20 Amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller

A 20 amp MPPT controller sized for a modest system: roughly two 100 watt panels on a 12 volt bank, or up to about 260 watts at 12 volts and 520 watts at 24 volts. It reads battery voltage at startup and configures itself, so there is no jumper to set or menu to work through before it begins charging.

Why this controller

• Maximum power point tracking rather than simple PWM regulation. The difference shows up most on cold, bright days, when panel voltage sits well above battery voltage and a PWM controller throws that headroom away.
• Rich Solar quotes tracking efficiency above 99 percent and conversion efficiency up to 98 percent. Both are peak figures under favourable conditions; a real installation will average below them.
• Works with 12V and 24V banks automatically, and supports sealed, gel, flooded and lithium chemistries.
• Maximum solar input is 100 VDC. That ceiling, not the wattage, is what decides how many panels you can safely put in series in cold weather.
• A 20 amp load output with programmable control can run lighting or a small DC circuit directly from the controller.
• It will recover an over-discharged lithium battery, which a controller with a plain low-voltage cutoff will not.
• Die-cast aluminium body, cooled by convection. No fan, so nothing to seize or clog.

Installation and limits

• Rated IP32, which is protection against dripping water only. This is an indoor or sealed-compartment controller. If it will see rain or spray, choose one of the waterproof PWM units instead.
• Operating range is -35°C to +45°C (-31°F to 113°F). The upper limit is worth checking against a closed battery box in summer, since an enclosed compartment runs well above ambient.
• Overall size is 8.27 x 5.94 x 2.34 inches and the unit weighs 3.08 lb. Leave clearance above and below so convection can work.
• Protection covers reverse polarity, overcharge, over-discharge, overload, short circuit and reverse current.
• Bluetooth monitoring runs through the RS232 port, but it requires the BT-1 module, which is sold separately and is not in the box.

Warranty

• Rich Solar covers MPPT controllers for two years.
• That two-year term is prorated: full replacement in year one, then 50 percent coverage in year two with the customer paying the balance.
• Coverage applies to the original purchaser and does not transfer with the equipment.