Date:         Wed, 7 May 2008 19:00:37 -0700
Reply-To:     obeechi@RUNBOX.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mark C <obeechi@RUNBOX.COM>
Subject:      Re: Charge Controller
Comments: To: camping.elliott@gmail.com
In-Reply-To:  <48224981.1060800@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Sales guy said he felt it was MPPT, but I guess he's had people telling him they didn't think it was 'true' MPPT... like there was some dispute about it in some circles. So maybe its a modified MPPT.. I don't know... nice to hear that you have a Bluesky product and that you seem to like it. Have you ever posted pics of where you're charge controller is located?

From: Mike Elliott <camping.elliott@gmail.com>
To: obeechi@RUNBOX.COM
Subject: Re: Charge Controller

> Interesting that the SB2000E may not be MPPT. I've looked carefully at my 
> unit's input & output volts and amps and it certainly puts out more amps 
> than it takes in, performing the "impedance matching" that MPPTs are 
> intended to do. PV solar panel power is at maximum at higher voltage 
> (about 17.5VDC) than batteries want to be charged at (about 14.7VDC max, 
> dependent on battery temperature, the 2000E has an optional thermal sensor 
> to bolt to one of the battery terminals). The load presented to the panel 
> (the input side of the controller) is tweaked every 10 seconds to keep the 
> panel operating at its peak power, and that power is transformed to a 
> lower voltage and since power = volts times amps, the controller puts out 
> more amps than it gets in to charge the battery. So if the 2000E is not a 
> true MPPT, it certainly performs pretty much like one; close enough to do 
> the job for us.
> -- 
> Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
> 71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
> 84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
> 74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
> KG6RCR
> 
> 
> 
> On 5/7/2008 1:14 PM Mark C wrote:
> 
> > I went with the Bluesky iX Charge Controller (Solar Boost 2512iX). Its MPPT without question, with 3 stage battery charging, and has an auxillary output, as well as allows for a remote. Sales guy said some people think the Bluesky SB2000E may not be true MPPT, and the iX is a better build quality. Its more than I need amp-wise, which at least is better than less. 
> > 
> > Now if someone could let me know of a good lead on vents to sneak under the solar panel. 
> > 
> 

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