Solar 30 Charge Controller?????

[StewB]

Is anyone here familiar with setting up a Solar 30 Charge contoller?

Not knowing much about this stuff, and having directions converted from chinese, I could use some input on setting one up.

What should the "ceasing charging voltage be?

What should the "recovery voltage" be?

I would assume 'low voltage protectin point " is the lowest you want the batteries to go before the controller cuts off the load? This must only be the load from the load connections on the controller itself?

Is "ceasing charging voltage" the float setting?

I am not using the load connections, just the battery connections to keep some batteries charge up at my cabin.

Any input on setting this thing up would be appreciated.

Thanks very much

Stew

[NinerBikes]

gmelton2 wrote:
RJ,

Could you point me to a supplier other than eBay. I currently have a personal boycott of Paypal in place. Therefore, since there currently is no other way to pay on eBay, that boycott extends to eBay. I am an Amazon prime customer and would love to know of a source either on Amazon or the great www.

Thanks,

Greg

Why don't you try a search on Amazon and get back to us with what you find. You've only been here 10 years... maybe try searching for something yourself? It's not that hard.

[gmelton2]

Thanks BFL13, I will check it out. I understand what you are saying about everything ending up on the credit card. I just don't like people that limit my choice.

Thanks for the recommendation though.

Greg,

[BFL13]

gmelton2 wrote:
RJ,

Could you point me to a supplier other than eBay. I currently have a personal boycott of Paypal in place. Therefore, since there currently is no other way to pay on eBay, that boycott extends to eBay. I am an Amazon prime customer and would love to know of a source either on Amazon or the great www.

Thanks,

Greg

Not RJ, but windynation has a version of the Solar30 I like. It has a wire for its temp comp antenna instead of the usual in- place antenna, so you can remote that if you are really fussy.

Last time I looked (last Fall?) it was more expensive than the basic Solar30 on eBay ( at maybe $50 for the windynation version) Not clear now if they sell it separately from their kits.

Personally I don't care how eBay works. It all ends up on my Visa no matter what. 🙂

[gmelton2]

RJ,

Could you point me to a supplier other than eBay. I currently have a personal boycott of Paypal in place. Therefore, since there currently is no other way to pay on eBay, that boycott extends to eBay. I am an Amazon prime customer and would love to know of a source either on Amazon or the great www.

Thanks,

Greg

[BFL13]

SkiSmuggs wrote:

RJsfishin wrote:
The one above is not a solar 30. It is a really cheap bunch of plastic

Here is the real one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-30A-12V-24V-Solar-Controller-Regulator-Charge-Battery-Safe-Protection-CE...

How did you validate that?

Apparently, the real ones have round yellow buttons and a metal plate on the back while the imitation ones have oval buttons and a plastic back plate.

[SkiSmuggs]

RJsfishin wrote:
The one above is not a solar 30. It is a really cheap bunch of plastic

Here is the real one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-30A-12V-24V-Solar-Controller-Regulator-Charge-Battery-Safe-Protection-CE...

How did you validate that?

[RJsfishin]

The one above is not a solar 30. It is a really cheap bunch of plastic

Here is the real one
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-30A-12V-24V-Solar-Controller-Regulator-Charge-Battery-Safe-Protection-CE...

[Bend]

NinerBikes wrote:
Ebay Solar30

Warning - semi-hijack!

Listed on the page at above link:

60A Solar controller,Battery Panel Charger Regulator 60A,PWM,12V/24V,LCD display

Voltage of solar panel - less than or equal to 50V

That's some volts for a PWM!

[NinerBikes]

Ebay Solar30

[StewB]

SkiSmuggs wrote:
Here it is, although way over priced:
Solar30


I believe it is the same one packaged under the Renogy name for $50 and that I got off eBay for $30.

I paid $49.00 Can$ delivered for mine in January

[SkiSmuggs]

Here it is, although way over priced:
Solar30


I believe it is the same one packaged under the Renogy name for $50 and that I got off eBay for $30.

[gmelton2]

Would you guys mind giving some details on which controller this is that you are using? Are you all having good luck/experience with it?

Thanks,

Greg

[StewB]

BFL13 wrote:

StewB wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
The voltage setting is both absorption and float. It gets the batts up to that and stays there till dark. I set mine to do 14.8v when camping and when not camping 13.4 as the float.

Pick the voltage according to your battery type and brand's specs.

First set-up, let it get the batts up and see what it really settles at. Mine and Niner's overshoots so to get 14.8 I set 14.3 I like this, since the max setting is 15.0 and I can actually get 15.5 If I want.

The voltage and amps on the display are accurate though. I don't use the AH or any of the load features.

So the " ceasing charging Voltage" is both absorption and float? Then this is the only adjustable parameter I would be concerned with?

Thanks very much for the help

Yes. In fact the controller does not cease charging once the batteries reach that voltage. That is actually the "absorption voltage" which is held while amps taper as battery charging continues in the usual way. The battery acceptance rate for that voltage will determine the amps the battery will take in. There may or may not be enough sunshine to get those amps.

Thanks Again

[BFL13]

StewB wrote:

BFL13 wrote:
The voltage setting is both absorption and float. It gets the batts up to that and stays there till dark. I set mine to do 14.8v when camping and when not camping 13.4 as the float.

Pick the voltage according to your battery type and brand's specs.

First set-up, let it get the batts up and see what it really settles at. Mine and Niner's overshoots so to get 14.8 I set 14.3 I like this, since the max setting is 15.0 and I can actually get 15.5 If I want.

The voltage and amps on the display are accurate though. I don't use the AH or any of the load features.

So the " ceasing charging Voltage" is both absorption and float? Then this is the only adjustable parameter I would be concerned with?

Thanks very much for the help

Yes. In fact the controller does not cease charging once the batteries reach that voltage. That is actually the "absorption voltage" which is held while amps taper as battery charging continues in the usual way. The battery acceptance rate for that voltage will determine the amps the battery will take in. There may or may not be enough sunshine to get those amps.

[NinerBikes]

At 14.8, I am getting 15.0 to 15.1v at the battery, since it is pulse charging. It is going to depend on how far the wire run is from charge controller to the batteries, and what gauge wire you are running, as well as quality of terminals and quality/cleanliness of the connections, as you'll have V loss along the way.


I'd start at 14.8V. You should also let us know how many amps charging capacity in solar panels you have, and how many amp hours your batteries have.