BRAVO PRO 40 - 40 Amp Flush Mount MPPT Solar Charge Controller

The BRAVO PRO 40 drops into a cut-out in a wall or cabinet face so that only the display sits proud of the surface. That is the reason to choose it over a conventional surface-mount controller, and it is worth deciding on the location before you buy, because a flush unit is not something you reposition casually. It handles 40 amps of charge current on a 12V or 24V bank and has Bluetooth built into the body, so there is no separate dongle to purchase.

Why this controller

• 40A of charge current on a 12V or 24V battery bank, with system voltage detected automatically at first power-up.
• Rich Solar recommends up to 600W of array at 12V and 1200W at 24V. Those figures sit close to what 40 amps can actually absorb, so the controller is genuinely matched to the array rather than relying on heavy over-paneling.
• Bluetooth and app control are part of the unit. The separate BT-1 module that the 20A through 60A surface-mount MPPT controllers require is neither needed nor compatible here.
• Charge profiles for GEL, AGM, wet lead-acid, calcium, LiFePO4, LTO and LCO, plus a user-definable profile for anything outside that list.
• Rich Solar publishes 99.5 percent MPPT tracking efficiency and 98 percent conversion efficiency. Both are peak figures measured under favourable conditions; expect real-world numbers to sit below them.
• Certified to UL1741, with CE, FCC and RoHS marks.

Installation and wiring

• Body measures 8.3 by 6.1 by 2.2 inches. Cut the aperture only once you are certain of the position.
• Array open-circuit voltage must stay below 100V. The MPPT tracking window is 15 to 72V, so an array whose maximum-power voltage sits above 72V will not be tracked at its optimum even though the controller tolerates the higher open-circuit figure. Size strings for a Vmp inside that window and check Voc at your coldest expected temperature, since cold weather pushes Voc up.
• Rated IP43. That means protection against spray falling at an angle, not immersion and not driving rain. Mount it inside the vehicle or in a sheltered compartment.
• Operating range is -13F to 122F. The upper figure is worth checking against a sealed battery compartment in summer heat.
• The external battery temperature sensor and the external digital remote display are listed by Rich Solar as options. Neither is supplied with the controller.
• A California Proposition 65 warning applies to this product.

Warranty

• Rich Solar's published warranty on charge controllers runs two years and is prorated: full coverage in the first year, 50 percent in the second.
• Claims are handled by Rich Solar directly. Register the product and keep your invoice.