MPPT Controller

I'm happy with the way this 20 amp solar charge controller works, but should have paid more attention to the power rating shown in the Amazon ad. The current and voltage rating seem to indicate it could handle all four of my 100 watt, 5 amp, Renogy solar panels. It's rated higher if charging 24 volts of battery, but my inverter is for 12 volts, so I can't just put the batteries in series. I can get by using the PWM charge controller built into my 2200 watt Giandel inverter for two of the solar panels, but wish I'd paid a little more for a more capable controller. In fact, if I ever upgrade I'll probably get the old style 60 watt PowMr controller. A YouTube video mentions that their new version has a connection for a fan on its motherboard, but no fan. The old version, with a metal housing, has a fan. Edit: Note, when comparing solar controllers, be aware that the amp rating is for amps OUT. My mistake was thinking it was amps IN from the solar panels. Even in parallel, my four 100 watt panels should produce just 20 amps INTO the charge controller, but the voltage IN is greater than the voltage OUT, so it overheated and shut down (luckily it works again, after cooling off). Note: to find the amp rating you need, for this or other charge controllers, just divide the total watts of your solar panels (400 in my case) by the nominal battery voltage (12 in my case) to get the rated amps you need (33.3 in my case). Edit 2: At a later date, the price of my 20 amp controller went up so high that the 30 amp model was significantly less, so compare prices before ordering. Wish I had that 30 amp model. Edit 3: I have now purchased two more 100 watt solar panels, plus the 60 watt controller I mention above, and couldn't be happier.

I'm evaluating this "Keeper1220" MPPT charge controller to see if it will work for my application. I ordered it on June 13, 2023. It arrived in a reasonable time. I get what might be an error message: "E-12" when the "BAT" label activates. The manual is terrible - unclear, uses English words but neither English sentence structure nor grammar. And, the manual does not contain a list of error codes. I set the "Float Voltage" to 14.3V because I'm charging a LiFePO4 battery. There's something on the back page about setting U611 for "LiFePO4 12.8V" but it's not clear what this does or how to do it. On bootup, the display shows "U1.6". This might be the firmware version. The unit did charge the battery at about 6A for a little while while drawing about 2A from the PV panel, but the PV panel's MPP is at a lower voltage and higher current than this. Amazon's "Get Product Support" function leads to a "404 Not Found" error when I click on the link for the manufacturer's support website. But I found the manufacturer's website another way and started a chat session. The other party (maybe just a computer) said it couldn't answer my question but would reply later to my email, which I gave it. Additional notes: After a few days, and referencing this review, the seller replied with an offer of a refund but no answers to my questions. They also asked for pictures and "more details" without specifying what additional information such photos or details might provide, and asking no technical questions. I replied, accepting the refund offer and questioning whether the seller has any relationship or communication with the engineers who designed the product. The next day, they replied that E-12 means that the battery voltage is too high, and sent me an "updated" user manual that lists more settings and briefly describes error codes 1,2,3,5,6, and 7. Today (July 8), error code E-11 appeared. Another mystery. I also found out today that this controller emits enough radio frequency interference (RFI) to obliterate most signals I was listening to on the 15 meter band on my ham radio nearby. It added more noise to the already-noisy 40 meter band, too, but not enough to make that band completely unusable. As this product has the CE logo on its label, this should not occur. I have requested a copy of the product's compliance certificate for the Low Voltage Directive and the Electromagnetic Compatibility Directive, but am concerned that they might not exist. If I keep this unit, I'll have to add chokes and build it into a metal enclosure to contain the radio frequency (RF) noise that would probably be absent if the product complied with the CE EMC directive. On the positive side, it might be working. Upon connecting the well-illuminated PV panel and a partially discharged battery, the unit moved the voltage around and eventually settled on a voltage. DC wattmeters on both the input and output indicated reasonable amounts of power in and out and output current that agreed with the controller's displayed output current. With the PV operating at a little more than 3 times the battery voltage, the output current was almost three times the input current, as it should be. As of July 18, the refund offered (and accepted) on June 29 has not arrived.

it works great - very difficult to set up. not many know this but theres 2 versions of the 20amp, they look identical but the LCD display and functions are a little different, and the manuals are different too. (both manuals are almost useless) if you can make do with the very disgusting button mapping and layout, it will charge just about any chemistry. I have this set to 14.4 lifepo4 and haven't changed it since. Charges 5 different lifepo4, from different vendors, just fine. I'd spend a little more and get a BougeRV charge controller.

Didn’t get it hooked up until after return window. Got it set up. Worked great during the day but somehow overnight it caught fire. Thank god it was on a cement floor and not my wooden workbench.

I had two power queen 12V batteries that were killed by the PWM charger as I transitioned from summer to winter months. I was able to connect this charger and have the batteries up and running next day. It also has settings to further protect your batteries.

I have only started tinkering with small solar systems and it's a learning curve, especially when it comes to charge controllers. My set ups are small enough, usually one or two Lithium 12v 50 or 100ah batteries, where it's not complicated but even so, I've been through at least 4 or 5 different types of charge controllers and most have quit working after 4 or 6 months in one way or another.. I decided to take a chance on this one when I needed to replace one . The unit is compact, simple and seems well built to the point where, after setting it up and using it for a couple weeks, I ordered a second one. I'm no expert so I can't give specs on how much voltage or amps it's transferring but it's basic functionality is exactly what I was looking for. Unlike the others I've had, this unit feels solid and seems more robust. If it's going to be exposed to the elements, it will need to be an enclosure as it has exposed USB ports. The phots below show it in such an enclosure and equipped with SAE plugs to connect to one of my portable power boxes. We'll see how it fairs durability wise in the long term but, so far, I'm hopeful and pleased

Very poor user manual and instructions. Difficult to change display information. I'm sure how well it's working.

replaced a Renogy controller. its much smaller and while kinda primitive it does the thing its supposed to do. it helps if you already understand charge controllers in general. I really like it show cumulative charge amps on the main screen. handy.

I bought this as an upgrade for the solar system on my boat. The display screen didn't line up with the case, couldn't see half of the screen. Wanted to contact the seller to get it sorted but couldn't find a way to. So I ended up taking the controller apart to fix it before I could install it. Shame really as it seems to be a good piece of kit. Shame it was broken and I could get in touch. I upgraded from one of the little blue controllers that you can find on here for less than 10 pounds. Never had an issue with the cheep ones.

Not many controllers can handle 36v panels on 12v batteries. This unit does and it's sensibly priced. Menu is a little confusing to start, but you eventually figure it out.

This item is not as advertised and setting it is almost impossible