I have had it with the cheap china $30 or $15 solar controllers. They do move voltage, but never seem to work the way they are advertised. And that tiny screw that only works with phone wire is not what I want when I am using heavy gauge wire.I am looking at the Morningstar units, for about ten times the price though.Is this a good choice?I have two 100 watt panels on the roof, and two 6 volt golf batteries in series for 12v.The solar charges the batteries and I run off the batteries.I also have power from the tow vehicle when driving, but this is not a heavy gauge wire, and it is hooked to the battery and not through a controller.I would like everything to be controlled (tv power, solar power, converter power, and outgoing power).I would like power cut off before I drain a battery dead.What are the best, and most price conscious options?Hoping to hear from those who KNOW rather than opinions too. thanks

Do you plan to expand the number of watts of solar?

I have a Tristar MPPT-60. Excellent controller and performs exactly as expected. Very flexible programming. Probably a bit much for 200 watts. There is a 30 amp version but I think you want a PWM controller.You need to use the load control circuit if you want to use the controller to cut power before the battery becomes overly discharged. Only issue is these circuits have a limited amp rating that you need to stay inside. Could protect with a fuse or breaker but that could be a pain in the neck also.Would an alarm work? Then you would have to cut power or charge the battery manually.search 'voltminder' (amazon)

I will probably upgrade to a Morningstar Tristar MPPT-60, but for now I run a Morningstar Sunsaver 20amp with my two 160w panels and its a good low cost controller witih temperature compensation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017OA5DH8

Morningstar is a quality product with good support. So is Blue Sky.

Any Solar EXPERTS? charge controller | Good Sam Community

pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 25, 2016
Do you plan to expand the number of watts of solar?
time2roll
Nomad
Oct 25, 2016
I have a Tristar MPPT-60. Excellent controller and performs exactly as expected. Very flexible programming. Probably a bit much for 200 watts. There is a 30 amp version but I think you want a PWM controller.

You need to use the load control circuit if you want to use the controller to cut power before the battery becomes overly discharged. Only issue is these circuits have a limited amp rating that you need to stay inside. Could protect with a fuse or breaker but that could be a pain in the neck also.

Would an alarm work? Then you would have to cut power or charge the battery manually.
search 'voltminder' (amazon)
jharrell
Explorer
Oct 25, 2016
I will probably upgrade to a Morningstar Tristar MPPT-60, but for now I run a Morningstar Sunsaver 20amp with my two 160w panels and its a good low cost controller witih temperature compensation: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017OA5DH8
Ed_Gee
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2016
Morningstar is a quality product with good support. So is Blue Sky.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Oct 25, 2016
Lots of information here.
westend
Explorer
Oct 25, 2016
I use a Morningstar 15 amp MPPT controller. IIRC, it was around $200, bought from an Ebay vendor, NIB. It has MSview and fully adjustable setpoints for charge functions. I also bought the temp compensation dongle.

To control power to different devices, you'll need some switching. I guess that could be done with a programmable controller but more inexpensively, by manually distributing 12V power.
I have two battery banks and chose to control distribution to the three most important devices, the solar controller, the converter, and the inverter by building a distribution panel and using bus boxes, the switching done by three battery master switches. The switches allow power to be connected from either bank to the three devices.

A decent battery monitor (some have alarms) will let you know the state of charge of your batteries.
Ed_Gee
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2016
I'd like to expand on something Westend said above. Having a good battery monitor is invaluable in determining what is going in to your batteries and what is coming out. A good one is at least $100. but highly worthwhile.... whether or not you use solar. Almost all the good manufacturers of quality solar chargers also have battery monitors in their inventory... and their are a few quality units manufactured by companies that do not make solar chargers, etc.
BFL13
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2016
To clarify though, a solar controller "monitor" measures what the solar is supplying. Sometimes not all of that goes to the battery, so you also need an actual battery monitor to show what the battery is getting.

ISTR one of the solar monitors has an extra bit that measures both, forget details.
MrWizard
Moderator
Oct 26, 2016
I bought one of these last week
you might want to check it out
nice insert connectors, no trouble getting wire in there

only $45, its PWM not mppt

the thing i really really like is it has blue tooth connection to my android tablet or phone, fully programmable by remote blue tooth

you can change all the set points
charge voltage, boost time, float voltage, over voltage disconnect, equalize voltage, time, battery type

from your android device, even monitor the current charge conditions on the android display

i'm still adjusting charging profiles 'tweaking things'

Grape Solar programmable controller
pianotuna
Nomad III
Oct 26, 2016
Hi MrWizard,

Nice find!