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
You might not be stuck if you have mixed panels on expansion of your set-up. You can still have separate arrays on the same battery bank if you can organize that.
I have two identical controllers in parallel so it is like having one controller. I expect if you had one MPPT controller outputting 12v to the same battery that you also have a PWM controller on, you would get full amps until their different actual voltages started to matter, same as with any charging using different chargers at the same time.
However, since this different voltage effect would be later on, when battery acceptance was lower anyway, you could yank one array and finish with the one controller that has the algorithm you like better for the high SOC stage.
Not sure if that is what Mr Wiz does at times.
eg, with my separate 130w and 200w arrays, I could yank the 130w and its controller in the afternoon and it wouldn't make any difference, since the one is now doing as many amps as the batteries can take.
(Ignoring the possible use of the "extra amps" in my "timing" example earlier)
Taking that further, if your RV roof has small spaces and big spaces, you might get more done by putting some small 12v in the small spaces on their own PWM and put big 24s in the big spaces with their own MPPT and parallel both controllers to the battery bank.
Lots of ways to do things that would work, "depending."
I have two identical controllers in parallel so it is like having one controller. I expect if you had one MPPT controller outputting 12v to the same battery that you also have a PWM controller on, you would get full amps until their different actual voltages started to matter, same as with any charging using different chargers at the same time.
However, since this different voltage effect would be later on, when battery acceptance was lower anyway, you could yank one array and finish with the one controller that has the algorithm you like better for the high SOC stage.
Not sure if that is what Mr Wiz does at times.
eg, with my separate 130w and 200w arrays, I could yank the 130w and its controller in the afternoon and it wouldn't make any difference, since the one is now doing as many amps as the batteries can take.
(Ignoring the possible use of the "extra amps" in my "timing" example earlier)
Taking that further, if your RV roof has small spaces and big spaces, you might get more done by putting some small 12v in the small spaces on their own PWM and put big 24s in the big spaces with their own MPPT and parallel both controllers to the battery bank.
Lots of ways to do things that would work, "depending."
