Smokin Cheap China Controller ?

[RJsfishin]

I had my solar just a perkalaatin today, all 290 watts worth.
2 panels on the roof now, a few degrees off the sun, and my 90 watt portable directly on the sun. I was watching the amps go up all morning, when the sun was perdy much overhead, digital ampmeter up to 14.7, I checked my $10 cheap China 15 amp controller, and it was warming up fast, maybe too much I thought, so I unplugged my portable, and let it coast at around 9 amps.
I have had such good luck w/ all the cheap China stuff,....not even 1 failure out of 10-12 items. So I ordered a new 20 amp controller, exactly the same brand as this 15 amp. Trouble is, it on a slooooooow boat from China. And for some unknown reason, this 20 amp was only 8 bucks, incl free shipping. This cheap stuff just seems to get better and cheaper all at the same time ! 🙂
This is the controller that coming,.....I don't know why I din't by a couple more
.http://www.ebay.com/itm/301218792237?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[NinerBikes]

For a basic foldable portable solar panel system, this controller works great. It will get you to 14.4 to 14.6 volts, but I'd recommend a lot heavier wire gauge than the cheap 14 or 16 gauge zipcord wire, connectors and clamp ons that come with the panel kit. 12 gauge minimum, short a run as possible from controller to battery, maybe mount the controller near the battery instead, and run the long cord section from the panel to the controller, to minimize voltage and amp lossages. Most important, since you can't adjust the voltage on this controller. 14.4 v at bulk charge rate, minimum. 14.8 would be best, at the battery ring terminals, where it really matters the most, for the purists. 14.4 should get you 90% charged up, within reason.

[RJsfishin]

If it works, I don't usually fix it. And a couple times I did, it ended up "really" needing fixing. 🙂

I have noticed some inconsistencies,...that I have blamed on to ambient temp change, and/or power being consumed while batts are nearing full charge.

What amazes me,....between my PD conv, and this cheap solar system, I have not added any water to my 2 12'ers in over 1 yr. They (china?) have this electronic stuff figured out !!

[bdosborn]

I wouldn't. I seem to be the exception rather than the rule as far as reliability goes. You'll know if it goes bad, the LEDs will start blinking randomly and you can deal with it then.

Bruce

[steveh27]

MauroFors wrote:

bdosborn wrote:
Aaaggghhh! It's back! That's the controller that came with my portable solar panel. It lasted for exactly one use:



Good luck! 😉

Bruce

Yes it the controller which used to come with panel.. Image is not working please check the issue..

This is the controller on my 120 watt portable. Should I replace it even though it seems to work fine except it may go into float too soon?

[MauroFors]

bdosborn wrote:
Aaaggghhh! It's back! That's the controller that came with my portable solar panel. It lasted for exactly one use:



Good luck! 😉

Bruce

Yes it the controller which used to come with panel.. Image is not working please check the issue..

[RJsfishin]

If you want what ssems like a very quality built 100 watt panel, check out the Renogy 100 watt on ebay. I was really impressed w/ mine.

mlts22 wrote:
I just bought what the OP purchased. Now to find an el cheapo panel, then cobble up a frame from some 2x4s, and I now have at least an entry level solar charging apparatus for keeping the batteries topped off when my rig is stored.

[mlts22]

I just bought what the OP purchased. Now to find an el cheapo panel, then cobble up a frame from some 2x4s, and I now have at least an entry level solar charging apparatus for keeping the batteries topped off when my rig is stored.

[NinerBikes]

I guess the best way to explain it is that I want the Panel and the power cord to the charge controller to be portable and with quick disconnect feature. I want the adjustable voltage Charge Controller and the last leg of the wiring from charge controller to battery to be more like a permanent fixture, mounted on or within the travel trailer, and not portable.

I understand everyone's situation is unique and variable. Some want true plug and play convenience, a few, like me, want to get to 100% state of charge, or as close as possible, on a daily basis. Adding distilled water to a battery hanging on the tongue of a 21 foot travel trailer is easy, at least for me, so a little bit of bubbly on sunny days is fine with me. I prefer that close to 100% charge. I like my tanks close to 100% full when ever I fill them up.

[Gulfcoast]

Thanks for the info RJs, I bought the last controller that you recommended and it's still working like new. Keep the info coming...

[RJsfishin]

I know the portable controllers being so far from the batteries is against standard principles, but the 2 portables that I helped play w/ were doing a perdy good job when I checked amperage output at the batteries. But I know this guy never did see over 13.5 volts any where. He has since throwed 2 120w panels on the roof, kept 1 portable for when in the trees.

[NinerBikes]

The 10 amp unit on my portable 120W solar still works fine. I just wanted something where the wires to the battery are shorter, to minimize the voltage and amperage drop from controller to battery, where I want the wiring short and heavy/fat,and also due to running a high antimony battery, a Trojan T-1275 sweeper battery, something with adjustable voltage that I can set to 15.0V.

[RJsfishin]

I believe you posted this before. You right, these controllers were on 95% of all the portables made. Yours is the first failure I have heard about. So considering all that have been sold, I'd guess the failure rate to be very low.
Mine has been working great for over a year now. I hope the 20 amp to be near as good.
But one thing is for certain, even if I has a couple failures, I'm still way ahead on money,....at 8 bucks 🙂

[bdosborn]

Aaaggghhh! It's back! That's the controller that came with my portable solar panel. It lasted for exactly one use:



Good luck! 😉

Bruce

[RJsfishin]

All voltages would depend on the state of charge of the battery.
I don't have the new 20 amp controller yet. That's why I unplugged my portable panel when I saw 14+ amps.
A couple days ago it was sitting at 14.6 volts just after noon, then dropped into float at 13.4.
For 10 bucks, I doubt I'm getting any temp compensation, nor would I expect any, nor do I need any. I'm too old to be getting into the real technical part of it all. I just want it to work, and work right. And however its working, its right enuff for me.