PowMr MPPT Solar Charge Controller 60 amp 48V 36V 24V 12V Auto - Max 160VDC Input, LCD Backlight Solar Charge Controller for Vented Sealed Gel NiCd Lithium Battery【Software Update Version】

This little device for my solar unit has proven to perform well. I’m currently running my 40 foot bungalow with 12 batteries this unit works well…I ordered a backup just in case the unit go’s out, the current unit on the trailer was installed 3 years ago, I don’t want to be caught with my pants down if the system go’s out on me…I don’t foresee that happening but never under estimate Murphy’s Law…

Travajan muy bien

have 5 of these 60a controllers, and wanted to make them shed heat better. I built 5 total 1200 watt systms at 24v for redundancy reasons. 1st thing was I added about 36 square inches of alum heat sink to the back, and using a small 3 watt fan to cool. Later on, opening up the unit, found the 1/4" heat sink plate was only screwed to the back of the unit. So I added heat sink compound to increase heat transfer to the case/enclosure. The MOSFET's are securely fastened to the heat sink with heat transfer pads and screws, and will add compound to the pads to increase transfer. The only design issue was with three smaller MOSFETS that did not make full contact to the heatsink when again assembled and are not fastened with screws. The gap is small, and will fill that space with heat compound to insure heat transfer. I am also going to add a small 1 watt 80mm fan to the front case fan to operate full time.Note: One of my units is the powmr 60a orange and black $95 unit that already has the back heatsink. Saves a lot of time in fabrication, so any spares will be that newer model. Heat Kills Electronics, so hope they last beyond my testing stage

For the price, a solid choice for a charge controller. Purchased to stabilize a solar-powered water well pump that a previous owner had... not treated well, shall we say. Connected to a 48v series-string of deep cycle lead-acid batteries, charing off of 2 330w solar panels (in series). Yes, the documentation could use work, but is roughly comprehensible with the application of high-school level knowledge of electronics and electrical theory. Durable enough to put "in the field" in a semi-protected environment, and cheap enough to replace outright if it fails due to neglect or hard use. (I'm picking up one as a "shelf spare" shortly in anticipation of that eventuality.No regrets buying it. Does what I need, no fuss, no muss.

I was excited to start using this as many reviews gave it good ratings. After install, I was not getting as much current to the batteries as expected, so I decided to setup some quick switch networks so I can quickly compare between this MPPT controller and my existing PWM controller. Guess what, my PWM delivers about 50% more current to the batteries than this piece of JUNK!Details if you want to understand more:Unboxing: During the unboxing stage, I notice that there is some blue protective film wrapping the controller. The bottom right corner had been peeled back a few inches. There were a couple of scratches on the lower controller. I noticed a depression in the housing in the upper left side where the mounting bracket attaches. My initial thought was that this might not be new, or maybe it was reworked in the factory, or was simply mishandled. I decided to try it anyway. After removing the blue protective film, this also removed the model sticker. Instead of placing this label on the actual metal housing, it was place on the protective film. Maybe someone was in a hurry? Or maybe they expect you to run this with the film left applied? Not a good first impression.Initial Setup:The manual is actually written fairly well for this type of item. Still, there are errors in the manual. (For example, Fan on/off temperature conversions between F/C are not correct.)In the manual, Installation section, it clearly shows step 1, connect battery, step 2, connect the solar panel, etc. I read the entire manual before actually making connections. If I had not, then I might have connected the panels without configuring the MPPT settings. Later in the manual it says to make these settings for absorption and float voltages while the battery is connected, but panel is not connected. I think a simple statement here to the fact that a configuration is needed would be a nice addition.Under the Operation section in the manual, I found that a bit small to read. It took me a while to understand what that diagram was trying to tell me, but it was obvious after I actually went through the controller settings.Under Manual Setting, this is where you can configure the controller to your preferences.D00 is for setting the load on time. I do not use this, so I left it set to 24 hours.D01 is for setting the float voltage (according to the manual). My controller had this set to 14.5V Ouch!D02 is for setting the absorption voltage (according to the manual.) My controller had this set to 13.8V.D01 and D02 are in conflict between the manual and the default controller setting. Which is correct???D03 is for setting the low voltage shutoff. I do not use this and left it set to 10VD04 is for battery type configuration. Manual states 0 is for lead acid and 1 is for Lithium. The Amazon description states that this is configured for lead acid (0) but mine was set for Lithium (1) as many others have commented in the reviews.The settings are completed now. I removed battery voltage and reapplied to verify that the settings remain. They did remain. Now I connected the panels.My panel and battery configuration:I have 5 12V panels with series diodes for backfeed prevention. The cathodes of those diodes are all connected together and goes to the Battery+ on the charge controller. The Negatives from the panels are all tied together and they go to the Battery - on the charge controller. I chose diodes as to keep any panel backfeeding from happening due to shading, or controller malfunction. It works well on my PWM setup.I have switches setup so that I can quickly move battery and panels from one controller to the other. I have made many observations at different sun levels and different battery voltage levels. I have 12V batteries connected to the charge controller. (The new capacity rating for all three parallel 12V connected batteries is about 90Ah, but due to aging, I estimate it is closer to 30Ah.) I have tested in non-direct sun and find that my PWM controller is providing 0.49A to the batteries (Battery voltage is about 12.3V). If I switch to the MPPT controller, I only see about 0.39A to the batteries. Due to the smoke and other haze in the air this week, I am not getting peak performance from my panels, however at the expected peak performance (time of day) I measured 70Watts being delivered to my batteries (batt voltage around 12.8V) with this MPPT controller. I switched back to the PWM controller and I get 110W. I have done this probably 12 times and EVERY time I get the same result. I ALWAYS get much better current from my PWM as I do this MPPT controller.I verified the settings with the manual and it seems to be set correctly. I contacted the supplier. Although they have very prompt response time, their response was disappointing and not helpful in any way. The only conclusion I can draw at this time is that either this item is defective, or, the design really can't meet the specifications implied or stated by this controller. I have no use for this controller and will be returning it as I am within Amazon's return window. I am deeply disappointed that this did not work out for me. Many other reviewers have stated that their controllers work well, but I don't think any of them have made actual electrical measurements or comparisons that I have done. I could take this much farther, but due to not wanting to spend time on what I consider to be JUNK, and working toward a fast approaching return window, I opted to stop my testing here. It is pointless to continue.I hope that anyone that is seriously considering a purchase of this item will do their own electrical verification to see that what power is being delivered to the batteries actually makes sense. It is not hard to do with a simple Volt and Current Meter. I have dedicated power meters setup before and after the charge controller so I can see what is happening, but simple DVMs can work for lower currents. But, be careful of the max current that your current meter can handle. More than 10Amps might be bad for the meter. Bottom line is: Do you own verification and see that this really works for you. Don't just say, oh, it runs my television or my computer. That really does not say anything meaningful.Conclusion:While this controller does work about 50% of what it should, you could save a lot of money and just buy a simple PWM controller. Or, maybe another MPPT controller actually works as it should. I will be on the lookout for a better controller. My conclusion is that this is JUNK and that you should not buy it. There is a chance that I just have a defective controller, however the replies with the supplier were not helpful and never suggested a replacement. I suspect that the design is just not capable of what it claims and I will not waste any more time trying to get it to work. If you do purchase, please do your own verification.

Had this for about 8 months, with 400 watt solar panels that generates peak 25 amps. I have had 2 cheap MPPT that didnt last 2 weeks, this one works great