Harbor Freight Solar Panels: MPPT Charge Controller

[subhankar8925]

A Charge Controller is highly recommended for a better performance of Solar Systems.....

Commercial Solar panels are expensive !

It takes 10 years to cover up the investment

Here is how you can do it yourself at only 10% of the price

Go to Google and search for...

"Top DIY Solar Panels"

Click the first result (Skip the Advertisement)

[iLOVENATURE2011]

nice!

[KyleCarrington]

I agree I gave up on these too. poorly made.

[peeinginthewind]

I don't know where you live but. Here in Canada we have solar products at both home depot and lowes

[flavomarginatus]

Ok, I bought a Harbor Freight 45 watt solar kit a year or so ago. It was a good foot in the door. But friends, that kit is expensive, about $150-200 for 45 watts of amorphous solar panels that register 5-10% efficiency. Pairing an MPPT controller with HF panels is like putting racing tires on a Yugo. One can buy a 100 watt polycrystalline solar panel (15% eff) on Ebay for $180 to $200. Pair a few of those with a Rogue MPT 3024 controller, and now you've got some real juice. But HF got me started

[LDSPrepper]

@flavomarginatus Great comment. I too came to the same conclusion. That is why I have scrapped my HF system. I now have 4 220 watt systems with dual charge controllers. I'll have a new video of the system shortly.

[flavomarginatus]

@LDSPrepper Great, I just finished a 480 watt system myself. But I have to give Harbor Freight credit for getting people started on solar. It's one of the few stores I know of that one can walk in and buy solar equipment. It's a shame that you can't go into Home Depot or Lowes and buy solar panels and charge controllers. Why is that?

[LDSPrepper]

@flavomarginatus HF got me started too. I totally agree with what you said. HD and Lowes do carry some solar panels in some stores but it should be more available. I'd love to see a video on your setup.

[nyannucc]

@LDSPrepper Cannot wait to see this LDS!  Just found your channel and really getting a lot from it, thanks for helping/sharing!

[highcountrytimber]

Harbor freight has a 100 amp charge controller.

[MrNightro]

Awww man, I went & placed an order for one of these while watching this video, after placing my order I read the comments. I just bought a piece of junk for $58 I take it you guys are saying?

[badmoonryzn]

Morning Star has a ton of controllers here: ecodirect Solar Charge Controllers I hope this will help everyone who is looking for controllers that allow you growing room. These are not that much more than the cheapo brands. They go from 6 amp 35 dollar units to 80 amp 600 buck units with everything you could ever need plus. I am still using my HF one, however I am going to need a new one with more flexibility for wind and water inputs. Cheers all, and thanks for the info!

[jhs5150]

I would get a morningstar controller at the very least. They are a little more expensive but you get what you pay for. These cheap chinese controllers are not going to be reliable and the Morningstars are sealed to the elements.

[LDSPrepper]

@jhs5150 Thank you for the recommendation. I sent this one back and I am in the market for a new controller.

[knowyourplanet]

I am sorry to say this but that it not an MPPT, the video search term "WELLSEE MPPT new inductor testing", not my video, demonstrates this. This is a fake product, with a fake plastic box and everything fake. What makes it worse is that you wan get a decent charge controller for the same amount. This devise will not get you the extra 35%

[neillyle]

Maximum power point tracking is a technique that solar inverters use to get the maximum possible power from the PV array.

[ncprepper1]

Thanks for all the great Information and ideas.

[LDSPrepper]

@ncprepper1 I am glad the info helped.

[Comfytees]

Hi what brand is this mppt and are you able to know if it is real mppt controller?

[LDSPrepper]

@Comfytees I don't know how you would test for a "real" MPPT controller. It was recommended to me and it says MPPT on it. So I imagine it is a real MPPT controller. Others have commented that it isn't but noone has said how you can tell. I bought it on ebay. You can check for the brand on ebay by searching for "MPPT controller."

[Comfytees]

@LDSPrepper thanks, i tried the search and got a couple other controllers show up. Does the mppt controller you have allow the load to be from solar as well as batteries? I'm looking for one that will regulate the load directly from the sun since I don't need a battery yet.

[LDSPrepper]

@Comfytees Yes

[wcd47]

FYI - "MPPT means "Maximun Power Point Tracking". It alows the mudules to deliver maximun avaliable power. More at blueskyenergyinc on the net.

[LDSPrepper]

@wcd47 Awesome. Thank you.

[Comfytees]

Hi u know if its possible to hook a wind generator with the setup you have or should generators and solar panels be treated different?

[LDSPrepper]

@Comfytees I looked into wind generators but we don't have enough wind to spin them fast enough to generate enough power.

[Comfytees]

@LDSPrepper thanks for the response. I was reffering to if it was possible to include wind generator with this charge controller. I would like the wind generator to supply power when it can along with the solar panels. I'm doing research slowly but any suggestions are welcome.

[LDSPrepper]

@Comfytees I believe the charge controller would work with both solar and wind together.

[Comfytees]

@LDSPrepper cool, i will look that up. in the meantime if you or anyone knows how to wire a wind generator to the solar panel and charge controller please let me know.

[LDSPrepper]

@Comfytees I would wire the wind generator and solar panels directly to the controller. Not the wind generator to the solar panels then to the controller.

[LDSPrepper]

@Comfytees I am looking into getting wind power too. I don't know if I can do both with what I have.

[electrodacus]

I'm quite sure the one you have is not an mppt controller.

Even if you have a real MPPT controller you can not expect to get more than 15% more energy out of your panels compared to a good PWM controller and the price difference will not make much sense you will be better with an additional solar panel and a good PWM controller.

[econewpower]

Another nice thing about that controller is this; Using 12volts you can handle six HF kits or a total of 270 watts, however, when you change your batteries to 24volts this same controller will be able to handle 12 HF kits or a total of 540 watts. So made a nice choice that will protect your investment and by simple changing the way your batteries are connected will allow you to double your growth and capacity. Nice!

[LDSPrepper]

@econewpower Thank you for your recommendation on this controller. I am very pleased with it.

[econewpower]

Nice video LDSPrepper, you've come a long way! The initials stand for Maximum Power Point Tracking which automatically adjusts the voltage or amperage as needed by the state of the batteries to maximize the panel's output. It gets you about 30% more power from your panels as compared to traditional charge controllers.

[LDSPrepper]

@econewpower thank you. I could never have done this without your help. You have helped more people then you know.

[1kzrider]

only thing is if and when you go higher voltage you loose the 12 volt options out there. Best things are like outback flex max 60 that lets you run long leads at high voltage on smaller guage wire. Then convert say 48 or 60 back to 12 at the batts.

This way you can still run all the 12volt accessories just look up 12V trucker websites. 12 volt everything fridge coffee maker what ever. Not to mention less batts needed.

[LDSPrepper]

@1kzrider Great idea.thanks for commenting.

[sparktastic1]

Can you provide an internal shot of this MPPT?

There are lots of these on ebay and it would be nice to see what we are buying.

Are these suitable for 'Wet' acid batteries?

[LDSPrepper]

@sparktastic1 I can't get a photo of the internals but this brand works great for me and for wet acid batteries.

[mrbuki77]

The MPPT will get about an extra 30% more power from your panels. From Solar panel to AC use, you can expect to loose about 20%. So as an example, if you can make 1000 amp hrs, after a 20% power loss you will have about 800 amp hrs left. Later from sunny FL!

[LDSPrepper]

@mrbuki77 Thanks for the heads-up.

[MrJohn196741]

good video please make more

[Itaintnutn]

Good info, Thanks