Solar Controller (cheap china)
I started w/ accidently getting the winning bid on a $130 100 watt panel. So then I had to buy a cheap china $11 10 amp controller, right ? It all worked great, so great infact, I bought another nea...
Forum Discussion
You don't need a Rolls Royce limo to go to the store to buy milk and bread and get home again. All you need is a set of wheels that will get you there and back no problem.
I think RJ is just trying to point out that you can get perfectly good results from solar without spending a ton of money on fancy features in the controller.
Your batteries will get charged up ok even if you can't watch the whole thing on your laptop (goodness gracious, how geeky is that???)
I am happy with my "cheap China" controllers and solar panels where we are using the RV as a summer cottage from April to October, kind of like full-timing (except we can nip home two hours away as required) Can't see what we could do better any differently from now as far as battery charging goes, if living off grid full time.
The controller is a Series type with a standard three-stage charging profile . It does this every day flawlessly.
http://www.windturbine.ca/LS2024-b.jpg
The latest version of the "array" is where I crammed the Sharp 130w onto the contraption built for the two Sun 100w panels. So now they hang out the sides a ways. I need a bigger contraption! (The Sharp hangs down farther to keep the weight forward so the contraption maintains its balance on its pin pivot for twirling it)
Note how the Sharp, which cost more, has a heavier frame, and also how the Sun 36 cells go sideways instead of up and down like the Sharp's.
Doesn't matter, the amps keep on coming (get 20.x amps from the 330w when pointed and as tilted with its fixed tilt--should be tilted higher if being twirled a lot--lower tilt for leaving it South all day)
I think RJ is just trying to point out that you can get perfectly good results from solar without spending a ton of money on fancy features in the controller.
Your batteries will get charged up ok even if you can't watch the whole thing on your laptop (goodness gracious, how geeky is that???)
I am happy with my "cheap China" controllers and solar panels where we are using the RV as a summer cottage from April to October, kind of like full-timing (except we can nip home two hours away as required) Can't see what we could do better any differently from now as far as battery charging goes, if living off grid full time.
The controller is a Series type with a standard three-stage charging profile . It does this every day flawlessly.
http://www.windturbine.ca/LS2024-b.jpg
The latest version of the "array" is where I crammed the Sharp 130w onto the contraption built for the two Sun 100w panels. So now they hang out the sides a ways. I need a bigger contraption! (The Sharp hangs down farther to keep the weight forward so the contraption maintains its balance on its pin pivot for twirling it)
Note how the Sharp, which cost more, has a heavier frame, and also how the Sun 36 cells go sideways instead of up and down like the Sharp's.
Doesn't matter, the amps keep on coming (get 20.x amps from the 330w when pointed and as tilted with its fixed tilt--should be tilted higher if being twirled a lot--lower tilt for leaving it South all day)
