Renogy Elite 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- I just received this and thought I would do a quick bench test before installing it.
I was looking for a small footprint 30-40A MPPT controller for my caravan and this Renogy fitted the bill as it was a similar size to my Epever PWM controller. Most high current MPPT controllers are physically a lot longer than this one and more difficult to install in confined spaces. I am replacing the Epever as part of a solar and Lithium DC system upgrade.
I will be getting the Rich Solar 20 or40 amp charge controller early next year, have not decided which one yet. They are nearly identical to the Renogy except the Rich Solar have better/stronger wire connections. Thanks for the bench test video and greetings from sunny Jamaica.
Hi Laurence, thanks for the comments. I found the screw connections were quite adequate and provided a firm connection for up to 8-10mm cable. Cheers Tim
Great video! My Rover Elite 40A worked for about 3 weeks and then started shutting down while charging around 20amps (4- 100w panels). I did get through to RENOGY and the CS agent had me try a hard reset. Still was not functioning properly so they said they would replace it. Problem was they were listed as backordered on the sight. I bought on Amazon but the return window had passed while I was waiting to install it. Finally a second CS agent told me they had suspended selling the Elite 40A due to a large number of customer complaints. They said they could refund me or send a Rover 40A to replace it so I accepted the Rover. They also sent a replacement Bluetooth 1 module since the Elite uses the BT2, different module. The Rover is bigger and seems to stay noticeably cooler with a larger heatsink. The Elite was much warmer and I wonder if it is part of the problem. Like you, I was happy with the smaller size of the Elite and I didnt need load terminals but I do like the cooler running Rover. We will see how it holds up. Renogy customer service seemed a little unorganized but they did promptly send me a replacement even before I returned the faulty one.
Well mine is still running well with no complaints and I have been on the road for 6 weeks now and we have had a very warm winter in Australia this year. We started our journey with cool winter days and nights after heading north for a week we experienced 3 weeks with the daily temps at 35C everyday and we free camped all the time so the solar controller got a work out at high temps and its been great - touch wood! I have had trouble with my Renogy 40A DCDC Charger however in that it wont sense ignition and runs continuously when connected to the tow vehicle - inconvenient but not a show stopper. I contacted Renogy and received 1 email suggesting a couple of things to try (which I had already done). I responded with the results of these tests and as usual have had no further response in many weeks. Their customer service is appalling. Seems at least you have had the problem solved - I assume you are in the USA as it seems that is the only chance of getting any resolution with Renogy product issues.
@@timterry8714 that's great to hear! Sounds like a wonderful trip. I have read about the bad CS and it does seem mostly non US customers. I only contacted them by phone, long waits but eventually get through. I have an EPever 40a controller in my Sprinter so that's a back up if the Renogy in the boat fails. So far all good with the Rover. Thanks for the reply and good luck on your travels!
I found 2 of my answers from your comment. I appreciate you. Thanks for sharing what you know! Onward
They are still making it. I just got one, and it is on their website.
@@200Nora hey yes they recalled the bad ones and I think they redesigned it and reintroduced it... hope yours works great!
The Elite is the only Renogy charge controller I actively dislike (lack of configurability).
I dont have any complaints with it so far - we will see how it goes. Cheers
New subbie. This video was very helpful. Thank you. Great video 👍 yeah, customer service not the best with Renogy.
Glad it was helpful! Cheers Tim
Thank you
You're welcome
awesome video sir audio is superb 😊
Thanks for your feedback I always try to be conscious of the audio level as I'm using basic stuff to make these videos.
Will this work with lead batteries?
Nevermind.
The SLD is for lead acid batteries
Hi Tim, great review and just in time as I am looking at buying a caravan Kind Regards Scott Stewart (VK3CSS)
Hi Scott thanks for the feedback. Cheers Tim
One reason for staying off-grid was not only the cost of power poles to the house but also the quiet RF noise lever to my amatuur radio station. The present PWM controller is completely RF quiet. Switching power supplies often introduce Radio Hash Noise Interference (RFI). Any comments on this device? Is it EU certified?
VA7WN
No I dont know the answer to that question. Your right, nearly everything electronic today generates radio interference and significantly raises the noise floor for receivers and if its not this charger the noise from switch mode power supplies (even USB chargers, LED light dimmers, etc) are difficult to get away from these days.
I just received and installed this charger, but it came without the instructions manual. Luckily there is youtube, and I was able to set some parameters, but I need to know more if something goes wrong. There is no link on the Renogy website to download any instructions. I want to make sure is operating right. I have it hooked to a 200 amp Li, 2500 inverter with 2/100 ea panels in series. (I will add 2 more soon) Numbers move too quickly, but it seems to be fine. I will switch to parallel tomorrow to see if it is better. If anybody knows more please let me know. Thanks for the video.
I'm sure there are instructions on line for this controller or were in the past.
Hi Tim, just wondering if you have done any basic EMI/EMC testing with the controller. Having EMI issues is a major headache for me as I operate HF mobile/portable communications equipment both on my boat and whilst caravanning/camping.
No I havent sorry
I have this unit and I have a problem with it, I am charging a AGM battery bank and The Boost voltage is to high, The charger takes my batteries to 14.9 volts and holds it there for 2 hours, then when it switches to float mode the float mode voltage is 13.9 volts. I am charger VMAXTANK AGM 12 volt 125 amp hour batteries four of them in my battery bank. I am not sure what to do. Right now after the boost mode I just unplug the solar panels from it. Any ideas ????
You can change the battery boost voltage within the settings to any value between 12-16v.
@@timterry8714 I have the same charger that you are using in your video, and from what I understand a person can only change the voltage on the Lithium battery setting, Not on the AGM settings, If I am wrong about that I would like to know how it is done.
@@rayberger2694 you are correct the settings only allow change for Li batteries. It's a question for Renogy as that's too high
I thought you had a problem with the dc 2 dc / mppt ... I got one 6 months ago , no problem at all .
No Toastie, I didnt have a problem with it in principal it was just they had high overheads or self consumption when combined in the one unit with alternator charging. I felt it was better to use a PWM controller as I only had a relatively small portable solar paneland every amp was precious! Possibly also those earlier designs were not as efficient. This one is efficient, has a small physical footprint which I was looking for, high capacity and is reasonably priced at about A$170.
@@timterry8714 that’s a good price, I may get one aswell, and expand my set up ,the flexible 120w panels I buy on AliExpress are only £70 and can be stored so easily under my bed.
Make sure that you buy panels that are built from Sunpower cells as they appear to be the most efficient. I just purchased 2 x Renogy 175 flexible panels to mount on the caravan which only weigh 3Kgs each but generate a maximum of 13-14 Amps. We installed 3 of these on a van over a year ago and they are performing with this output consistently. They have been on the road for months now and after a year no degredation.
Thanks Tim, another interesting video. I have been using Victron gear for a couple of years now, and really love the quality of them. The best part is Bluetooth control via a phone app - never need to play with buttons on the unit itself.
The Victron costs more than the unit you have reviewed here, but worth every cent.
I'm currently running a 50 amp 100 volt unit for solar, and 30 amp AC to DC charger
Mine is reading the volts on screen incorrectly, can you check the volts from battery terminals and on the screw terminals and compare to what it's saying is on the screen. I also have the same screen auto cycling issue
Any idea if I can charge a 12v lifepo battery bank with 24v of solar panels connected? Or does 12v bank have to be charged with 12v panels with the rover elite?
The Elite will support any panel voltage up to 100V so thats no problem.
Great video, just wondering I bought the 40 amp version but not sure whether you have to activate equalization manually or it comes on automatically.
Thanks for your time.
It must be auto as there is no way to activate it. I have seen it doing some sort of voltage pulsing at times which I guess is possibly an equalization. Mine is set for Lithium so pretty sure there is no equalisation function operating in that mode.
Hi, I have this controller and 260w across two panels in series. on an overcast day i'm pulling 30v from the panels, but 0amps to the battery, Lifepo4 battery is only at 13v so not full, and should be charging. Any ideas why? I've not changed anything in the system since summer when it seemed to be working fine. cheers
Hi Angus, sounds a bit strange but stepping through the display should give you some insight as to what is going on. If you can see the PV voltage and the Battery voltage then it should be charging. They do say to connect the battery first before the panels so if that didnt happen that may have caused a problem to the charger. I assume you have disconnected everything and reconnected again to see if it came good, otherwise I dont know. If thats all good contact them for a warranty return. Their customer service appears to be greatly improved now and they have been very responsive lately. Cheers Tim
@@timterry8714 I think perhaps at some point I may have disconnected things to add other things into my system and damaged something, but yes I have restarted the whole lot in the right order several times since. Thanks.
Why your panels are connect in parallel ? Whould you not got more in A in series ?
Not really as watts are watts and the cable is mimimal length. Bit of point of conjecture I think.
@@timterry8714 I understand from internet research (!) that a higher voltage is better for a MPPT controller since it gives it more range to adjust and optimize in real time the PV parameters.
Has this thing stood the test of time? Does it still work?
Havent had an issue with it John-Paul its worked brilliantly and we had 3 weeks of very hot weather and it running hard each day so no complaints at all. Cheers Tim