Solar Boost SB2512iX-HV, 25A MPPT Solar Charge Controller for 12V Lead Acid Batteries. Auxiliary Output for Dual Battery Charge or 25A LVD Load Output

I've used one of these with the remote display on my boat's solar system for a couple of years. It is a solid and efficient MPPT charger that consistently gives me about 20% extra charging current than I would get with a straight charger. It starts being a positive contributor to the charge output when the solar is delivering more than about 1.5A - not hard to do. Below that, the extra overhead of the MPPT switching actually decreases your output current slightly.My comments will be about the system with the remote unit - the remote makes programming this super easy and gives great information. Multiple 2512 controllers can be put in parallel to allow higher-power systems, and I am adding a second unit in now as I increase my solar capability.The unit has a tremendous amount of programming capability to allow it to work with virtually any battery type. It has a secondary output that can be used either as a switched output such as a light control, or a low-power "top-off" for an additional battery. In my system, I have a 500A-H house battery bank and a separate starter battery. The secondary output keeps my starting battery charger nicely.The entire unit is a metal heat sink for the controller. It's easy to mount, but needs to be in a dry area since there is no waterproofing. It has good efficiency on the power conversion, so the case stays at very reasonable temperatures.I've specifically investigated whether this unit is creating much noise on my SSB radio, and have been happy to find that it does not. I installed a switch on the solar side to kill off any large switching transients just in case, but find that I don't use it.I'd give it 5-stars if it was better protected for marine use.

All I know is this unit worked when my old one did not. This was a one for one replacement. I’ve been using the Blue Sky Charge Controller for many years now without a problem until my Inverter/Charging unit in the motorhome burned up and cost me 4 new batteries.

Great charger/Controller. It Fits in a standard 11B electrical box, a little tight but the compact form makes it easy to Install anywhere. I've only got hundred watts or about 5 A going through it and it handles it just fine.

after purchase I should have looked for larger unit, 20-25 amps isn't much.

I am not terribly impressed with this controller. The instructions and other information require size 8 wire from my 300 watts of panels, yet the connectors in the unit are only sized to take size 12 lugs. I was able to bend size 10 lugs and make them fit but I had to make size 10 pigtails to attach my size 8 cables to the unit. I also have a problem in that my unit will not go into "Equalize" mode. After numerous phone calls to support their only alternative was to send it back for service. As this is the only charge controller I have their promised 2-3 week turn around didn't work for me as these panels are the primary electrical supply for my boat. I would have had to find a marina at great expense while I waited for the unit to be repaired, not to mention interrupting my trip waiting to have the unit shipped back to me. I only very occasionally see a significant gain over my panel output from the MPPT controller. I definitely see less peak output from this unit than my old PWM controller. Peak panel output that I have seen on a clear day with this unit in June at 28.5N is about 14 amps. My old PWM controller would regularly see 18 amps under the same conditions. I suppose this could be the result of the smaller wire required to wire in this unit whereas the PWM controller could take the 8 gauge wire coming from the panels. In the summer on clear days my batteries would reach 100% charge by early afternoon with the PWM controller. In the nearly two years I have been using this controller my batteries have never reached 100% on the solar panels alone. I purchased this unit in June of 2013 so I write this review with significant experience with the unit, as opposed to a new out of the box review.

I bought this item for my remote cabin 18 months ago.It did perform as describe and I am very happy about the performance.Only one minor problem and it was sent back to the shop for investigation. I am from Montreal Canada. Within 2 days at the shop, the testing was done followed by repair.The unit was on it way from California to Canada within two days. What a service.

very fast shipping