Kickass MPPT

[Ser_Egg]

So i recently acquired a Kickass MPPT as i had one of those cheap PWM. So i decided to hook it up and the LCD screen doesnt work as expected. It just shows incomprehensible text and then fades into nothingness. The bluetooth works though. Also im only pulling max 80w which was what i was pulling with the PWM. The panels are some random ebay crap saying 250w 12v. The app says the voltage on the panels is getting 21.1v at the moment. So am i safe to assume that the panels are actually making my system inefficient and that if i get 12v 250 panels i will get 20amps on a bright sunny day like today.

I knnow i shouldve just listen to myself and bought some quality gear from the start but thats what you get for listeninng to other people instead of your instincts. Anyway its been fun learning how this all works. Learn by doing

Cheers
Egg

 

[Ser_Egg]

This is from the app

 

[Kevin]

@Ser_Egg
As you've discovered the controller will not improve the performance of the panels but will improve the charging. But there is a lot of "witchcraft" involved in getting the most of solar panels e.g. position of the sun, your location, the type of solar panel and if the sun gods are smiling on you!

But, the display should be showing the detail:

From here Types of Solar Panels: On the Market and in the Lab [2020]
"The most common types of solar panels for home use are composed of monocrystalline, polycrystalline or thin-film solar cells. They vary in efficiency and cost. Monocrystalline panels are the most expensive and most efficient. The least expensive, but typically least efficient, are thin-film solar panels."

 

[Ser_Egg]

Yeeah ive done some more testing throughout the day, Kev Dog. So far im leaning towards the panels being less than what has been said. They are also small panels so that shouldve been first sign as well. We shall see what happens next sunny day, last test