it was a pile of $10 trinkets that no longer worked. I'm after the new SC-2030 and TM-2030 for my new solar.
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2014
    So far I only see a lot of big words and no details in SC-2030 description. Hopefully things will clear up when they will start making it. I wish them luck with their first solar controller.
  • JiminDenver's avatar
    JiminDenver
    Explorer II
    Jul 01, 2014
    You have to go with what fills your needs and only your needs. I took a chance on the MPPT equivalent and got lucky too. If and when my needs change and I replace it, it wont be because it doesn't do what it is suppose to.
  • 09FLSTC's avatar
    09FLSTC
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    Almot wrote:
    So far I only see a lot of big words and no details in SC-2030 description. Hopefully things will clear up when they will start making it. I wish them luck with their first solar controller.

    Ha, I see you haven't kept up (nor have I really) They have sold hundreds already according to them but Ralph isn't a web guy so he probably has a lag in the info there. What a concept, a simple controller to integrate with his proven Trimetric and make a great argument that 95 percent of people buy MTTP because they are told to or think they need it? After all, why would anybody in their right mind design such a system and not include MTTP? ;)
  • Almot's avatar
    Almot
    Explorer III
    Jul 01, 2014
    09FLSTC wrote:
    What a concept, a simple controller to integrate with his proven Trimetric and make a great argument that 95 percent of people buy MTTP because they are told to or think they need it? After all, why would anybody in their right mind design such a system and not include MTTP? ;)

    Without any details about that concept it's difficult to comment.
    One thing I know is that any controller can be used with a battery monitor. Not to say that every system needs a battery monitor.

    As to why they didn't make this device an MPPT, there can be one good reason - cost.

    I can believe that many people decide on a controller type and brand without fully understanding these things. Though in systems over 30A - and there is more and more of them lately - an MPPT is usually the only way, or the most efficient way. Which is not really relevant to this 30A PWM. Or to the OP topic - I sense RJ picking up stones already. Though I'm myself not quire sure what this topic was about, from the beginning :)
  • westend's avatar
    westend
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    Good luck with your new finds, RJ.

    That really must be some kind of controller, it even has this feature, "Protection from lightning strike.":B
  • RJsfishin's avatar
    RJsfishin
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    No stones, just commenting. I find it kinda fun playin w/ cheap stuff that really works,...after all, I didn't really need solar, but the prices made it irresisable. And this very popular controller does exactly what my Intell PD 9245 converter does, except floats a bit higher, and doesn't do the mixer voltage. I assume the 20 amp will operate the same. So I do chuckle at the prices some pay for controllers, that live by name more than anything else.
  • ken_white's avatar
    ken_white
    Explorer
    Jul 01, 2014
    RJsfishin wrote:
    ...So I do chuckle at the prices some pay for controllers, that live by name more than anything else.


    Why use a controller at all?

    Just connect the panel directly to the battery and use a SPST switch to open and close the connection, you can't get much cheaper than that...

    :B

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