MPPT VS PWM

Minxy Girl said:
So when it says it 'reduces' after the battery is fully charged, would that be the 'maintenance charge' or a different charge?
Click to expand...
As I said it stays at 14.2v a maintenance charge voltage should be 13.6 to 13.8v.

That's what the dealer put in when we told him we wanted 2 leisure batteries. After all the talk of AGM batteries failing I wasn't that bothered that he hadn't fitted a second AGM and though it might be better to have the ones we have.
Click to expand...
Stupid dealer why would anyone fit a battery type not supported by the charger.
With the correct charger and German converters changing to Varta AGM's they seem to be lasting a bit longer but not easy to get a true picture as people who use EHU wouldn't know they are failing, my choice would be Gels.

I can't see the point of throwing out 2 new batteries for the sake of it, if they give me grief then maybe but I suppose only time will tell.
Click to expand...
Tell the dealer he is a pratt to fit batteries not supported by the charger.

I've got a Schaudt EBL 119 in the new camper which says it charges as follows, am I right to assume that 'lead-gel' means it is suitable for lead OR gel?:
Click to expand...
Nope just Gel, Gel' & AGM are both Lead batteries.

Thanks, I really want to understand it all first before I plump for anything, not doubting you at all, I just don't like to put stuff in without knowing how/why it works as it does and that it's definitely the option I want to go for.
Click to expand...
Me to.

My Schaudt EBL119 Elektroblok has a setting for lead-gel so it appears won't necessarily 'fry' my Lion Calcium-Calcium batteries as they need a higher charge rate than standard lead acid ones ... have I got that right or wrong?
Click to expand...
On the Gel setting the 16 hour absorption time will possibly cook them. On the AGM setting 14,7v is a bit high 14.6 is normally used for calcium batteries may shorten the life a bit.

It appears that the LR1218 solar controller, whilst not ideal for standard lead batteries, shouldn't cause issues with my Calcium-Calcium batteries (assuming the reduced charge is the maintenance charge as mentioned above) - is that correct?
Click to expand...
Eairler reply answers I think. I wouldn't use it with your calcium batteries.
I would forget about LR1218 passed it's sell by date.

I also notice your batteries have a CCA rating not something you would give a true leisure battery definitely re-labeled starter batteries.
 
Thanks Lenny for your thorough response, much appreciated, I'll let hubby get onto the dealer tomorrow.
 
So long as it runs my kit.
My mate thought I'd bought a motorbike :LOL:
Yamaha SLG200s
5B85FA51-16A2-4B63-91E9-C02E722AFC65.jpeg
82A7D24C-ACBA-43A3-A7D3-E3B81DB2FA18.jpeg
1705B311-A1B8-4C35-8428-EA2E55B9579B.jpeg
 
It's a silent guitar. 80% quieter than an acoustic without amplification. It packs down small in the padded bag. I can play outdoors on caravan sites without being a nuisance.
If there's a yappy dog or nuisance neighbour I can crank it up :LOL:

For personal listening it uses headphones

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Techno said:
It's a silent guitar. 80% quieter than an acoustic without amplification. It packs down small in the padded bag. I can play outdoors on caravan sites without being a nuisance.
If there's a yappy dog or nuisance neighbour I can crank it up :LOL:

For personal listening it uses headphones
Click to expand...

You must be a proper guitarist, its got 6 strings :)
 
eddievanbitz said:
If we get time next week i'll get one of our guys to set up two or three panels and meter everything up

We keep a range of PWM regulators in the shop, like a rouges gallery of crap so we will be able to provide some figures, not that anyone will take any notice as there has already been posts quoting before and after figures.

However, if a man has two panels on his roof and doesn't want to or can't add another panel and simply wants to replace a broken regulator, and asks the question which is better, MPPT or PWM the answer is MPPT

If the question was which is the cheapest, it would be different aanswer

If he felt confident enough to tackle the installation of a third panel as an option, he probably wouldn't have asked the question in the first place as he would have known.

Why buy a motorhome when you can buy a tent, its cheaper and apparently that is the most important thing!

To some!
Click to expand...
So how much Eddie? Remember I'm a VERY poor pensioner...
 
Interesting! I just bought something similar to use my AirPods with it (y)
Bluetooth transmitter from the headphone jack
 
Having tried the '' off grid" dream on one motorhome with 4x150 panels and Victron Blue Solar I learned a few home truths as per others. On the equator at noon expect close to the max for your panels. Anywhere else expect less - far less.
Newcastle, November, sunny,, I got a total of 18a worth of charge for the whole day!
I agree MPPT is the way to go for sure. But you can get a decent MPPT to handle 2x100 w panels for under £15 off Amazon.
Reliability I hear you cry? I bought 2 at that price so I have 1x back up.
 
Everyone will be thinking that at that price it will be a PWM despite the labelling.
There are many fakes
 
With these mpt controllers is it possible to have a roof solar wired in then if needed plug a free standing panel when wanted ? Just wondered
 
Ivory55 said:
With these mpt controllers is it possible to have a roof solar wired in then if needed plug a free standing panel when wanted ? Just wondered
Click to expand...
I wouldn't do it that way but it might be OK, if its only occasional I would have a spare cheapo controller connected to the batteries with a shrouded plug and socket to connect the panel.

Martin
 
Lucy Wire said:
But you can get a decent MPPT to handle 2x100 w panels for under £15 off Amazon.
Click to expand...
Do you really believe that, even a decent PWM one will cost more than that.
In the real world you won't get a decent MPPT regulator for much less than £80 and really good ones are up to £200.
 
Definitely MPPT, which one, like all things you pay your money and take your chance/choice!

On that thread does anyone know, if Victron do a dual MPPT charger?
 
Lenny HB said:
Solar connections on Elektroblocks are just straight through connections to the batteries just makes it easy to wire the solar into the system.
Click to expand...
That's true but the extra wire from the LR/LRM1218 means the display attached to the Electroblok will still read correctly.
 
Now all the clever stuff has been asked, can I ask a daft question.

Why do the MPPT controllers have an out let for what appears to be a lamp?
Can that outlet been used for something else?
 
tonyidle said:
That's true but the extra wire from the LR/LRM1218 means the display attached to the Electroblok will still read correctly.
Click to expand...
It is separate thin wire signal loom that plugs into the EBL for that function but most EBL's no longer have connection for it and they don't fit panels that display current any more apart from very high end vans. None fitted in any Hymers now.
 
Silver-Fox said:
Now all the clever stuff has been asked, can I ask a daft question.

Why do the MPPT controllers have an out let for what appears to be a lamp?
Can that outlet been used for something else?
Click to expand...

It just means restive load...?

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Silver-Fox said:
Now all the clever stuff has been asked, can I ask a daft question.

Why do the MPPT controllers have an out let for what appears to be a lamp?
Can that outlet been used for something else?
Click to expand...
well i have a pwm and have an inverter coupled to mine, works fine
20180307_121546.jpg
 
Silver-Fox said:
Id only noticed them on MPPT due to only looking at that type of controller.
Thanks for the answer though, i take it you can connect "things" to it then :)
Click to expand...
dont exactly know but i assume its a direct link to the battery along the 6 m cables.
just cant use all the electric this provides with a 100w panel and two 100 a agm batterys, it also tops up the engine battery when the two leasures are full.(y)
 
Silver-Fox said:
Id only noticed them on MPPT due to only looking at that type of controller.
Thanks for the answer though, i take it you can connect "things" to it then :)
Click to expand...
I believe its called the "load" terminal and yes gives you power straight from the batteries but it is set to cut out if the voltage drops too low.

Martin

What is the load output of a charge controller?

Some charge controllers will have +- load output terminals. These can be used to control a load and have the battery terminal voltage. The output load is commonly used for 12V lighting. Basic control will be to switch the load terminals on/off via a button on the charge controller. Other charge controllers will have the ability to control the load terminals by setting on and off times or dawn to dusk on time, this is helpful if lights need to be switched on/off automatically.

Another function of the output terminals is that if the battery gets to a discharged state (usually around 11V) the load terminals are switched off by the charge controller to prevent over discharge of the battery. The output will be switched on again when the solar panel has charged the battery to around 12.5V.



Please be aware
The maximum load connected to the load terminals will be determined by the rating of the regulator e.g. 10A regulator will equal 10A load, therefore it is not advisable to connect an inverter via the load output of a solar controller as the current draw in most cases may be far too high for the solar controller to handle and could cause serious damage to the solar controller.

Subscribers  do not see these advertisements

 
Last edited:

Join us or log in to post a reply.

To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun

Join MotorhomeFun

Join us, it quick and easy!

Join us

Log in

Already a member? Log in here.

Latest journal entries

Back
Top