Posted by Jim Wilkins on November 29, 2018, 6:26 pm
https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Regulator-Flooded-Lithium-Battery/dp/B07G36DQ75/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
Posted by ads on December 7, 2018, 6:39 am
On Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:26:04 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
>https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Regulator-Flooded-Lithium-Battery/dp/B07G36DQ75/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
>
Never heard of the brand. On the other hand, I'd never heard of
EPSolar / EPEver nuntil a couple of years ago. I have two of their 30
Amp MPPT controllers and one 40 Amp. Also a 20 Amp PWM controller
(for some shed lighting).
The free software (win 7 and up) can configure the various voltages
for sealed, flooded, or gel lead acid batteries, as well as lithium
and you can configure the specific voltages (charge, float,
disconnect, etc) and times (boost, equalize - not used on lithium) to
match any type of battery bank.
My solar generator design uses some tightly spec'ed AGM batteries and
I was able to set the three Tracer MPPT controllers to match the
batteries' voltage requirements. It's all been in place for about 9
months and the only attention it gets is a daily status check.
The EPEver MPPT controllers are more expensive than the one you
specified (example 30A)
https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Charging-Backlight-Negative-Regulator/dp/B01HGTT47C/ref=sr_1_11?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid 44163755&sr=1-11&keywords=epever+mppt+charge+controller
but I do have some experience with the EPEver / EPSolar line of
controllers and I've found them functional and reliable. They don't
handle the MPPT scans as quickly as the OutBack or similar but they do
the basic job for 1/3 the cost. The Tracer XX10 controllers are rated
for a maximum of 100 volts of solar input. The XX15 controllers cost
a little more but are rated for a maximum of 150 volts of solar input.
Go look at the Tracer lineup of MPPT controllers and download some
manuals: http://www.epsolarpv.com/productlist_1.html
Posted by Jim Wilkins on December 7, 2018, 12:24 pm
<ads> wrote in message
> On Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:26:04 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
>
>>https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Regulator-Flooded-Lithium-Battery/dp/B07G36DQ75/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
>>
>
> Never heard of the brand. On the other hand, I'd never heard of
> EPSolar / EPEver nuntil a couple of years ago. I have two of their
> 30
> Amp MPPT controllers and one 40 Amp. Also a 20 Amp PWM controller
> (for some shed lighting).
>
> The free software (win 7 and up) can configure the various voltages
> for sealed, flooded, or gel lead acid batteries, as well as lithium
> and you can configure the specific voltages (charge, float,
> disconnect, etc) and times (boost, equalize - not used on lithium)
> to
> match any type of battery bank.
>
> My solar generator design uses some tightly spec'ed AGM batteries
> and
> I was able to set the three Tracer MPPT controllers to match the
> batteries' voltage requirements. It's all been in place for about 9
> months and the only attention it gets is a daily status check.
>
> The EPEver MPPT controllers are more expensive than the one you
> specified (example 30A)
> https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Charging-Backlight-Negative-Regulator/dp/B01HGTT47C/ref=sr_1_11?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid 44163755&sr=1-11&keywords=epever+mppt+charge+controller
> but I do have some experience with the EPEver / EPSolar line of
> controllers and I've found them functional and reliable. They don't
> handle the MPPT scans as quickly as the OutBack or similar but they
> do
> the basic job for 1/3 the cost. The Tracer XX10 controllers are
> rated
> for a maximum of 100 volts of solar input. The XX15 controllers
> cost
> a little more but are rated for a maximum of 150 volts of solar
> input.
>
> Go look at the Tracer lineup of MPPT controllers and download some
> manuals: http://www.epsolarpv.com/productlist_1.html
>
I was looking at the EP Tracers on Amazon when I noticed this one,
which appears to be a better deal and has a more informative display
including panel and battery voltage, charging current and daily graphs
of current and power received. Hopefully that indicates careful design
intended for an advanced user.
I bought one and confirmed its voltage regulating and current
transforming functionality yesterday. The voltage and current readings
aren't as accurate as their 2 decimal resolution suggests but
otherwise it seems OK. This morning I'm drawing down a 24V 200Ah
battery bank to give it a better MPP tracking test after sunrise.
After I bought it the Amazon price jumped from $8 to $8.
-jsw
Posted by Jim Wilkins on December 7, 2018, 1:43 pm
> <ads> wrote in message
>> On Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:26:04 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
>>
>>>https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Regulator-Flooded-Lithium-Battery/dp/B07G36DQ75/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
>>>
>>
>> Never heard of the brand. On the other hand, I'd never heard of
>> EPSolar / EPEver nuntil a couple of years ago. I have two of their
>> 30
>> Amp MPPT controllers and one 40 Amp. Also a 20 Amp PWM controller
>> (for some shed lighting).
>>
>> The free software (win 7 and up) can configure the various voltages
>> for sealed, flooded, or gel lead acid batteries, as well as lithium
>> and you can configure the specific voltages (charge, float,
>> disconnect, etc) and times (boost, equalize - not used on lithium)
>> to
>> match any type of battery bank.
>>
>> My solar generator design uses some tightly spec'ed AGM batteries
>> and
>> I was able to set the three Tracer MPPT controllers to match the
>> batteries' voltage requirements. It's all been in place for about
>> 9
>> months and the only attention it gets is a daily status check.
>>
>> The EPEver MPPT controllers are more expensive than the one you
>> specified (example 30A)
>> https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Charging-Backlight-Negative-Regulator/dp/B01HGTT47C/ref=sr_1_11?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid 44163755&sr=1-11&keywords=epever+mppt+charge+controller
>> but I do have some experience with the EPEver / EPSolar line of
>> controllers and I've found them functional and reliable. They
>> don't
>> handle the MPPT scans as quickly as the OutBack or similar but they
>> do
>> the basic job for 1/3 the cost. The Tracer XX10 controllers are
>> rated
>> for a maximum of 100 volts of solar input. The XX15 controllers
>> cost
>> a little more but are rated for a maximum of 150 volts of solar
>> input.
>>
>> Go look at the Tracer lineup of MPPT controllers and download some
>> manuals: http://www.epsolarpv.com/productlist_1.html
>>
>
> I was looking at the EP Tracers on Amazon when I noticed this one,
> which appears to be a better deal and has a more informative display
> including panel and battery voltage, charging current and daily
> graphs of current and power received. Hopefully that indicates
> careful design intended for an advanced user.
>
> I bought one and confirmed its voltage regulating and current
> transforming functionality yesterday. The voltage and current
> readings aren't as accurate as their 2 decimal resolution suggests
> but otherwise it seems OK. This morning I'm drawing down a 24V 200Ah
> battery bank to give it a better MPP tracking test after sunrise.
>
> After I bought it the Amazon price jumped from $8 to $8.
>
> -jsw
The MPPT function works, a UT210E DC clamp-on reads 3.3A from 2 series
panels, 4.5A to the 24V battery. The analog voltmeter on the panels
shows a sawtooth between 36V and 40V at about 1HZ. For rough
comparison (haze + thin scattered clouds) my PWM controller delivers
3.1A. Also the MPPT switching jams my antenna TV reception.
The better test will be how it performs with a more deeply discharged
battery bank and all of my panels. That will have to wait for a
forecast of a clear sky.
-jsw
Posted by Jim Wilkins on December 7, 2018, 4:01 pm
>> <ads> wrote in message
>>> On Thu, 29 Nov 2018 13:26:04 -0500, "Jim Wilkins"
>>>
>>>>https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Regulator-Flooded-Lithium-Battery/dp/B07G36DQ75/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8
>>>>
>>>
>>> Never heard of the brand. On the other hand, I'd never heard of
>>> EPSolar / EPEver nuntil a couple of years ago. I have two of
>>> their 30
>>> Amp MPPT controllers and one 40 Amp. Also a 20 Amp PWM controller
>>> (for some shed lighting).
>>>
>>> The free software (win 7 and up) can configure the various
>>> voltages
>>> for sealed, flooded, or gel lead acid batteries, as well as
>>> lithium
>>> and you can configure the specific voltages (charge, float,
>>> disconnect, etc) and times (boost, equalize - not used on lithium)
>>> to
>>> match any type of battery bank.
>>>
>>> My solar generator design uses some tightly spec'ed AGM batteries
>>> and
>>> I was able to set the three Tracer MPPT controllers to match the
>>> batteries' voltage requirements. It's all been in place for about
>>> 9
>>> months and the only attention it gets is a daily status check.
>>>
>>> The EPEver MPPT controllers are more expensive than the one you
>>> specified (example 30A)
>>> https://www.amazon.com/Controller-Charging-Backlight-Negative-Regulator/dp/B01HGTT47C/ref=sr_1_11?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid 44163755&sr=1-11&keywords=epever+mppt+charge+controller
>>> but I do have some experience with the EPEver / EPSolar line of
>>> controllers and I've found them functional and reliable. They
>>> don't
>>> handle the MPPT scans as quickly as the OutBack or similar but
>>> they do
>>> the basic job for 1/3 the cost. The Tracer XX10 controllers are
>>> rated
>>> for a maximum of 100 volts of solar input. The XX15 controllers
>>> cost
>>> a little more but are rated for a maximum of 150 volts of solar
>>> input.
>>>
>>> Go look at the Tracer lineup of MPPT controllers and download some
>>> manuals: http://www.epsolarpv.com/productlist_1.html
>>>
>>
>> I was looking at the EP Tracers on Amazon when I noticed this one,
>> which appears to be a better deal and has a more informative
>> display including panel and battery voltage, charging current and
>> daily graphs of current and power received. Hopefully that
>> indicates careful design intended for an advanced user.
>>
>> I bought one and confirmed its voltage regulating and current
>> transforming functionality yesterday. The voltage and current
>> readings aren't as accurate as their 2 decimal resolution suggests
>> but otherwise it seems OK. This morning I'm drawing down a 24V
>> 200Ah battery bank to give it a better MPP tracking test after
>> sunrise.
>>
>> After I bought it the Amazon price jumped from $8 to $8.
>>
>> -jsw
>
> The MPPT function works, a UT210E DC clamp-on reads 3.3A from 2
> series panels, 4.5A to the 24V battery. The analog voltmeter on the
> panels shows a sawtooth between 36V and 40V at about 1HZ. For rough
> comparison (haze + thin scattered clouds) my PWM controller delivers
> 3.1A. Also the MPPT switching jams my antenna TV reception.
>
> The better test will be how it performs with a more deeply
> discharged battery bank and all of my panels. That will have to wait
> for a forecast of a clear sky.
>
> -jsw
The panel voltage hovers fairly steadily around 35V in full sun and
oscillates during clouds, as it seeks the maximum. It rose to 40V when
the batteries reached their float voltage.
Between the clouds, with a 2s2p array of 36 cell 100W panels, the
MPPT gives 12A to 12.5A out for 10A in, at the cost of nearly $ per
Watt. The panels cost me $/Watt, but I should replace my wiring to
decrease the resistive voltage drop before adding more.
I think I can justify my 500W solar system as an emergency backup in
this region which suffers from hurricanes and ice storms, but not as
an economical substitute for grid power. If the batteries are really
good for 500 full cycles (or 1000 half, etc) they cost more than the
same KWH from the grid, at $.18/KWH.
-jsw
>