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opinion:frater_secessus:epever

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EpEver MPPT controllers

The EpEver line of MPPT solar charge controllers is an excellent value-for-money for some use cases. They cost about half as much as prettier, more-prestigious controlllers.

  • the controllers can take massive overpaneling; the smaller units (≤40A) have documentation that allows +50% overpaneling1). The larger units show +200%2)
  • the passive heatsinks are huge for their rated capacity
  • accessories like display, temp probes, etc, are extremely inexpensive
  • the current user manuals3) are quite good

issues

As with vans, all controllers have issues. This page aims to list known4) issues with EpEver controllers.

They may not be a fit for all use cases, though. Consider these drawbacks in the light of your own intended scenario:

  • the MPPT algorithm is not particularly robust
    • it will adjust to changing conditions, but it can be slow. One might say “plodding”.
    • it can be slow to react after long periods of no load - see this reddit post where I describe the phenomenon
    • it can get confused in complex solar conditions, as with partly-cloudy skies and high winds, or in breezes that move partial shade around on the panels. In these conditions Vpanel can fall to just above Vbatt, severely hobbling solar harvest.5)
  • the large AN controllers (≥50A) have undersized terminal screws which can snap under overzealous tightening. IMO EpEver should update the design with hefty BN-series terminal screws.
  • firmware does not appear to be field-upgradable without hacking
  • Absorption duration cannot be zeroed out; the minimum duration is 10 minutes.
1)
40A * 12.0v * 1.5
2)
50A * 12.0v * 3.0
3)
as of 2022
4)
or suspected
5)
effectively matching PWM output
opinion/frater_secessus/epever.1648916262.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/04/02 12:17 by frater_secessus