Help me choose a solar charge controller please

[curlycat]

My setup 300Ah battery bank (12V) Solar panels (18V) 300W
Placement of panels not ideal but good enough. Panels are vertically mounted.

Help me choose a good quality charger controller. I would like to maximize my charging time and optimize my panel supply. I am keen on MPPT, but just cant find one I like that is within my budget. Is the PWM really going to be a poorer choice for my 12V 300W system?

Please advise? Where to purchase as well would be great as well!

 

[The_Traveller]

Nothing wrong with PWM.

What prices you got quoted and for what?

 

[wetkit]

Eish man, PWM will waste loads of energy and not charge your battries fully
MPPT is the way to go.

300w/12= 25Amp This means you will need at least a 30Amp controller.
Have a look here...
http://microcare.co.za/products/mppt-charge-controllers/30a-led-mppt/

 

[The_Traveller]

Eish man, PWM will waste loads of energy and not charge your battries fully
MPPT is the way to go.

300w/12= 25Amp This means you will need at least a 30Amp controller.
Have a look here...
http://microcare.co.za/products/mppt-charge-controllers/30a-led-mppt/

Not according to many Manufacturers who offer both

But MPPT is still worth the investment

 

[The_Traveller]

Here's a short but good read ...

http://solarcraft.net/articles/comparing-pwm-and-mppt-charge-controllers/

and another one ...
http://www.ecodirect.com/Charge-Controller-Comparison-s/251.htm

 

[curlycat]

Thanks for all the input guys - very interesting read http://solarcraft.net/articles/compa...e-controllers/, thank you The Traveller. Seems like it will be better for me to go with MPPT. I have to maximize my panels, since I cannot ad more in future. I think I will go for the Microcare 30A LED MPPT.

 

[The_Traveller]

Thanks for all the input guys - very interesting read http://solarcraft.net/articles/compa...e-controllers/, thank you The Traveller. Seems like it will be better for me to go with MPPT. I have to maximize my panels, since I cannot ad more in future. I think I will go for the Microcare 30A LED MPPT.

great ! whats the price of that Microcare 30A ?

 

[curlycat]

No stock at the moment at the vendor, but looks like in the region of R2500. Seems very reasonable.

 

[The_Traveller]

No stock at the moment at the vendor, but looks like in the region of R2500. Seems very reasonable.

Im not really sure to be honest. I will soon plan my solar setup too and see what prices I get quoted. I know the Inverter I want could come with a built in controller but its a PWM controller.

How many 300w panels you going to be using ?

 

[curlycat]

I will be using 4x75W panels, total 300W. It's all I can fit in the limited space I have available.

 

[The_Traveller]

I will be using 4x75W panels, total 300W. It's all I can fit in the limited space I have available.

Didnt consider 1 x 300w panel ?cost for a mono 300w is R3300, how much did each 75w set you back?

 

[curlycat]

My cost is about a R3800 for the four panels. My installation is complicated and I cannot do one panel, I have to do 4 separate panels of the same size. I am thinking of getting a cheap PWM (till stock arrives of the MPPT) and see how it copes with the charging... the installation site is warm, even in winter, so not absolutely convinced yet that MPPT will really benefit my setup that much.

 

[The_Traveller]

My cost is about a R3800 for the four panels. My installation is complicated and I cannot do one panel, I have to do 4 separate panels of the same size. I am thinking of getting a cheap PWM (till stock arrives of the MPPT) and see how it copes with the charging... the installation site is warm, even in winter, so not absolutely convinced yet that MPPT will really benefit my setup that much.

Yeah ok.

Will a 60A controller work for you?

 

[curlycat]

Yes it would, why? Min specs needed for 300W, 12V for PWM apparently is 20A and in MPPT is approx 25A.

 

[The_Traveller]

Yes it would, why? Min specs needed for 300W, 12V for PWM apparently is 20A and in MPPT is approx 25A.

Was thinking of giving you my 60A controller to use until your MPPT arrives.

 

[curlycat]

That's awesome kind of you. Unfortunately my solar setup is on the back burner for now. We are looking at alternatives regarding placement of panels or even going with a wind turbine.