I will be fitting two 150 watt panels to our jayco discovery to operate and charge 2x 100 amp/hr agm batteries. As I guess that 90 % of regs are made in China and are for sale on Ebay from $20.00 to $200.00. Has any one purchased and used any of these, I would appreciate any feed back.
Blue said
09:27 AM Aug 30, 2014
I have one 120 watt panel that I purchased off ebay charging 2 x 100 ah GEL batteries
works like a rippa...
I also have 10 x 100 Watt flexible panels coming in from china over the next few weeks.. i'll be selling these for around $275
foxie said
11:23 AM Aug 30, 2014
Hi Blue,
What is the brand of regulator you have on the panel.
exa41 said
06:28 PM Aug 30, 2014
Yep , bought my panels 2 x 180 watt plus a 30A MPPT controller , all of fleebay , no problems yet.
Sharke said
07:18 PM Aug 30, 2014
I purchased a 200 watt solar panel and a $30.00 regulater from ebay. I am still using the panel but had to replace t he regulator. with a Manson SBC7130 which was also purchased from ebay for around $100.00.Still going well after 2 years use.
Cheers
Jeff
jetj said
10:04 PM Aug 30, 2014
I have the Manson SBC7130 from ebay as well.
Blue said
12:40 PM Aug 31, 2014
TPS 1230
30 being the AMPs
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 12:41:34 PM
oldbobsbus said
03:21 PM Aug 31, 2014
This is the Regulator/Controler I put on all of the motorhomes we build and we have never had an ounce of trouble with them.....
Blue said
05:13 PM Aug 31, 2014
ok, just reading a bit on different types of Solar Controllers and how they work...
Your standard PWM controllers lose efficiency of your panel... even if your batteries are at full charge you can lose down to 15 to 20% of the panels rated Wattage.. if your batteries are down on voltage you could lose 40 to 50% of the panels output turning your 120 watt panel into a 60 watt panel
if you use an MPPT controller it'll give you 95 to 98% efficiency of your panel due to the internal workings...
its hard to explain but if you look it up you'll see what I mean...
look up PWM vs MPPT solar controllers..
..................
here's how it sorta works with the PWM controllers..
say your panel if rated at say 100 watts right?
it may have an out put of 18 volts 5.55 amps
18 x 5.55 = 100 watts
but with a PWM controller you don't get the 18 volts into the equation... it runs off battery voltage..
so say your battery voltage is at 13 volts right?
13 x 5.55 = 72.15 watts
so that's nearly a 30% reduction of the output of your solar panel..
the MPPT controllers don't do this.. they use different calculations with current to maintain the panels output efficiency...
but make sure you look at the wattage input on these controllers as they don't take as much as the PWM...
say a 30 amp MPPT controller will only have a maximum input of 380 watts when the PWM 30 amp controller will have a maximum input over 560 watts
.......................
thoughts?
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 05:16:47 PM
Sharke said
05:39 PM Aug 31, 2014
Yes 30 is the amps is the maximum capacity of the controller. with a 200 watt panel the maximum amps input i have sen on the controller meter is 13 amps
cheers
Jeff
-- Edited by Sharke on Sunday 31st of August 2014 05:45:27 PM
oldbobsbus said
08:11 PM Aug 31, 2014
Blue wrote:
ok, just reading a bit on different types of Solar Controllers and how they work...
Your standard PWM controllers lose efficiency of your panel... even if your batteries are at full charge you can lose down to 15 to 20% of the panels rated Wattage.. if your batteries are down on voltage you could lose 40 to 50% of the panels output turning your 120 watt panel into a 60 watt panel
if you use an MPPT controller it'll give you 95 to 98% efficiency of your panel due to the internal workings...
its hard to explain but if you look it up you'll see what I mean...
look up PWM vs MPPT solar controllers..
..................
here's how it sorta works with the PWM controllers..
say your panel if rated at say 100 watts right?
it may have an out put of 18 volts 5.55 amps
18 x 5.55 = 100 watts
but with a PWM controller you don't get the 18 volts into the equation... it runs off battery voltage..
so say your battery voltage is at 13 volts right?
13 x 5.55 = 72.15 watts
so that's nearly a 30% reduction of the output of your solar panel..
the MPPT controllers don't do this.. they use different calculations with current to maintain the panels output efficiency...
but make sure you look at the wattage input on these controllers as they don't take as much as the PWM...
say a 30 amp MPPT controller will only have a maximum input of 380 watts when the PWM 30 amp controller will have a maximum input over 560 watts
.......................
thoughts?
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 05:16:47 PM
It is my thoughts that if you are expecting to Max out on input to get max from your batteries then your systen is too small..
Now in my humble opinion SnowT has gone overboard in setting up his system, it is far more than the average person would need but thats his choice and he will always have power when he needs it..
On the other hand someone that has a 100w panel and a 100ah battery and is using a 10amp controller to run a fridge is gunna be a bit disappointed from time to time..
Lots of thought and research is required to find a setup that will do your job easily without either under powering or going overboard..
Blue said
08:55 PM Aug 31, 2014
you miss understand old bob...
each solar panel is rated to a specific wattage but the PWM regulators don't allow to get the proper rating of the panel.. as I've explained..
now the trouble with vans and other small vehicles, like perhaps, a boat, is that they don't have a lot of room for solar panels...
also on cloudy days... you want your full 100 watt panel operating for instance but because your batteries are down on voltage, its only operating like a 60 watt panel..
so if you find that you are a little down on charging input you could simply buy an MPPT regulator rather than buying a bigger or an extra solar panel that may be hard to fit on your van...
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 08:56:49 PM
foxie said
09:14 AM Sep 1, 2014
Thanks one and all for your input and explanations I have ordered a SBC7130 from Bairnsdale Electrics for $105.00
Now all I have to do is fit stuff.
Regards Foxie.
Jaahn said
09:39 AM Sep 1, 2014
Blue wrote:
you miss understand old bob... each solar panel is rated to a specific wattage but the PWM regulators don't allow to get the proper rating of the panel.. as I've explained.. now the trouble with vans and other small vehicles, like perhaps, a boat, is that they don't have a lot of room for solar panels... also on cloudy days... you want your full 100 watt panel operating for instance but because your batteries are down on voltage, its only operating like a 60 watt panel.. so if you find that you are a little down on charging input you could simply buy an MPPT regulator rather than buying a bigger or an extra solar panel that may be hard to fit on your van...I have purchased one to fit and test
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 08:56:49 PM
Hi Blue,
What you have explained is correct. The MPPT regulators will get that extra 10-30% extra power out of the panel to the batteries. Particularly when the batteries are down. It is a recognised technology now. However the very cheap ones offered may not actually achieve much extra. Better to aim for a better quality item as in most things. Or buy from a known retailer you trust.
Jaahn
Blue said
06:19 PM Sep 1, 2014
Jaahn wrote:
Blue wrote:
you miss understand old bob... each solar panel is rated to a specific wattage but the PWM regulators don't allow to get the proper rating of the panel.. as I've explained.. now the trouble with vans and other small vehicles, like perhaps, a boat, is that they don't have a lot of room for solar panels... also on cloudy days... you want your full 100 watt panel operating for instance but because your batteries are down on voltage, its only operating like a 60 watt panel.. so if you find that you are a little down on charging input you could simply buy an MPPT regulator rather than buying a bigger or an extra solar panel that may be hard to fit on your van...I have purchased one to fit and test
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 08:56:49 PM
Hi Blue,
What you have explained is correct. The MPPT regulators will get that extra 10-30% extra power out of the panel to the batteries. Particularly when the batteries are down. It is a recognised technology now. However the very cheap ones offered may not actually achieve much extra. Better to aim for a better quality item as in most things. Or buy from a known retailer you trust.
Jaahn
finally, someone understands me... lol
now that we have lived on solar power only with our van I am now thinking of running a small "off grid" system at our home.. we already have a 3kw system that feeds power back into the grid but an offgrid system would allow more to go back into the grid of which we get paid for..
03_troopy said
06:51 PM Sep 1, 2014
Hey, it's been ages since i've seen a MPPT V PWM argument... time to get some popcorn in.........
Blue said
07:35 PM Sep 1, 2014
03_troopy wrote:
Hey, it's been ages since i've seen a MPPT V PWM argument... time to get some popcorn in.........
these is no argument.. I don't think...
its a discussion on how the two regulators work...
one gets the best use out of the Solar Panels by design... which is very handy if limited space for solar panels or if you are on cloudier conditions..
03_troopy said
09:51 PM Sep 1, 2014
it always starts as a discussion....
Plendo said
03:28 PM Sep 2, 2014
I am with you Troopy, I will sit on the side lines with the popcorn.
Last time I was in the middle, and the scars are still healing.
BTW, I am an MPPT user, and would not have it any other way.
aussie_paul said
03:36 PM Sep 2, 2014
So, what is my Setec ST Series POWER SUPPLY ?
Aussie Paul.
Plendo said
03:50 PM Sep 2, 2014
Paul, I believe it is PWM.
aussie_paul said
03:53 PM Sep 2, 2014
Plendo wrote:
Paul, I believe it is PWM.
Ok David, thanks. I looked at my Prostar/ not Setec regulator today and it was showing 5 amps input to batteries. I removed 240V from van and it went back to .8 amp??
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 05:23:21 PM
Plendo said
04:29 PM Sep 2, 2014
That would indicate that it is charging from multiple sources, thus a combined charger.
Hopefully it is a smart multi stage charger designed to opttimise the operational life of your battery.
aussie_paul said
05:17 PM Sep 2, 2014
Ok, went out again for a look, now overcast. The solar amps were showing 2.4 so plugged in the 240V and now no solar amps. I guess that means the 240 charger is taking batteries to a higher voltage than what the solar regulator is set to?
Aussie Paul.
aussie_paul said
05:22 PM Sep 2, 2014
Plendo wrote:
That would indicate that it is charging from multiple sources, thus a combined charger.
Hopefully it is a smart multi stage charger designed to opttimise the operational life of your battery.
The Prostar regulator says "solar amps" BUT could it be showing the 240 v Setec charge input as well? Ooops I said I looked at the Setec charger, it was the Prostar.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 05:24:01 PM
Blue said
06:28 PM Sep 2, 2014
Plendo wrote:
I am with you Troopy, I will sit on the side lines with the popcorn.
Last time I was in the middle, and the scars are still healing.
BTW, I am an MPPT user, and would not have it any other way.
don't be a sulk...
there is no need for the argument..
its just simple fact on how the two regulators work with the solar panel..
its not rocket surgery..
I was reading that most people are put off the MPPT has been due to the pricing.. they have come down a lot since then...
but if space and cloudy conditions are getting in the way of fully charging your batteries, or charging them better then you'd go for the MPPT regulators as they take full advantage of the wattage of your panels...
when I was running on one battery over a few days I'd be down into the 11 volts with my 90 watt panel...
say ll.5 volts... amps in full sun around 5 amps.. so the maximum I'd get out of my solar panel would be 57.5 watts
that's a loss of 35%
that would not happen with a MPPT regulator...
but picture this... its still cloudy and im only getting around 2 amps... that puts my solar panel down to 23 watts...
if you understand the regs and the way that they work, do the sums... and you'll always get the MPPT regulators...
I will anyways.. I don't like waste ...
aussie_paul said
07:12 PM Sep 2, 2014
Now that I have stuffed up with the identification of components, what would my Prostar be?
I will be fitting two 150 watt panels to our jayco discovery to operate and charge 2x 100 amp/hr agm batteries. As I guess that 90 % of regs are made in China and are for sale on Ebay from $20.00 to $200.00. Has any one purchased and used any of these, I would appreciate any feed back.
works like a rippa...
I also have 10 x 100 Watt flexible panels coming in from china over the next few weeks.. i'll be selling these for around $275
What is the brand of regulator you have on the panel.
I purchased a 200 watt solar panel and a $30.00 regulater from ebay. I am still using the panel but had to replace t he regulator. with a Manson SBC7130 which was also purchased from ebay for around $100.00.Still going well after 2 years use.
Cheers
Jeff
I have the Manson SBC7130 from ebay as well.
TPS 1230
30 being the AMPs
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 12:41:34 PM
This is the Regulator/Controler I put on all of the motorhomes we build and we have never had an ounce of trouble with them.....
ok, just reading a bit on different types of Solar Controllers and how they work...
Your standard PWM controllers lose efficiency of your panel... even if your batteries are at full charge you can lose down to 15 to 20% of the panels rated Wattage.. if your batteries are down on voltage you could lose 40 to 50% of the panels output turning your 120 watt panel into a 60 watt panel
if you use an MPPT controller it'll give you 95 to 98% efficiency of your panel due to the internal workings...
its hard to explain but if you look it up you'll see what I mean...
look up PWM vs MPPT solar controllers..
..................
here's how it sorta works with the PWM controllers..
say your panel if rated at say 100 watts right?
it may have an out put of 18 volts 5.55 amps
18 x 5.55 = 100 watts
but with a PWM controller you don't get the 18 volts into the equation... it runs off battery voltage..
so say your battery voltage is at 13 volts right?
13 x 5.55 = 72.15 watts
so that's nearly a 30% reduction of the output of your solar panel..
the MPPT controllers don't do this.. they use different calculations with current to maintain the panels output efficiency...
but make sure you look at the wattage input on these controllers as they don't take as much as the PWM...
say a 30 amp MPPT controller will only have a maximum input of 380 watts when the PWM 30 amp controller will have a maximum input over 560 watts
.......................
thoughts?
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 05:16:47 PM
Yes 30 is the amps is the maximum capacity of the controller. with a 200 watt panel the maximum amps input i have sen on the controller meter is 13 amps
cheers
Jeff
-- Edited by Sharke on Sunday 31st of August 2014 05:45:27 PM
It is my thoughts that if you are expecting to Max out on input to get max from your batteries then your systen is too small..
Now in my humble opinion SnowT has gone overboard in setting up his system, it is far more than the average person would need but thats his choice and he will always have power when he needs it..
On the other hand someone that has a 100w panel and a 100ah battery and is using a 10amp controller to run a fridge is gunna be a bit disappointed from time to time..
Lots of thought and research is required to find a setup that will do your job easily without either under powering or going overboard..
you miss understand old bob...
each solar panel is rated to a specific wattage but the PWM regulators don't allow to get the proper rating of the panel.. as I've explained..
now the trouble with vans and other small vehicles, like perhaps, a boat, is that they don't have a lot of room for solar panels...
also on cloudy days... you want your full 100 watt panel operating for instance but because your batteries are down on voltage, its only operating like a 60 watt panel..
so if you find that you are a little down on charging input you could simply buy an MPPT regulator rather than buying a bigger or an extra solar panel that may be hard to fit on your van...
I have purchased one to fit and test
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/30A-MPPT-Solar-Panel-Regulator-Charger-Controller-12V-24V-With-LCD-USB-For-Light-/251432391397?pt=AU_Solar&hash=item3a8a89d2e5
-- Edited by Blue on Sunday 31st of August 2014 08:56:49 PM
Now all I have to do is fit stuff.
Regards Foxie.
Hi Blue,
What you have explained is correct. The MPPT regulators will get that extra 10-30% extra power out of the panel to the batteries. Particularly when the batteries are down. It is a recognised technology now. However the very cheap ones offered may not actually achieve much extra. Better to aim for a better quality item as in most things. Or buy from a known retailer you trust.
Jaahn
finally, someone understands me... lol
now that we have lived on solar power only with our van I am now thinking of running a small "off grid" system at our home.. we already have a 3kw system that feeds power back into the grid but an offgrid system would allow more to go back into the grid of which we get paid for..
these is no argument.. I don't think...
its a discussion on how the two regulators work...
one gets the best use out of the Solar Panels by design... which is very handy if limited space for solar panels or if you are on cloudier conditions..
I am with you Troopy, I will sit on the side lines with the popcorn.
Last time I was in the middle, and the scars are still healing.
BTW, I am an MPPT user, and would not have it any other way.
So, what is my Setec ST Series POWER SUPPLY ?
Aussie Paul.
Paul, I believe it is PWM.
Ok David, thanks. I looked at my Prostar/ not Setec regulator today and it was showing 5 amps input to batteries. I removed 240V from van and it went back to .8 amp??
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 05:23:21 PM
That would indicate that it is charging from multiple sources, thus a combined charger.
Hopefully it is a smart multi stage charger designed to opttimise the operational life of your battery.
Ok, went out again for a look, now overcast. The solar amps were showing 2.4 so plugged in the 240V and now no solar amps. I guess that means the 240 charger is taking batteries to a higher voltage than what the solar regulator is set to?
Aussie Paul.
The Prostar regulator says "solar amps" BUT could it be showing the 240 v Setec charge input as well? Ooops I said I looked at the Setec charger, it was the Prostar.
Aussie Paul.
-- Edited by aussie_paul on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 05:24:01 PM
don't be a sulk...
there is no need for the argument..
its just simple fact on how the two regulators work with the solar panel..
its not rocket surgery..
I was reading that most people are put off the MPPT has been due to the pricing.. they have come down a lot since then...
but if space and cloudy conditions are getting in the way of fully charging your batteries, or charging them better then you'd go for the MPPT regulators as they take full advantage of the wattage of your panels...
when I was running on one battery over a few days I'd be down into the 11 volts with my 90 watt panel...
say ll.5 volts... amps in full sun around 5 amps.. so the maximum I'd get out of my solar panel would be 57.5 watts
that's a loss of 35%
that would not happen with a MPPT regulator...
but picture this... its still cloudy and im only getting around 2 amps... that puts my solar panel down to 23 watts...
if you understand the regs and the way that they work, do the sums... and you'll always get the MPPT regulators...
I will anyways.. I don't like waste ...
Now that I have stuffed up with the identification of components, what would my Prostar be?
Aussie Paul.
Paul
Take a look here
http://www.setec.com.au/jayco-customers/
Cheers
Jeff
Paul
It is a PWM but a very good quality.
Take a look here
http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/prostar/
Cheers
Jeff
-- Edited by Sharke on Tuesday 2nd of September 2014 07:37:04 PM
Thanks Jeff.
Aussie Paul.