List of Charge Controllers used and whether to recommend them or not. Feel free to add columns on functionality included that would be useful for the project.
Not Recommended
| Make and Model |
Remote Control |
Logging |
Comments |
used By
|
| Genasun GV-10 |
None |
None |
No interface except 1 LED, Poor functionality for the price, no user-replaceable fuse and died during hot weather |
User:Chewie
|
| SilentWind Wind & Solar Hybrid Charge Controller |
Bluetooth |
None |
Physical buttons temperamental, no logging capability, app looks like it was written by a 10 year old, no external Bluetooth aerial, so completely useless when inside a metal container, and range is poor even when outside. Can power itself from panels (not tested from turbine) alone. Review with associated wind turbine here |
User:Chewie
|
| Western Co WRM15 dualB |
Bluetooth & MODBUS |
Not Tested |
In theory, a good range of functions. App non-functional, and support have not been helpful - "Try another device", "Try the new version". Neither of which has been any use. Have not tried MODBUS connection |
User:Chewie
|
| EPSolar Tracer 1215RN (discontinued) |
Remote Meter on RJ45 cable |
None |
Interface poor - 1 button does everything, can't power itself from solar input, so if your batteries are in poor condition, it won't power anything |
User:Chewie
|
Not Bad
| Make and Model |
Remote Control |
Logging |
Comments |
used By
|
| Morningstar TS-MPPT-60 |
RS-232, RS-485/Modbus, Remote Meter on RJ45 cable, Ethernet |
Web GUI, TCP/IP + Windows software, "SNMP support" |
No crappy app, remote meter is good and can be daisy-chained to a second one. The alleged "SNMP support" only actually means SNMP traps. If you want SNMP polling for stats, you have to buy another module at the cost of ~£100 :(. Luckily a clever chap has done a python module that will output current values into JSON. Web GUI shows current and 90-120 days of historical data, but uses javascript, so not sure how easily it could be scraped yet. Review here |
User:Chewie
|
