Charge controller recommendation..

Posted by Micah Shields on June 17, 2008, 01:59:00 PM

Charge controller recommendation..
I am putting together a small PV/Wind Gen system for a 250 square foot remote cabin. I have calculated my usage and found the Morningstar 300w inverter to be the best fit. I have also decided due to placement issues/ cabin size to go with sealed deep cycle batteries. Care to recommend an economical charge controller? Looking for best bang for the buck- much of the larger controllers have a lot of features that I really don't need. I am just looking to maximize the battery bank I have and BC they are sealed don't want something so cheap that it will melt them down. :-) Thanks,

Micah
 

Posted by James Cormican on June 17, 2008, 03:10:01 PM

Re: Charge controller recommendation.. (Reply #1)
what array?

james
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Posted by Micah Shields on June 18, 2008, 12:55:19 AM

Re: Charge controller recommendation.. (Reply #2)
2 80w Sharp panels right now, but adding on. Cannot reasonably see going above 500 total watts.
 

Posted by James Cormican on June 18, 2008, 10:48:22 AM

Re: Charge controller recommendation.. (Reply #3)
for up to 4 sharp 80, here are some controllers i like.

http://store.altenergystore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/Morningstar-Charge-Controllers-Pwm/Morningstar-Prostar-Ps-30M-30A-1224V-Charge-Cntrlr/p790/

http://store.altenergystore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/MPPT-Solar-Charge-Controllers/Blue-Sky-Solar-Charge-Controllers-MPPT/Blue-Sky-Solar-Boost-2512i-25A12V-3-Stage-Charg/p4618/

for up to 6 sharp 80, these would work

http://store.altenergystore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/Morningstar-Charge-Controllers-Pwm/Morningstar-Tristar-45-45A-Chg-Ctlr-Without-Display/p806/

http://store.altenergystore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/Xantrex-Solar-Charge-Controllers-Pwm/Xantrex-C40-40A12-48V-Charge-Controller/p2070/

http://store.altenergystore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/Phocos-Solar-Charge-Controllers-Pwm/Phocos-CXN40-40A1224V-PWM-Charge-Controller/p6199/

hope that helps, i did this list keeping in mind economy that you mentioned.  if money is no object, i would go straight for the mppt models.

james
Alt-E staff
AltE
"Making Renewable Do-able"
http://www.altEstore.com/

Tel: 877.878.4060 x107  or +1.978.562.5858 x107
Fax: 877.242.6718  or +1.978.562.5854
 

Posted by Micah Shields on June 18, 2008, 01:14:28 PM

Re: Charge controller recommendation.. (Reply #4)
Thanks James. The Blue Sky you mentioned has the MPPT, which is cool. Any concerns or precautions I might take hooking the Blue Sky up to sealed AGM batteries?

I was initially leaning towards the Xantrex soley on the amount of info and reviews available for it, and assumed it was a reliable controller. But if the Blue Sky will add MPPT and be as reliable, there's really no reason I shouldn't go that route, except if I go with 6 sharp 80.
 
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