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Old 04-09-2023, 08:47 AM   #8
rickst29
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Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 1,318
Default which controller?

You need 30A output capability and 100 volt input voltage limit. The highest quality would be this one, it can be monitored and configured from a cellphone app. https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-...-100-30-100-50. It's only issue is hard-to-use wire connectors, which are limited to small wire sizes. (Both the solar ports and the and more important battery connectors, which carry higher current at lower voltage).

It is on sale from many places, nearly always at list price $226.10. DO NOT confuse "SmartSolar" with the cheaper "BlueSolar" units, the "BlueSolar" products cannot be monitored and configured from a cellphone. Among the list price sellers, I would choose battleborn, but that's a personal preference.
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Cheap ones: Do not buy a Renogy MPPT at any price. Do not buy an EpEver Tracer "AN" model at any price.

The EpEver Tracer3215BN, a superior discontinued product, costs quite a bit less than the Victron when you can find it. But it can only be configured and monitored by an add-on MT-50 pushbutton wired "remote" (nothing via cellphone). I have owned on of those for many years, handling slightly more panel power than you are considering.

The EpEver TRION is an option, again requiring the MT-50. Internally, it is not as good as the older BN3215. The discontinued 'XTRA' is not as good as the Trion, but probably still reliable enough. They're cheap, I see one on Ebay for $109 (although the seller has a pretty bad rating, could be a BIG problem if it doesn't work).

In any use of an EpEver controller, the SCC should be programmed with complicated "User" battery parameters, because their provided "Lithium - LFP" charge settings sdt bulk charge voltage too high (14.5 volts). If you don't want to waste at least 2 hours in pushing buttons to program the darn thing in an extremely finicky sequence of changes, you'll want to avoid the EpEver controllers. A few of the more recent EpEver controllers can connect BlueTooth interfaces, but their cellphone apps are worthless.
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