Solar30 Controller Test Update
Update 5 March
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I just got this and will not have a chance till April to test out what its charging profile is or even if shunt or series, but I was able to power it up and find out the mystery number--how high can you set the high set point? Answer- 15.0 volts
I got this so I could match the voltage I set on another controller where both are on the same battery bank (long story)
The next mystery is what happens after it gets to the set-point? Manual just says it shuts off the PV and then it all gets going again after voltage falls (sounds like a shunt type) Can't find a float voltage setting like it says it has-adjustable it says--oh well, we'll see.
I was hoping it has an adjustable float voltage so I could make that 14.8v too and then it would just stay at 14.8 once it got there till it gets dark, but that might not be possible. At least I can set it to 14.8 as the high.
This thing is huge compared with the "RJ special" I have (CMT02 whatever it's called)--which I did get to try out last year and it works fine except of course it is not MPPT as marked, just PWM, but it maxes at 14.4v and I want 14.8
This one has nice big wire terminals too, takes #8 easy. The terminal screws work backwards though--counter-clockwise tightens the terminal onto the wire :)
I got it from a different ebay guy than this one, but this is the unit
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/30A-Solar-Panel-Charge-Controller-Regulator-SOLAR30-30A-12V-24V-AUTO-360W-720W-A-/181306473974?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a36b53df6
Another thing that is great about this, is the AH counter on it. Last year with a split battery bank and one controller on each bank, I could only have the Trimetric on one bank. So I could use this controller on the other and have an AH count of what goes in. (No use like the Trimetric is for counting AH out of the battery though)
----------
I just got this and will not have a chance till April to test out what its charging profile is or even if shunt or series, but I was able to power it up and find out the mystery number--how high can you set the high set point? Answer- 15.0 volts
I got this so I could match the voltage I set on another controller where both are on the same battery bank (long story)
The next mystery is what happens after it gets to the set-point? Manual just says it shuts off the PV and then it all gets going again after voltage falls (sounds like a shunt type) Can't find a float voltage setting like it says it has-adjustable it says--oh well, we'll see.
I was hoping it has an adjustable float voltage so I could make that 14.8v too and then it would just stay at 14.8 once it got there till it gets dark, but that might not be possible. At least I can set it to 14.8 as the high.
This thing is huge compared with the "RJ special" I have (CMT02 whatever it's called)--which I did get to try out last year and it works fine except of course it is not MPPT as marked, just PWM, but it maxes at 14.4v and I want 14.8
This one has nice big wire terminals too, takes #8 easy. The terminal screws work backwards though--counter-clockwise tightens the terminal onto the wire :)
I got it from a different ebay guy than this one, but this is the unit
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/30A-Solar-Panel-Charge-Controller-Regulator-SOLAR30-30A-12V-24V-AUTO-360W-720W-A-/181306473974?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a36b53df6
Another thing that is great about this, is the AH counter on it. Last year with a split battery bank and one controller on each bank, I could only have the Trimetric on one bank. So I could use this controller on the other and have an AH count of what goes in. (No use like the Trimetric is for counting AH out of the battery though)
