Renogy Fire Sale

[Blacktank]

the fire sale for $20 https://www.renogy.com/renogy-adventurer...d-display/

the on sale for $60 https://www.renogy.com/renogy-adventurer...d-display/

the newest $80 https://www.renogy.com/renogy-adventurer...d-display/

whats the difference between the first two?

should i be picking up a couple of the $20 versions or not? digital,can change parameters,sounds good to someone who has never touched a solar controller,killer deal or about what it's worth

[sternwake]

I'm not sure the difference between the first two is discernable at this point of a Saturuday night, for me, but the last one includes lithium battery setting and bluetooth interface.

I feel guilty for succumbing to market forces to buying the firesale version. I was thinking that at 20$, the offer might not be available on Monday, so I jumped.

[sternwake]

The 20 $ firesale version has no USB interface, the 50$ and 70$ versions do.

[RepublicOfTXPatriot]

Soooo would it be better for me to buy the 30 or the 20? I plan on minimum 400 watts Renogy Solar panel kit. Speaking of that ...what are the advantages or disadvantages of having two 200watt set ups on one rig (segregated) vs. one 400 watt on my rig? Thank you !!

[Texjbird]

but the last one includes  lithium battery setting and bluetooth interface.
                                              ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                                      WHAT"S IT?  A GOOD THING?

I'M CALLING TOMORROW TO VERIFY SALE DATES  HOWEVER MY EMAIL SAID SALE 2/23 TO 3/1

 I was thinking that at 20$, the offer might not be available on Monday, so I jumped.

The 20 $ firesale version has no USB interface, the 50$ and 70$ versions do.
                                                          ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                                        I THINK THIS MEANS IT CAN BE PLUGGED INTO A 12v CIGGY PLUG?

I NEED A SOLAR TO ENGLISH DICTIONARY TO STUDY FOR THE TEST....... BEFORE I GET SOLAR
  AT LEAST I'VE GOT GOOD INSURANCE     JUST IN CASE I BLOW UP/BURN DOWN ANYTHING BY ACCIDENT

{my installer sez he has retired}

 ALL INFO IS DEEPLY APPRECIATED

Jewellann

[RepublicOfTXPatriot]

I have just been looking at the Renogy website on the solar kits. Most of them are out of stock.

[Ballenxj]

I have just been looking at the Renogy website on the solar kits.  Most of them are out of stock.

 I guess that'll give you more time to research? (Thinking of Silver lining here.)

[sternwake]

Anybody with a large system regularly deeply cycling their batteries, will likely want to get a better controller that can have its absorption voltage duration adjusted as necessary.

Solar controllers prevent the solar panel from taking battery voltage too high once the battery is in the 80% + charged range, and prevent the panels from dischargnig the batteries at night.

But the battery itself will dictate how long to hold these absorption voltages for the person who is seeking to achieve true full charge of their batteries. The solar controller will be guessing at some acceptable midpoint, just as garage plug in 'smart' chargers do. These generally drop to float voltaeg in the 92 to 95% charged range, good enough for the engine starting battery occassionally discharged by accident, but nowhere near good enough for a nightly deep cycled battery.

How acceptable the controllers algorithm as to how long it allows absorption voltage might be fine and dandy for user A with battery X in light usage, but might quickly sulfate userB's battery Y.

It really depends on the depth of discharge and the battery itself and the amount of solar wattage and battery capacity, and sun exposure as to how happy any solar controller charging algorithm can make the battery.

Charging to 98% state of charge is only half as good as getting the battery to 100% charged before next discharge begins. but achieving that extra 2% with a more capable controller properly programmed and adjusted as the batteries age, might cost more and require much more effort than simply accepting lesser battery longevity, and replacing batteries more frequently.

I bought this 20$ controller not to keep my good battery happy, I have a quality MPPT configurable controller for that, I bought the controller because it seems like a very good product, for 20$, and is good enough for my flooded workshop battery which owes me nothing at this point.

If my 10+ year old BlueSky sb2512i controller in my Van shits the bed, I'd view this controller as a temporary hold me over type of controller until I could order and receive a new quality MPPT controller.

I might even consider it as a donation to someone I know who sorely needs solar, but cannot afford it.

[Blacktank]

Soooo  would it be better for me to buy the 30 or the 20? I plan on minimum 400 watts Renogy Solar panel kit. Speaking of that ...what are the advantages or disadvantages of having two 200watt set ups on one rig (segregated) vs. one 400 watt on my rig?  Thank you !!

on a 400w system if you shade one panel it affects the whole system on a 2x200w systems if you shade a panel it only affects that 200w system the other is at full power

[sternwake]

I am generally against 'kits'. There are stil some things that are not included that are required, and one might find themselves having to make something work, when another product would have been ideal.

For example The 200 watts of panels I just installed on a conversion van, the windynation 100 watt panels with a 27 inch width allowed their skylight to remain mostly unobscured, whereas some other 100 watt panels like my narrower Renogy, would have occluded most of the skylight.

I had them buy 15 foot mc4 extensions. if a kit came with 12' ones I would have had to joined wires to get them to reach the panels, and this joining would have been in a very awkward spot.

I think it is wiser to accumulate individual parts, rather than some 'all in one' Kit as there are likely many obstacles to a refined install than can be worked around with individual compoments, but might have to be accepted if one utilizes a kit.