Solar Charge Controller
I need some recommendations on a Solar Charge Controller. I want to upgrade my solar charger. I have a 100 watt solar panel with a cheap charge controller with lights only. I want to upgrade to a d...
Forum Discussion
What voltage is the panel?
Around $140 on Amazon gets you a ZAMP ZS-30A, a five stage PWM charge controller with a decent display. $280 gets you a Blue Sky MPPT controller with similar functionality.
I am a fan of MPPT controllers, but the ZAMP is good enough to be stock in almost all Winnebago installs.
The main reason I recommend MPPT controllers is that if you have a panel under the recommended voltage for charging, a PWM CC won't charge the batteries well since it can't boost the voltage. If you have a panel that has 24 to 48 bolts, a PWM CC will "lop off" all the voltage it doesn't need, so in theory, a 100 watt, 24 volt panel will be turned into a 50 watt panel. A MPPT controller can buck or boost as needed. However, the downside of MPPT controllers is the cost.
Around $140 on Amazon gets you a ZAMP ZS-30A, a five stage PWM charge controller with a decent display. $280 gets you a Blue Sky MPPT controller with similar functionality.
I am a fan of MPPT controllers, but the ZAMP is good enough to be stock in almost all Winnebago installs.
The main reason I recommend MPPT controllers is that if you have a panel under the recommended voltage for charging, a PWM CC won't charge the batteries well since it can't boost the voltage. If you have a panel that has 24 to 48 bolts, a PWM CC will "lop off" all the voltage it doesn't need, so in theory, a 100 watt, 24 volt panel will be turned into a 50 watt panel. A MPPT controller can buck or boost as needed. However, the downside of MPPT controllers is the cost.
