12 V solar panels have 36 cells in each panel. The panels you have are 60 cell panels. Because of this, it will be operating outside of its efficiency range when hooked to a 12 V battery. Although it will charge a 12V battery, it will be at much less wattage than it should. You were on the right track trying to use a real MPPT controller. That would rectify the mismatch between the panels and the battery. Unfortunately There is a Shyster Chinese company that have named themselves MPPT. They put their name on PWM controllers which confuses the whole situation. There is a way to know if a controller is truly MPPT or not by opening it up and looking for what looks like a wire wound small donut that is almost a 1/2 cup of volume. There will probably be another much smaller one that is approximately 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon of volume. These are needed for the DC to DC voltage conversion. The larger one for charging the battery, the smaller one for the 5 V USB connector. A 30 amp PWM charge controller should cost around $20 US, or less, where a 30 amp MPPT controller should cost around a $100 US or more. Hopefully you can find a real MPPT controller to put on your small Solar System and have it run at peak efficiency. I agree with you that the Harbor Freight kits are much too expensive for what you get, and kind of junky. Good luck on your self powering journey, and don't forget to have fun even with all the work.
I am still digging the pit and it is a repetitious and not very exciting to watch. I want to at least put up the retaining wall behind the hydro unit before setting up the basin. Thank you for asking. P.S. I do have my first unit ready for testing.
I do agree with you but eBay as of today still lists it as such for the 30 Amp model shown and as far as the 50 Amp unit, both eBay and Amazon claim it is an MPPT unit.
12 V solar panels have 36 cells in each panel. The panels you have are 60 cell panels. Because of this, it will be operating outside of its efficiency range when hooked to a 12 V battery. Although it will charge a 12V battery, it will be at much less wattage than it should.
You were on the right track trying to use a real MPPT controller. That would rectify the mismatch between the panels and the battery. Unfortunately There is a Shyster Chinese company that have named themselves MPPT. They put their name on PWM controllers which confuses the whole situation. There is a way to know if a controller is truly MPPT or not by opening it up and looking for what looks like a wire wound small donut that is almost a 1/2 cup of volume. There will probably be another much smaller one that is approximately 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoon of volume. These are needed for the DC to DC voltage conversion. The larger one for charging the battery, the smaller one for the 5 V USB connector.
A 30 amp PWM charge controller should cost around $20 US, or less, where a 30 amp MPPT controller should cost around a $100 US or more.
Hopefully you can find a real MPPT controller to put on your small Solar System and have it run at peak efficiency.
I agree with you that the Harbor Freight kits are much too expensive for what you get, and kind of junky.
Good luck on your self powering journey, and don't forget to have fun even with all the work.
Thanks for your nicely detailed explanation and breakdown. Your feedback is greatly appreciated.
What about Micro hydro project 🤔????
I am still digging the pit and it is a repetitious and not very exciting to watch. I want to at least put up the retaining wall behind the hydro unit before setting up the basin. Thank you for asking. P.S. I do have my first unit ready for testing.
What is happening with your hydro?
I just read your answer to a previously asked question.
Finally back on track, thanks.
That's not MPPT solar charger controller 🙆🏻♂️
I do agree with you but eBay as of today still lists it as such for the 30 Amp model shown and as far as the 50 Amp unit, both eBay and Amazon claim it is an MPPT unit.