What MPPT Solar Controller are You using? Recommendations?

[montenido]

Hi all,

I just installed three BP 175 solar panels on my arch and I'm getting ready to order the controller, combiner, etc. I have a 525AH AGM house bank. Just wondering what the rest of you are using, and if you are happy with your set up.

Thanks and cheers, Bill

[noelex 77]

Outback and Midnite are the best at this level.

[boom23]

I am using Victron MPPT for my three 260W panels. I like it so far.

[colemj]

We have a Morningstar Tristar and are very happy with it. Midnight Solar is WAY overkill for your installation. They are very good, but mostly aimed at much larger arrays at higher voltages.

Mark

[MARC D]

We use two MPPT controller from Blue Sky Energy, with their Remote control. I'm very satisfied with it.

Marc

[MARC D]

With the Blue Sky Energy IPN remote controller, I can program an equalize charge to my wet-cell battery bank. This is capital to the health of my batteries.

Marc

[sailorboy1]

I'm using an Outback Flexmax 50 with my 290W 24V panel. I could have gotten a controller for less money, but I chose it for its' features, ease of programming and the display. I also chose it as it would allow the addition of another solar panel if I want to expand (did all the wiring etc based on 600W).

I really like that the controller keeps a history log.

[twinboat]

I am using a Morningstar TriStar TS MPPT 60 with 3 grid tie, 36 volt 225 watt panels in series. I hooked up a few wires, flipped the dip switch to flooded batteries and it work great. It also has ethernet control, that I don`t use.

[CAELESTIS]

I was doing some homework on this subject myself, for a forthcoming install on my vessel. I thought Outback would be the best and be a plug and play for my Outback inverter. I was wrong. Midnite was VERY impressive. As in, "Wow". Outback is now made in India. Midnite is made in Arlington, WA (as was Outback previously).

Spend some time on the phone with the technical sales guy and let me know your decision.

Please post photos of your arch and solar array.

[raphaella]

We use the Flexmax 60 and are at the utmost satisfied with it for the past year. We have 4 x 195 watts solar panels.

[bobofthenorth]

This one right here with 3 x 230 watt nominal 36 volt panels input, also Chinese sourced.

Full disclosure: I installed it roughly a year ago now and we used the system until mid-July. It worked just fine and I have no reason to assume it has since quit working but we won't be back to the boat until mid December. Can't beat the price.

[boat-energy]

Assuming the battery bank is 12V, you may want to consider the Morningstar TS45 MPPT, as you have a peak current of around 44A. That would save a little cash over the 60A version, however the 45A version doesn't have the ethernet connection. Other considerations are the fan in the Outback FM60, which could prove annoying, which the Morningstar MPPT doesn't have (it just has a large heatsink). Finally, the MS TS45/60 MPPT is the more compact of the major players.

[44'cruisingcat]

Flexmax 80. Happy with it.

[noelex 77]

Originally Posted by boat-energy

. Other considerations are the fan in the Outback FM60, which could prove annoying, which the Morningstar MPPT doesn't have (it just has a large heatsink). Finally, the MS TS45/60 MPPT is the more compact of the major players.

The Outback controllers have a very large passive sink area. I have never heard the fan run on my system (other than start up as part of a systems check).

Even high power users report the same. The fan is a fail safe that allows the unit to perform in high ambient temperatures with limited ventilation . It almost never runs under normal conditions. The only negative is if the fan fails the units diagnostics will stop the unit starting on initial switch on, but the Outback controllers are often regarded as the most reliable units.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by noelex 77

The Outback controllers have a very large passive sink area. I have never heard the fan run on my system (other than start up as part of a systems check).

I've never heard the one on my Outback run either.