frontpage Posted by Probedude • Nov 8, 2023
Nov 8, 2023 3:42 PM
Item 1 of 2
Item 1 of 2
frontpage Posted by Probedude • Nov 8, 2023
Nov 8, 2023 3:42 PM
Victron Energy SmartSolar MPPT 150/45 Charge Controller
& More + Free S&H$218
$363
39% offAmazon
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12/24/36/48 is pack voltage.
What I've seen is charge controllers are amp limited. So going to higher battery voltage will allow the controller to deliver higher watts vs lower battery pack voltage.
High PV input voltage allows you to series connect panels and not have to use high gauge wire between the panels and controller
Work backwards from the voltage of your house battery system (12v/24v/35v/48v), then if you have a general idea of how many watts you want (or can fit) on the RV roof, then that'll roughly give you your amps by dividing your desired watts by the battery voltage - for instance 800 watts divided by 24v battery system = 33.3amps, so you'd likely want a 30a or higher Victron unit. Then the first number in these model names is max solar panel input voltage into the charge controller (i.e. 100V, 150V - the higher the number, the more panels you can put in series - reducing gauge/cost of PV wire, but you can always compromise and run a series & parallel config to kind of get a medium voltage).
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https://www.amazon.com/gp/product...DKXX&
https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Sm...B09KF94CJH
Thanks.
10x 100W 12V panels would probably be best done in 5s/2p assuming VoC falls below 100V
Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank CaptainElwood
That said, that's an appropriately sized system, although you could probably get away with a ~3kW continuous inverter with ~5kWh of storage. In my case, I'd likely have a generator with me anyway.. but a 10kWh system would be more able to support moderate overnight AC usage if it's needed.
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The 100/15 will only capture about ~180-200W worth of solar input for a 12V system. The 100/30 will do about twice that.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product...DKXX&
https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Sm...B09KF94CJH
Since I'll be using the bluetooth app to program and monitor my system, I went with the non-TR version even though the price is the same.
BTW, I place my order for the 150/45 Smart Solar MPPT controller this morning before posting this deal, and Amazon just dropped it off tonight - same day delivery!
For folks getting these controllers, be sure to read the manual on what wire to get. They insist on high strand count wire (100's of strands) to prevent heat buildup and damage to the terminal block. They say that low strand count, the terminal block makes limited contact with the wire (think of it as two parallel plates coming down on a round object) and can cause heating.
So, though my 150/45 arrived today, now I have to wait for high strand count 6ga wire to arrive as all I have is low strand count (7 strands) 6ga wire.
Since I'll be using the bluetooth app to program and monitor my system, I went with the non-TR version even though the price is the same.
BTW, I place my order for the 150/45 Smart Solar MPPT controller this morning before posting this deal, and Amazon just dropped it off tonight - same day delivery!
For folks getting these controllers, be sure to read the manual on what wire to get. They insist on high strand count wire (100's of strands) to prevent heat buildup and damage to the terminal block. They say that low strand count, the terminal block makes limited contact with the wire (think of it as two parallel plates coming down on a round object) and can cause heating.
So, though my 150/45 arrived today, now I have to wait for high strand count 6ga wire to arrive as all I have is low strand count (7 strands) 6ga wire.
HOPEFULLY, this price reduction spreads to some of their other products as I'd like to get a few more pieces.
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