solar power charge regulator

[coldor]

NB Col D'Or

Hi all. we're now out of the marina and continuously cruising, left Yelvertoft, wnet down the Leicester Line to the GU then Braunston, Hillmorton, Hawkesbury & the Coventry, now making our leisurely way along the Ashby. We've got 2 x 180w PV panels with a cheapish regulator. Can anyone please suggest a good, not too expensive MPPT controller? Thanks in advance for any help. Coldor

[smileypete]

NB Col D'Or

Hi all. we're now out of the marina and continuously cruising, left Yelvertoft, wnet down the Leicester Line to the GU then Braunston, Hillmorton, Hawkesbury & the Coventry, now making our leisurely way along the Ashby. We've got 2 x 180w PV panels with a cheapish regulator. Can anyone please suggest a good, not too expensive MPPT controller? Thanks in advance for any help. Coldor

 

360W/12.8V = 28.125A.

 

So if you're 12V a 30A Tracer MPPT from the likes of Bimble Solar will do:

 

http://www.bimblesolar.com/offgrid/mppt/30amppt

 

They seem to have the keenest prices for a UK supplier.

 

ETA: Are the existing panels 18V and what's the existing controller?

 

MPPT will give the biggest benefit over an 18V panels + decent PWM combination on cooler sunny days with deeply discharged batts. But on hot sunny days with nearly charged batts there may not be a lot of difference.

 

cheers, Pete.

~smpt~

Edited July 8, 2013 by smileypete