solar regulator

I have done a fair bit of research over the last few months and actually purchased a kit off EBay. And, returned it because it was just rubbish. I better quality kit I have now has a good PWM regulator on it and for 95% of the time it will be just fine. I can only go on my own experiences but this mob do a pretty good kit, although costlier than the EBay jobs, it preforms very well. They have a sale on that may be what you want. Aussie Solar

Cheers
James

Ditto re Jim's comments - pay more, get better quality (in the case of solar, anyway) - for electroklutz's like me that see electricity as a 'sort of 'magic', appreciating the virtues of PWM and MPPT are far too hard.....a few years back I bought a 100W mono, folding panel kit from Low Energy Developments in Preston, Vic - solid unit, very durable bag, quality cables and a waterproof Landstar PWM regulator (programmable for battery type and other functions) that was NOT mounted to the back of the hot panels* ! On current performance, I expect that kit to outlast my camping days......I use it to augment the solar on my van, plus top up the car if its been sitting round too long. So, my strategy of buying quality once and keeping it for ages might just have worked :-).
*have since moved the regulator to the battery end of the cable (assesses battery needs more accurately, when on that end.....I'm told :-).

Hi,

There is some interesting info here: PWM Vs MPPT

Hi Coolie,

As the panel output voltage becomes too high to apply directly to the battery the regulator controls the charge to the battery. The essential difference between PWM and MPPT regulators is that the MPPT will convert the higher panel voltage to a value fit for the battery without waste. The PWM on the other hand simply clips-off the excess voltage and 'wastes' it. So the MPPT is the more efficient.
This becomes significant with larger panels but with a 120W panel the advantage is less important.

The responses you were given are nonsense except maybe re the cost difference. Unless you seek the maximum system efficiency then consider only the economics.

Positioning the regulator close to the battery will provide more efficiency and closer regulation of the battery charge.

Its know early days, but I am more than impressed with the CTEK D250 S Dual after I installed it in my little van a week ago. Cost $250
It is MPPT and will take tow vehicle supply and solar panel supply via separate terminals.
On the trip last weekend, it 'seemed' to do a significantly better job than the original set up (Cheapish solar controller + direct charging from vehicle charging 2 x 100ah AGM in van).
I do monitor supply through a watt-meter; well sort of.
(PS: I have no connection (excuse the pun) with the supplier or manufacturer)