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 near identical panel. Great, except. there went the 10 amp controller,......in the spare parts box. OK because I dint like it anyways, to many programmable features, dint know what 1/2 of it was.So back to ebay for this 15 amp controller for 13 bucks. Now this one I understood, and IMO couldn't work any better. (same one selling in QZS AZ for $59)But after all the hi techs here badmouthing the cheap china stuff, I ran across this same one again for 13 bucks. And I thought, what could be a better and cheaper repair than a brand new one, for $13 no less ? So I just bought another for a spare.I love the cheap china stuff, and if the controller ever quits, (I doubt) it'll be nothing more than a quick pit stop :)

RJsfishin wrote: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 near identical panel. Great, except. there went the 10 amp controller,......in the spare parts box. OK because I dint like it anyways, to many programmable features, dint know what 1/2 of it was.So back to ebay for this 15 amp controller for 13 bucks. Now this one I understood, and IMO couldn't work any better. (same one selling in QZS AZ for $59)But after all the hi techs here badmouthing the cheap china stuff, I ran across this same one again for 13 bucks. And I thought, what could be a better and cheaper repair than a brand new one, for $13 no less ? So I just bought another for a spare.I love the cheap china stuff, and if the controller ever quits, (I doubt) it'll be nothing more than a quick pit stop :) X2 for me too! Good success here and around 7/10 days shipping, China to me.

How about a few details? I assume it's PWM. What's the set point? Is it adjustable (doubt it, but had to ask)? Can it equalize? If so, at what voltage? I'm all for cheap, but if it's gonna shorten the life of my batteries then in the end the cheap becomes expensive.

I just stay aware that most electronic products produced in China ARE NOT TESTED AT ALL before they leave the factory. The assemble them, box them and load them into containers.Their "testing" includes random sampling off the assembly line. One in a hundred perhaps,I would like to think that rated "star reviews" on certain websites are an excellent clue as to the likelihood (or not) of ending up with a turkey. If there are 647 customer reviews and the product earned four-and-a-half stars I feel better. Lifetime guarantee only two hundred dollar return postage does not cut it in my book, success does.

So now you have a nice 260 watt system constrained by a high loss controller????WHY??? I bet you are losing 70-80% of the available current through that controller.The ONLY controller to buy and be sure you are getting a quality product is the Morningstar....The 20A version is under $100........Best purchase you will ever make on God's earth for those nice panels you have.And then REALLY step up to the bar and but a Trimetric 2025RV solar meter to really see what your panels and battery are doing...........A Solar controller is NOT the place to "cleap out"

Uh Oh, seventy percent of 260 watts is 182 watts. If the controller "consumed" 182 watts, you could read by the light of its incandescence inside a closet.The ABILITY of a charging source to maintain batteries perfectly charged is the goal. Lots of components and even more permutations get in the way of achieving perfection, but caution is needed when sifting out potential inadequacies.

Solar Controller (cheap china) | Good Sam Community

47 Replies

mlts22
Explorer II
Jul 31, 2013
I've been looking at some no-name MPPT controllers as options. They are cheap and no-name, but they have good YouTube reviews, and have actual inductors in them.

There was one point raised with my post about a similar topic: Solar installs are for the long haul, and are pretty much meant to be built, tested, and left to gather energy. I'm considering a cheap MPPT CC just for experimenting, but if this is something you want for a long time, I'd do it right and go for a name brand.
Old___Slow
Explorer
Jul 31, 2013
Now Mex,

You do know how to write a post. Just where can I say, this turkey can't fly? (Your last two posts) But give us RV folks with some small old moldy left, some slack.
And what BMW owner is going to say he was not so smart in his choice? Not much egg on face of those, spend big kind.

O&S
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 31, 2013
Uh Oh, seventy percent of 260 watts is 182 watts. If the controller "consumed" 182 watts, you could read by the light of its incandescence inside a closet.

The ABILITY of a charging source to maintain batteries perfectly charged is the goal. Lots of components and even more permutations get in the way of achieving perfection, but caution is needed when sifting out potential inadequacies.
Rbertalotto
Explorer
Jul 31, 2013
So now you have a nice 260 watt system constrained by a high loss controller????

WHY??? I bet you are losing 70-80% of the available current through that controller.

The ONLY controller to buy and be sure you are getting a quality product is the Morningstar....The 20A version is under $100........Best purchase you will ever make on God's earth for those nice panels you have.

And then REALLY step up to the bar and but a Trimetric 2025RV solar meter to really see what your panels and battery are doing...........

A Solar controller is NOT the place to "cleap out"
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Jul 31, 2013
I just stay aware that most electronic products produced in China ARE NOT TESTED AT ALL before they leave the factory. The assemble them, box them and load them into containers.

Their "testing" includes random sampling off the assembly line. One in a hundred perhaps,

I would like to think that rated "star reviews" on certain websites are an excellent clue as to the likelihood (or not) of ending up with a turkey. If there are 647 customer reviews and the product earned four-and-a-half stars I feel better. Lifetime guarantee only two hundred dollar return postage does not cut it in my book, success does.
Simplygib
Explorer
Jul 31, 2013
How about a few details? I assume it's PWM. What's the set point? Is it adjustable (doubt it, but had to ask)? Can it equalize? If so, at what voltage? I'm all for cheap, but if it's gonna shorten the life of my batteries then in the end the cheap becomes expensive.
Old___Slow
Explorer
Jul 31, 2013
RJsfishin wrote:
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 near identical panel. Great, except. there went the 10 amp controller,......in the spare parts box. OK because I dint like it anyways, to many programmable features, dint know what 1/2 of it was.
So back to ebay for this 15 amp controller for 13 bucks. Now this one I understood, and IMO couldn't work any better. (same one selling in QZS AZ for $59)
But after all the hi techs here badmouthing the cheap china stuff, I ran across this same one again for 13 bucks. And I thought, what could be a better and cheaper repair than a brand new one, for $13 no less ? So I just bought another for a spare.
I love the cheap china stuff, and if the controller ever quits, (I doubt) it'll be nothing more than a quick pit stop :)

X2 for me too! Good success here and around 7/10 days shipping, China to me.

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Solar Controller (cheap china)

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