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

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 ! (::)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Smokin Cheap China Controller ? | Good Sam Community

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
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 :)
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? ;)
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.
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.
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
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.
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 ! (:
:)

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