Solar Controllers--Don't be a Sucker! :(
Just got to say it again, how it is we are sitting here for five months off grid on solar with no problems at all (third season on solar like this), using the non-programmable, non-MPPT, solar control...
Forum Discussion
Ok, so I am picking a fight, but still, I would say even if you can afford a super-fancy controller, why spend on that instead of something else more useful?
One important thing I have learned is that the theoretical daily haul in AH is not applicable in real life. The afternoon "mirror image" of the morning's haul does not occur because your amps are tapering with the SOC rising. So unless you can arrange for your AH draws to occur when solar amps in, is higher than the battery acceptance rate, so there is extra amps to use, you can't take advantage of the full afternoon solar potential AH haul.
Your big use is in the evening when solar is minimal. Too late to take advantage of the solar surplus. You make up for that next day after the day starting draws slow down. IAW a lot depends on timing, and you do have some control over that--but not much.
So say if there is 66AH needed for the CO at 33 each time, then the morning 33 will be made up quickly, but the evening 33 will not be recovered till next day. So that means all 66 gets done from early in the day to mid-day before amps taper.
How much solar you need has to be considered wrt the drop in acceptance rate late in the day. eg, after lunch, I could shut down half my solar and still get the job done, but only because the full solar was working earlier. (weather permitting) If you have a huge battery bank you can have less solar unless you are staying off-grid a long time before going home. More math. (PT will insist having more battery means you need more solar.)
All this is to do with how much solar. My point is the amount of solar has no bearing on the controller type. Any simple controller can do it. You don't need a fancy controller to get the most out of your panels. You just need to "size" your set-up and that has nothing to do with the controller.
One important thing I have learned is that the theoretical daily haul in AH is not applicable in real life. The afternoon "mirror image" of the morning's haul does not occur because your amps are tapering with the SOC rising. So unless you can arrange for your AH draws to occur when solar amps in, is higher than the battery acceptance rate, so there is extra amps to use, you can't take advantage of the full afternoon solar potential AH haul.
Your big use is in the evening when solar is minimal. Too late to take advantage of the solar surplus. You make up for that next day after the day starting draws slow down. IAW a lot depends on timing, and you do have some control over that--but not much.
So say if there is 66AH needed for the CO at 33 each time, then the morning 33 will be made up quickly, but the evening 33 will not be recovered till next day. So that means all 66 gets done from early in the day to mid-day before amps taper.
How much solar you need has to be considered wrt the drop in acceptance rate late in the day. eg, after lunch, I could shut down half my solar and still get the job done, but only because the full solar was working earlier. (weather permitting) If you have a huge battery bank you can have less solar unless you are staying off-grid a long time before going home. More math. (PT will insist having more battery means you need more solar.)
All this is to do with how much solar. My point is the amount of solar has no bearing on the controller type. Any simple controller can do it. You don't need a fancy controller to get the most out of your panels. You just need to "size" your set-up and that has nothing to do with the controller.
