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deadticket8's avatar
deadticket8
Explorer
Feb 22, 2023

Controller for Lithium Batteries

Hello everyone. I will be installing a modest solar system on my trailer consisting of 300 watts solar with 200ah of lithium batteries. I am trying to make a decision on the controller. I'm looking at Epever tracer that says it is lithium compatible. But as in many controllers reviewers say tricky to program for lithium. Any thoughts? I should mention I used a Renogy Rover on my last trailer with flooded batteries and it pooped the bed in the middle of my long journey. So I am leary of them. And not looking to break the bank.
  • time2roll wrote:
    Epever would not be my choice. I read too many troubles. One step below Renogy.
    Can't go wrong with Victron.
    I have a Morningstar that is going strong close to 15 years. Very easy to reprogram for lithium.


    I have the Epever that has been working fine for the last 14 years.
  • I just spoke with Morningstar. Lithiums can be complicated and they have good tech support. I will follow up later. wicked expensive though.
    Also looking at Victron Smart 100/30. I watched a video and it seems not too hard to set up for lithiums. One video suggested setting absorbtion rate at around 13.4.
  • time2roll wrote:
    Epever would not be my choice. I read too many troubles. One step below Renogy.
    Can't go wrong with Victron.
    I have a Morningstar that is going strong close to 15 years. Very easy to reprogram for lithium.


    I think there a lot more than one step below renogy haha..

    Steve
  • Epever would not be my choice. I read too many troubles. One step below Renogy.
    Can't go wrong with Victron.
    I have a Morningstar that is going strong close to 15 years. Very easy to reprogram for lithium.
  • deadticket8 wrote:
    looking at Epever tracer that says it is lithium compatible. But as in many controllers reviewers say tricky to program for lithium.
    You don't want 'tricky' to program. But a programmable controller is what you want, one that can either drastically shorten absorb time or eliminate it completely.
  • Victron makes solar charge controllers which have a good reputation - recommended by Battle Born for their batteries.

    Rob
  • deadticket8 wrote:
    Hello everyone. I will be installing a modest solar system on my trailer consisting of 300 watts solar with 200ah of lithium batteries. I am trying to make a decision on the controller. I'm looking at Epever tracer that says it is lithium compatible. But as in many controllers reviewers say tricky to program for lithium. Any thoughts? I should mention I used a Renogy Rover on my last trailer with flooded batteries and it pooped the bed in the middle of my long journey. So I am leary of them. And not looking to break the bank.


    its hard to say.. I use the renogy rover 30 amp MPPT for 3 years now and it has been nothing but perfect. Now everyone I know is using them and no one has had issues so maybe you just had a defective one, how long were you using it till it crapped out? I know of 8 of them that have been going between 2 and 3 years now from my friends getting them after I did. for there price you could buy two of them for the same as one victron.

    If you don't want to try another thats cool, I would recomend Victron then, as I suspect the Epever is mad by the same manufacturer as renogy, but renogy has a custom plastic cover. if you look at the shap, heat sink, mounting, display, termanals, there all the same.