Renogy 30A 12V/24V PWM Solar Charge Controller with LCD Display Flush Mount Design Negative Ground, Compatible with Sealed, Gel, Flooded and Lithium Batteries, Adventurer 30A,black

This is a very well built module that works as advertised. I have paired it with a LiFePO4 battery and a foldable solar panel to create a backup power box for field use. Instructions are straight forward and the performance is as expected. Highly recommend this if you are building a backup power box to combine with a solar panel or a plug in power supply.

Without a doubt and after testing most of the PWM controllers in this realm, I'll say this one is the best. This one not only works, but you don't have to worry about it and it just works. It's also a great price for 17$ which is what I paid. If you are looking for a charge controller either for a backup or just because you have less than a 200w panel or two 100w panels in parallel this little controller will fit the bill for you. You can add the BT controller if you want but why? That costs more than this unit and this unit already has this data built in. Just press the select button to see voltage, amps, battery voltage, load, load settings and ways to maximize your small setup with a excellent PWM controller.Thank you Renogy for this controller and please keep this low price for all of us that know how to properly use this. This is seriously the best sub 20$ PWM controller out there for small panels and it just works with all the features it provides. I'm very happy with this unit and would highly recommend to anyone.

4 stars explainedPros-charging algorithm voltage values are correct as measured with DVM (only flooded, agm and LiFePo4 tested)-LiFePO4 charge voltages can be set by user from 14.2 default to most common values depending on battery manufacturer spec. I use 14.6 volts (new). 2018 version default was 14.4 volts-Completely sealed against elements-When equipped with Temp sensor, will include battery temp on the display rotation (new). Previous version required manually toggling the display-shows input Panel voltage (new).Cons-Battery voltage readings can be inaccurate for all battery types and worsen with temp sensor attached (but solar panel voltage readings OK).-Exchange to get a controller that read accurately resulted in an improvement, but attaching temp sensor again introduced .2v to .4v error.-Battery type selected does not display by default (previous versions did, i.e. Gel, Wet, LiFePo4, AGM) Have to push buttons on new version to go into Select Batt Type menu.-Battery type selection button often unresponsive.-Selecting LiFePo4 charge voltage values sometimes not responsive; if desired value is passed up in scrolling, could not scroll back; had to scroll through full range and couldn't get a response for each push of the button.-Panel and battery connection LEDs no longer present. Loss of an EZ visual status observation, possibly an energy saver. Must wait for status to scroll automatically or must scroll manually through display to see status.--Auto scroll interval too long to see 5 parameters. Two secs per parameter should do it.-Hard reset process discussed with Renogy to clear possible errors not described in manual and might or might not work. (later determined attaching temp sensor caused the incorrect readings)In a nutshell, some of the improvements in this version are welcome and some of the old features are missed. But that isn't the problem.This newer version had inexplicable battery voltage reading errors not present in in 2018 versions I own. Amazon and Renogy were great in trying to get a working replacement, but in the end, decided to abandon that effort in favor of a refund for now.LiFePo4 does not use temp compensated charging as lead acid batteries do. So, when the LiFePO4 battery voltage read spot on, backtracked to see what was different. The difference turned out to be the temperature sensor. I used the sensor for flooded and AGM, but disconnected it for LiFePo4. Attaching it caused a substantial voltage reading error for all battery types that made it impossible to accurately determine battery state of charge. Charge algorithms didn't seem to be affected when measured with an external DVM. Neither of the 2018 versions I own are affected by attaching the temp sensor.One other thing to remember about LiFePo4 batteries is they do not like to "float" at much above 13.6 volts after reaching full charge. This isn't much of a concern in solar charging because charging ceases in the absence of solar energy. Thus there is no real need to have a voltage limited float stage setting after the battery is fully charged and balanced.This is the very first time I've given 4 stars to an item I've been dissatisfied with, but this controller, even with the battery voltage reading issue still offers useful functionality once set up. Use an external monitor if you want accurate voltage readings to monitor state of charge when using with the temperature sensor. Otherwise, I especially like the user defined charging voltages for LiFePO4 as values can vary among LiFePO4 manufacturers. It's important to use the right setting.The temperature sensor addition should only cause the controller to do its job of reducing charging voltages above 77 deg F and increasing charging voltages below 77 deg F where temp compensated charging is necessary. It should NOT affect the accuracy of reading battery voltage. An otherwise 5 star controller gets a "pushed" 4 stars. It does all things well except show acceptable values for temperature compensated flooded and AGM battery voltage. Both the original and the replacement returned to Amazon citing the Renogy case number. If the accuracy of the resting voltage is of utmost importance, then 3 stars.

I'm not an electrical engineer. I barely understand the difference between PWM and MPPT charge controllers. What I do know is that this controller was easy to install, is easy to use and set up, keeps my car battery topped up whatever I'm doing and has lasted 3 years while being completely exposed to the elements. So far its collected/transferred over 20KWHrs (indicated) of power from my small, roof-mounted PV setup. Well worth the small amount of money I spent.

This thing has worked perfectly all day every day for over a year. It, along with a Renogy Gel AGM hybrid battery and a 100w Renogy solar panel which I use to power a fencer for a remote pasture, were completely submerged in water when the river came over the banks. When the water receded, this thing was all covered in mud and debris. I walked up to it expecting to be out some cash but it was like... What? I got a job to do. Unfortunately, the water proof fencer couldn't handle the weather.

The description states clearly that it works with lithium battery.I read some reviews stating that supported battery type does NOT include lithium.So I called Renogy before I made the purchase. A representative told me it supports Lithium Battery! She even referenced to the description on the website on Amazon, which I did not see at first glance.So I decide to purchase, based on the info. given by this Renogy technical support representative.When the product arrived, I read the manual, did not mention lithium. Hook it up to battery and arrived at the battery selection screen, no lithium choice available. Called Renogy tech support again, a lady told me it works with lithium! I had to explain to her several times, that I was at the selection screen and there was no choice for lithium battery. Finally, after consulted with other representative, she agreed that it did NOT work with lithium battery! But she told me that Renogy did not sell the item, so there is nothing she can do about it. I asked her why Renogy customer support agent told me otherwise before I made the purchase. Her reply was asking for the case number where the agent told me it works with lithium battery. While, I called and asked, there was no case number given!I really can not think of how to avoid situation like this, when the manufacture's own support agent does not know its own products. I have initiated a return.