Low cost controller review

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by budgetprepp-n, May 27, 2016.


  1. budgetprepp-n

    budgetprepp-n Monkey

    Wanted to share
    I have been using a low cost 30 amp PWM charge controller to do experimenting with a 100 watt panel.
    It seems to work really well it even has a timer that's fairly easy to use if you want to have the
    light shut off after a predetermined amount of hours. It's cheap enough to keep as an extra
    in a faraday cage. ( I got a few for bartering ) $14 with shipping from ebay
    [​IMG]

    about the 9th one down
    ohbuybuybuy | eBay
     
    enloopious, Seepalaces and AD1 like this.
  2. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    What are you learning in your experiments?
     
  3. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Features:
    30A Solar Charge Controller Street Light Regulator 12V 24V Autoswitch Panel 720w
    Overcharging protection
    Can be used for all panels
    Overdischarging protection
    Short and Open Circuit protection
    Full specification available if required
    Fail Safe and cannot be damaged by accidental wiring mistakes
    Advanced design with simple plug and play technology. No need for complicated adjustments
    Full LED status indication: State of Charge(SOC) Red-Flat Battery: Amber-Low charge: Green- good charge: Green Flashing- Full Charge
    Model number: 30I
    Rated solar input: 30A
    Rated load current:30A
    System voltage:DC 12V/24V
    Over load、short circuit protection: 1.25 rated load current 60sec 1.5 rated loads current 5 sec over load
    No load current ≤ 6mA
    Charging circuit voltage drop ≤ 0.26V
    Load circuit voltage drop ≤ 0.15V
    Over voltage protection: 17V;x2/24V
    Working temperature: Industry stage -35 ~ +55°C
    Boost voltage : 14.6V; 2/24V (keep 10min)
    Direct charge voltage: 14.4V;x2/24V(keep 10min)
    Float voltage: 13.6V ;x2/24V
    Charge return voltage: 13.2V ;x2/24V
    Temperature compensation: -5mV/°C/2V (Boost charge、Direct charge、Float charge、charge return)
    Lower voltage indicate: 12.0V ;x2/24V
    Over discharge voltage: 11.1V(no load)-real-time modified voltage by the discharge rate: x2/24V
    Over discharge return voltage:12.6V ;x2/24V
    Control mode: PWM charge mode modified discharge by the discharge rate
    Specifications:
    Original box: NO
    Color: Black
    Item size: 140*88*25mm
    Net weight: 147g
    Package weight: 163g
    Packaging content :
    1 x 30A Solar Charge Controller
     
    Seepalaces likes this.
  4. Asia-Off-Grid

    Asia-Off-Grid RIP 11-8-2018

    I bought three "Chinese made" PWM controllers to test, after I had been using American designed / made units. This included Morningstar and Midnite solar charge controllers. It didn't take much, from the time I first "felt" them in my hands, to know they were not quality made units.

    Out of three, only one is still running today, but is not reliable enough to trust with good quality batteries.

    I just don't get it. People will pay top dollar for their batteries, hundreds of bucks. But, then, they want to skimp on the very unit that plays a major roll in the life of those batteries.

    You want a reliable, quality PWM controller? Go with a Morningstar Sunlight controller. Or, go with the new Midnite Brat. Both are excellent little units and are reasonably priced. In fact, I bought my Sunlight 10L-12v used, off eBay.
     
    AD1 and Seepalaces like this.
  5. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    Morningstar controller. Or, Midnite Brat.,Agreed .... and the specs I posted above are stretching !
    I wonder why @Seepalaces jumped into solar harvesting .
    Seen the new Midnight inverter SYSTEM coming out ?
    My Cells are 15g kept up with a 12g system
    Paul your on the dime.
     
  6. Seepalaces

    Seepalaces Monkey+++

    I'm always curious about things I don't know a lot about. I guess I'm just nosy.
     
  7. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    It's great to see your interested in RE @Seepalaces
    Remember one thing with this RE thinking , NO two systems are alike unless they are beside each other . What works for Paul & his setup ,will never work for for me because different latitudes & heights with a temp factor. And you will never get the MPG of what they say your vehicle could deliver , 300watt solar panel on earth @ sea level datum is 15% less .Always include your loss factor , unlike MPG don't take in drag / headwind etc . Every conversion from sunlight to current of DC then AC are all losses of % of inefficiency ..
    See, never Nosy & always ask questions , I always had my hand UP never out!
    As with the OP , I have a few of those , Part time but for 10 bucks , I gave them a try against my North American made units . I would use them with junk 12V batterys & if they were at the end of a driveway where stealing factor is high.
    Sloth
     
    Seepalaces likes this.
  8. budgetprepp-n

    budgetprepp-n Monkey

    Your the first person that I know of that has had a problem with one of these. I know of a few of these that have been running for years without a problem. I have one that I use when ever I'm experimenting with the same one for years.
    It's been dropped, hooked up wrong, rained on and hook up to way to many watts and it still works as it should.
    This is the style converter that comes with most "solar kits" 300 watts or less.
    Even Renogy uses them and they say they have no problem with them and they give a good warranty
    I wouldn't give a good review on something unless I had tried it out myself and had good luck with it.

    Renogy 300W Watt Solar Panel Kit 3 100W 12V 24V Mono RV Boat Charge Controller

    Actually I have learned a lot mostly not to believe anything about solar unless I have tried it my self
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 29, 2016
    Seepalaces likes this.
  9. Asia-Off-Grid

    Asia-Off-Grid RIP 11-8-2018

    Well, you may trust controllers like these with hundreds, or even thousands of dollars worth of batteries. That is certainly your prerogative.

    As someone who has experienced 2 out of 3 failures, I wouldn't. If we ever encounter a true SHTF situation, I want the best quality my money can buy, running my systems.

    Either way, best wishes to you and your projects.
     
  10. Cruisin Sloth

    Cruisin Sloth Special & Slow

    I second with what AOG / Paul posted .
    Best wishes to you and your projects.

    Sloth
     
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