Upgrade Charge Controller?

[VisualMonster]

Hello,

I'm looking to upgrade the charge controller that came with my 45w HF kit.  Biggest reason is the annoying beep that I tried to reduce, but it's still not quiet enough.  2nd reason is that I feel like the HF controller is a constant small drain on the battery, it has a lot of bright LED's that I don't really care for.

I have 90w's of panel, and found this one on ebay for cheap:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ICP-7-AMP-CHARGE-CONTROLLER-FOR-RV-SOLAR-PANELS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcat



egoryZ50073QQihZ010QQitemZ200019541199QQrdZ1

Anyone know if this would be an upgrade for me?  Any other 12v controllers that someone can recommend (low priced preferred...)?

Thanks,

- Bobby

[ghurd]

Its junk.  

That's the 'little yellow controller' I warned people about before.

The 3 panel kits formerly shipped with that one.

[Volvo farmer]

I bought one of these a few months ago.

http://cgi.ebay.com/12v-10A-100W-Solar-panel-charge-controller-power-jack_W0QQitemZ300020358945

He sells 5A units too and that might have been the one I got. Anyway, it ships out of Taiwan but it still got here within a week or two. I've had it on an old Solarex 53W panel and it hasn't blown up or given me any trouble yet. I use it to charge up weak car batteries and it's done a good job for me so far.

[fred480v]

there is a charge controler on ebay item # 270022293074 12v 16a made in the usa [hard to find] this is a very nice controler check it out it's @ 6.00 right now

     fred480v

[asheets]

I've found the best way to eliminate that "beep" from my UPS gear is to take a screwdriver and hammer to the little, cylindrical buzzer assembly/speaker.  They are usually held in with just the 2 power leads, which can then be utilized by an LED or something like that...

[tecker]

Your wasting your money unless you want to work with less than 100 ah even then your not going to have a good charge to work with .They  set that system up for a barn lights or patio etc or a camping trip . Figure your needs in watts load, triple that and then start adding batteries  . Several threads on this in the forum . I hate to see

people waste money on such. Save your money and buy batteries. You'll never get the batts to top off with that system anyhow without a pulse cap witch works very well at 45 watts . 45 watts is around 3 amps in good sun just use what comes with the kit and add a couple of batts to your truck if your camping for home use take a 14.5 volt zener

 and use a 12 volt 5 watt lamp as a dump when the light comes on and stays on switch to the next battery. 3 amps requires 14 to 16 hrs to top off a 115 martine batt and you'll notice the a battery takes longer each time a good sign of sulfation from not getting the electolite mixed.  

[VisualMonster]

Well... I don't really have a choice now.  My 2nd HF Charge Controller just died, same condition is the first one, except the 2nd one is pretty much unmodified (meaning I didn't break it).  I had 90 watts of panel running through this controller, not sure if that's why it died or maybe it was just a defective batch.  It wasn't my wiring either, I made sure to double check it both times (and it's color coded for dummies).

Anyway, I think I'm going to take my chances with this 10 amp ICP controller:

http://shop2.outpost.com/product/4653578

I'm hoping that this one is better than the "little yellow controller", even though it's made by the same company.  I'm buying it from Fry's Electronics, but need to wait a week for it to arrive since they were out of stock.  argh... i hate waiting for things to arrive..... lol

[tecker]

 How are you useing the the panels ie how much battery and what kind of load.

 

[ghurd]

Morningstar SunSaver-10

G-

[VisualMonster]

The Sunsei ICP 10AMP controller has been in place for almost a full week now and is working very nicely!  No more annoying beeps and it is much smaller which is another nice benefit.  

Battery is 75 AMP Hr deepcycle from walmart.  I have a 75watt inverter which is on 24/7 (it powers a phone, vonage adapter, Wireless Router and cable modem).  I think this is about a 10 watt load, maybe 14 watts due to inverter losses.  I'll measure this w/ a killawatt meter later.  I also sometimes have a 17 watt laptop connected to it (only during the day if there is extra battery juice that needs to be used).

I have a 400watt inverter that I got from HF, but don't really use it since I'm pretty sure it is less efficient than my cheap 75watt inverter.