Solar Panel Controller Advise
A friend of a friend has a new never used Grape Solar 280 watt polcrystalline solar panel and a 2210RN solar charge julator 12/24 controller for sale. He bought them and decided not to install them. ...
Forum Discussion
Who here actually thinks he will ever see rated watts off that panel? Mounted has a even smaller chance and for a limited time every day.
Even at 10000 ft I've never seen rated watts out of my 230w panel, the best is between 210-220 range and that's high noon and tracking with a clear sky.
As for the controller, Tracer came out with it last year and even though someone here bought one, they haven't been back to say good or bad with it. At one time they sold what we call RJ specials. They didn't do MPPT but that didn't stop them from printing it on the box and selling it to unsuspecting users. I'll be leery until some one actually uses the controller and reports success.
Now features like a remote temperature sensor are nice to have if you are in your rig depending on your batteries long term with extremes in temp to deal with. Personally I go out in moderate conditions for up to two weeks at a time. The sensor inside my controller works fine because it is in the same conditions as the batteries. Pay for what you need.
Last thing is price. You can get a 270w panel for $202 plus shipping and I believe the controller runs around $120 or so.
Even at 10000 ft I've never seen rated watts out of my 230w panel, the best is between 210-220 range and that's high noon and tracking with a clear sky.
As for the controller, Tracer came out with it last year and even though someone here bought one, they haven't been back to say good or bad with it. At one time they sold what we call RJ specials. They didn't do MPPT but that didn't stop them from printing it on the box and selling it to unsuspecting users. I'll be leery until some one actually uses the controller and reports success.
Now features like a remote temperature sensor are nice to have if you are in your rig depending on your batteries long term with extremes in temp to deal with. Personally I go out in moderate conditions for up to two weeks at a time. The sensor inside my controller works fine because it is in the same conditions as the batteries. Pay for what you need.
Last thing is price. You can get a 270w panel for $202 plus shipping and I believe the controller runs around $120 or so.
