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

TPS 1230

30 being the AMPs

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?

Blue wrote:

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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

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 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..

Jaahn wrote:

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Blue wrote:

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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

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 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

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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 wrote:

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Hey, it's been ages since i've seen a MPPT V PWM argument... time to get some popcorn in.........

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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.

Paul, I believe it is PWM.

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.

Plendo wrote:

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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. 

Now that I have stuffed up with the identification of components, what would my Prostar be?

Aussie Paul. 

aussie_paul wrote:

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Now that I have stuffed up with the identification of components, what would my Prostar be?

Aussie Paul. 

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Paul

It is a PWM but a very good quality.

Take a look here

http://www.morningstarcorp.com/products/prostar/

Cheers

Jeff