Best 60A MPPT solar charge controllers - Detailed review and real-world testing

A detailed review of the leading MPPT solar charge controllers rated 60A or higher used for high-performance, off-grid solar power systems. Includes, Tristar MPPT 60, Midnite Classic, AERL Coolmax SRX, Outback FLEXmax 60, and Victron SmartSolar 150-60.
See more details about how MPPT solar charge controllers work here... www.cleanenergyreviews.info/b...

[@cleanenergyreviews]

* Use these timestamps to skip to the relevant sections: @1:30 - Look Inside each controller and features @6:24 - Start real-world performance testing @11:10 - Test results @17:00 - Test results - Partial Shading

[@peterphil9686]

Best on the net bro. Well done

[@whoguy4231]

Great comparison... No BS.... straight to the job at hand! Thanks!

[@wesleyofficer1237]

I have installed and used many of the Outback and MidNite units and they are great. Outback FlexMax=simple as a brick. Midnite classic=same + more options.

[@johnbutler5208]

Great job explaining. I think what I have learned is to stay with Pwm and build a larger battery bank, and more panels. Thanks for helping me make up my mind. A friend told me a long time ago keep it simple and safe. John

[@alecrobinson6570]

Excellent, love your style. Very helpful.

[@fc436]

Victronenergy don't have slower tracking. Simply is programmed to scan 10 times the entire I/V curve at the start ! These is a software choice. True tracking speed is simply measured with a tester on the panel terminals. You see how quickly the tester goes up and down by a few tenths of a volt. The speed of the first scan indicates nothing. Simply the victronenergy is programmed to always do 10 complete scans at the beginning (5 maximum points and 5 minimum points). The fact that some find the MPP VOLTAGE faster, means they only scan 1 or 2 times. But not that they are faster in tracking. The actual tracking is done during the entire mppt operating time of a controller. And it is done by moving the voltage up and down very slightly ... To track any changes in the Mpp voltage of the panel. Instead, the best power result of Victron indicates a better conversion efficiency because the MPP VOLTAGE is the same for each CONTROLLER, because the MPP searching method is the same in these types of controllers(move up/move down and verify, move up/move down and verify end so... .) Anyway.. The first tracking at the start NOT INDICATE THE TRACKING SPEED. Only indicate a software strategy. Victron scan EVER 10 times the entire I/V curve at the start, or at the switch from NO MPPT MODE to MPPT Mode. I don't know if the others controller also make 10 times scan.

[@dmeskill2]

VERY HELPFUL VIDEO! THANKS FOR SHARING!

[@SmartEnergyLab]

Great work Jason... excellent test rig

[@cleanenergyreviews]

Thanks Glen. Very happy although it took a looong time to setup and even longer to edit!

[@SmartEnergyLab]

@@cleanenergyreviews I know the feeling! One demo project here at the lab has been under construction for 18 months... big reveal soon :)

[@rossawood5075]

I have been using a pair of Outback FM 80's since they were first introduced mid 2000's, very happy with them, ultra controllable and very reliable. Ditto for a pair of FM 60's on another system. Outback USA are excellent to deal with and are very good at assisting when a problem is encountered, like when I fried some circuitry in one of my FM 80's by unintentionally disconnecting battery bank when under a solar load of 65 amps. They have a very reasonably fixed price refurbishment service and even paid the return freight from West Coast USA to East Coast Australia.

[@davegeorge7094]

Thanks for the great review, very pro set-up. I've seen really poor MPPT from a MPP 60a charge controller. Sent it back to Taiwan. shipping cost 220 from US

[@k7iq]

Really good review and method I would say ! The only possible problem doing it this way, except that you did it 3 times which should fix that, is that the PV array and conditions might change slightly during the time you are going down the line, left to right. The good thing about all of these controllers (unshaded case) is that they all chose 85 volts input, plus or minus a volt or two for Vmp. Partial shading looked really similar except for the AERL which I was surprised to see sitting at around 85 volts still. Was that always the case ? Couldn't really tell from the display glare what the Morningstar was at but it was evidently OK. Great review again !

[@peterphil9686]

Well done bro! Keep it up we need real comparisons of ‘real life situations data’ to help us

[@winterburan]

Great job ! Thanks !👍

[@zalleywaalley8227]

great video

[@billiem6491]

Hi there. For some reason the test results are all blurred and i can not read them. Is there a link to see them please

[@checkingoutgypsymike2075]

Couldn't find aerl unit on line.

[@jacobgreen6939]

question on the midnite gfi plz. does the GFI protect every appliance coming from the inverter?

[@cleanenergyreviews]

No, it does not protect the appliances connected to the inverter (that is the job of the circuit breakers on the AC supply side). The idea behind MidNite Solar’s GFI is to stop the current flow in the event of a short from the solar PV array.

[@closertothetruth9209]

i prefer any controller where you do not need to buy add ons , plug n play.

[@ek9772]

Great review. One of the features missed is the ability to daisy chain or synchronize several charge controllers together. On a boat, for instance, this is an important feature due to mast and line shading. A single charge controller is used per solar panel, and they are all controlled by a master charge controller. The advantages of this is to reduce competition among several charge controllers to charge a battery, and it avoids overcharging a battery. This is an extremely important feature since it extends the life of a battery bank, and aboard a boat is one of the most precious energy resources. Some but not all of the charge controllers shown have this feature. Another thing is that some of these charge controllers have a proven record of installations on extreme harsh environments like the Arctic or the Sahara desert. I believe this is why, for instance, the Morningstar charge controller does not specify a maximum operating temperature.

[@cleanenergyreviews]

Multiple charge controllers on a common battery is not a problem with most modern charge controllers - as long as they all use the same battery charge voltage set points. All of the controllers in this review are able to be daisy-chained no problem. Once the battery reaches the adsorption voltage then the current is reduced to maintain the voltage. If the battery is full, then the other charge controllers should not increase the voltage further. These often works without any comms between controllers so long as the battery cable length and size is common between all controllers.

[@ek9772]

@@cleanenergyreviewslike I said before, unfortunately, not all of them have this ability. Here is a hint: www.victronenergy.com/blog/2013/11/15/synchronizing-multiple-mppt-15070-charge-controllers-2/

[@RicardoCerveraBlanco]

Great Video. I got 1 question and i cant seem to find anything related to this... I have a large amount of 36v lithium batteries but i can not find any video regarding solar charger controller that can deal with these batteries, any help would be great. Thanks.

[@cleanenergyreviews]

Do you mean 36V or 3.6V batteries? I'm guessing you are referring to 3.6V which need to be connected in parallel to obtain a higher voltage. For example 7 x 3.6 = 25.2V which will operate like a 24V battery system

[@RicardoCerveraBlanco]

@@cleanenergyreviews 36v...

[@JimmyLLL]

@@RicardoCerveraBlanco Midnite will do 36v.

[@candyland3815]

i am using the fm80 with lifepo4 batteries. it sends a voltage spike through the batteries and trips the inverter when 106Vmp or higher goes into it. this is confirmed by outback tech support. does this happen with the victron as well?

[@cleanenergyreviews]

Very strange, did Outback give an explanation for this? We have used Victron 150/45 MPPT with LiFePo4 batteries and a Vmp of 115V with no problems. What battery brand are you using?

[@candyland3815]

@@cleanenergyreviews No explanation except that maybe my inverter is too sensitive, but their solution is to reduce the maximum charge voltage until it stops tripping the inverter, hopefully by then that voltage is enough to charge the bank properly. After 55V is switch back to FLA bank. i'm using archibald lifepo4 batteries from china.

[@candyland3815]

UPDATE should this be of benefit to anyone, i replaced the batteries with rack mounted 48V battery pack and the issue was immediately solved. I assume it was either bad battery packs or multiple synchronized 12V BMS that was the cause and not the FM 80 since i didn't need to replaced it with another brand as i had intended.

[@janjesser5154]

Nice to see real world comparison. Lots of work to set this up. but data to hard to read and scrolls to fast. Thanks

[@scruff7559]

Most important test; lead battery specific gravity at charge completion. Second most important test; daily energy on parallel arrays.

[@AM-ft9bv]

Is the midnight controller suitable for Lifepo4 lithium batteries 24v?

[@AaronJacksonJS]

yes

[@akramkunbher7804]

Theses are all good charges

[@HDXFH]

Aerl, let’s hope they keep it aussie made

[@michaeljoncour4903]

yes, and they are only double the price of the rest.

[@horacenapier4829]

price check. i paid 550 for my tristar 60a mppt shop around

[@cleanenergyreviews]

For Australian installations here is a great detailed video explaining the earth fault requirements... kzbin.info/www/bejne/bp2siqNteLGFnK8

[@johnbutler5208]

One more thing, don't lead acid battery's like the pulse that the pwm puts out

[@jeffperry9274]

Midnite classic blew all of them away that being said price point may be a selling point of the others.

[@Futures62]

I have Outback and Victron. I am getting rid of the Victron to buy another Flexmax 80, the Victron will not EQ my NiFe batteries and you cannot do anything with it unless connected by their app, Bluetooth and WiFi are enabled by default. IMHO it is a toy, the Outback is a tool.

[@shaunpmarshall]

I wouldn't want a charger with Bluetooth on all the time