Mppt controler

[RobertNotBob]

Need to upgrade my solar controller. At the moment I have a

20amp solar regulator a very basic unit which came with the van

Using 110 amp Calcium battery and will be getting a 200 watt solar blanket.

Certainly do not want to go over board on cost but still do not want one of the generic brand units.

If on 240v at night I charge using the battery charger so have a full charge in the morning.

During travel can charge from the ute if required.

Looking at the Victron BlueSolar MPPT 75/15. Would this be suitable for my situation.

Not electrical minded and tech stuff baffles me just a yes or no, no good try this one please thank you Robert

[jon_d]

I'd suggest the next size up.

100/30 ish. Just allows for future expansion using series or parrallel panels. Others may suggest differently. The brand is good.

[native pepper]

Robert, I'm also one who is bamboozled by technical stuff. From my own experience, when I moved from a standard solar controller to an mppt one, the difference was dramatic, as it tended to input charge no matter what the conditions. Even though that charge at times was very little, like parked under trees or very cloudy it still charged and we got better results from our gel batteries. Now with lifepo4, they charge so fast, have given up worrying about whether we will have enough energy for the bus to fully function and the same with my house.

[T1 Terry]

MPPT works well if you use a quality brand and the better level of controller within that brand. The cheaper Victron stuff is just that, cheaper in both functionality and operation. The upper level stuff with "Smart" in the name, only recently on the market, does work well, but it isn't cheap.
Next consideration is how the solar will be wired that feeds the controller. If all wired in parallel, a quality PWM controller like the Plasmatronics units will out perform it if the panels are nominal 12v (Vmp between 17v and 20v) while charging a 12v nominal battery.
If the panels are linked in series, all the panels must be the same and have bypass diodes fitted as well as blocking diodes if more than one string is paralleled together for the solar input. This means the a solar blanket or any portable solar would require its own controller if the output voltage was less than the total series string voltage from the fixed panels ..... is this happening yet

Basically, if you only have a small solar array and the panels have a Vmp (marked on the back) between 17v and 20v, and want to link in portable panels to the same controller, buy a Plasmatronics Dingo 20/20N so you can program the charging regime to best suit the batteries you are using both now and what ever you might switch to in the future. The capacity can be increased to virtually an unlimited extend using part of the controllers programing and separate solid state relays. This is tried and proven method that we have used for over 10 yrs now, so ignore anyone who tells you it can't be done because they simply do not know the topic

T1 Terry

[T1 Terry]

I'd suggest the next size up.

100/30 ish. Just allows for future expansion using series or parrallel panels. Others may suggest differently. The brand is good.

As I mentioned in my last post, it would need to be the latest "Smart" technology, it can be paired with another "Smart" Victron product via the Bluetooth network and will work (to a degree) with a second or third Victron "Smart" solar controller. You would really need to match it up with a Victron 712BMV for it to work well, or a "Colour" controller or other integration control hub, but now you really are into the big $$ stuff.

T1 Terry

[RobertNotBob]

My van is only 13ft and 22 years old so will be looking at replacing it. At the moment we have to pay out the ute so very little money left just need a good recommendation to get me through as I said tech is baffling. There will be no expansion to the power supply, as I have said I have a good 160 w double portable panele but to heavy. Trying to reduce weight is all.

Just need to know what I can use to keep going or just stay with the crap I have. Thank you

[T1 Terry]

My van is only 13ft and 22 years old so will be looking at replacing it. At the moment we have to pay out the ute so very little money left just need a good recommendation to get me through as I said tech is baffling. There will be no expansion to the power supply, as I have said I have a good 160 w double portable panele but to heavy. Trying to reduce weight is all.

Just need to know what I can use to keep going or just stay with the crap I have. Thank you

Can you tell us the model and make of the controller you have now?

T1 Terry

[RobertNotBob]

Just a cheepie by the looks, been damaged

2AA91DD7-9564-4D8E-88B2-3CA982D66B9E.jpeg

[T1 Terry]

I can't even find it on Google, so no idea of just what it's charging parameters are. I'm guessing it is set to a generic 13.8v so battery over charging is avoided. Unfortunately, that means a Calcium/Calcium battery would never reach fully charged if that was the sole charging device. Calcium batteries require a trip to 15.2v or so every so often and to 14.8v regularly if they are going to reach fully charged.
They aren't cheap, but a Dingo 20/20N would be ideal, even one of the older type PL20 will work fine. It is the programmability of the charging regime you really need rather than someone in a factory deciding a "one size fits all approach.

I'll have a look and see if we have a second hand one here anywhere.

T1 Terry

[T1 Terry]

I've sent you a private message Robert.

T1 Terry