Solar Regulators for AGM Batteries

If you want best life and performance from your batteries, I reccon itis worth treating them appropriately.
I use a Plasmatronics controller. I did not find its installation unreasonable, but there are some subtleties. Read the instructions carefully and you will be OK.

Cheers,
Peter.
OKA196 Motorhome

Ask the salesman which one he makes the biggest margin on then pick the one that does exactly what you need.

You don't need to know the exact % or $ value, in fact you don't even really need an answer. The look on his face will tell it all.

They are both great units but one will suit your charging profile and needs more closely. That is the one you should choose.

Once you make your choice, RTFM. Politically correct version, Read The Fine Manual.

Geoff

kwk56pt

to put it bluntly the salesperson advisng you is either completely out of their depth and / or plain stupid if it is considered "complicated to set with stories of woe from customers"!.....

I couldnt think of a more straight foward and very very reliable and easy to set and use than the PL20....I have two of them in two different set ups......chosen and installed by myself after a through research and being led a bum steer on occassions over the years by salesperson llike you are dealing with

From past experince with deep cycle batteries being mismanaged by under performing controllers (yes, I went through a few of them while I educated myself)....... there is only one type of controller to consider...that is an intelligent controller that (via a shunt) uses not only voltage BUT just as importantly knowledge of amps in + amps out (from whatever source) to decide on the SOC and thence how to manage charge of the deep cycle battery

any charger that uses only voltage to manage a deep cycle battery will eventually allow them to develop a memory and in time their functional life will be premature.......

spent the money wisely....grow into your solar set up (not out of it)....buy good gear from someone who knows what they are selling......

you are very correct and astute in deciding that the regulator is important..in fact the single most important piece.......

Give the salesperson the flick..I personally wouldnt deal with someone who clearly does not fully understand what they are selling and so takes the easy way out...hence their comment on the PL20

cheers
bungarra

Steca specs
FLOAT = 13.9 Volts (liquid) 14.1 Volts (Gel)
BOOST = 14.4 Volts
Equalisation = 14.7 Volts (deactivated for Gel)


100AH Fullriver DC specs
FLOAT = 13.6 Volts
CYCLE = 14.5 Volts

Is your 100ah Fullriver DC battery definitely GEL ?

Mainey . . .

I have just looked at a PDF copy of the handbook for the Steca. The charging voltage (which they call Boost) is 14.4 V for all batteries. The float voltage for Gel/AGM batteries is 14.1 V and for liquid batteries (their term) is 13.9 V. The float voltages seem to be reversed to me and both are higher than I would use. However if you select the liquid battery setting to get the lower float voltage to better suit the Gel/AGM battery you are also going to subject your batteries to a 14.7 V equalising charge. Info on the PR20-20 can be found at Site Link

The Plasmatronics controller looks a better option to me, Get the handbook from Site Link and see if it suits.
PeterD