Redodo 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller

Folks, in this video we take a look at the new 40A Solar Charge Controller from Redodo.
NOTE: The product this video was sent to me free of charge in exchange for this video review.
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Links to products in the video:
👍Redodo 40A Charge Controller: shrsl.com/47zr1
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👍Redodo 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery: shrsl.com/3xxt2
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[@HOAHamRadio]

Nice to see Redodo expand the product offering. Really looking forward to your solar set up video -- this is something I want to get into and want to learn from people I trust.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey Bob. I will get around to it at some point... Thanks for watching the video 👍

[@Swamp-Fox]

Time to fire up the HF rig & spectrum analyzer and see if it is noisy before you install it in the shack. I am interested to see the results. The Bluetooth & app are a nice feature. I use an Apollo MPPT charge controller from DIY Solar For U. It is very quiet. The guy that designed and sells it is a ham (and an EE) and has EMI data listed on his site.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Hey SF. Yeah, I will need to do some RFI testing it seems. Thanks for watching!

[@AD6DMDennis]

That's one hell of a beefy ferrule crimp. Must have taken you superhuman grip strength.

[@TheSmokinApe]

It took some squeezing for sure 👍

[@WECB640]

Ape, how is the RFI from this unit? A follow up with the spectrum analyzer would be good. 73 Bro.

[@FEPLabsRadio]

What he said! This looks like a job for the TinySA!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Calm down boys, I'll do some RFI testing.

[@HamRadioA2Z]

Hi Ape. Nice review! You definitely prove that you are a true ham operator since the last thing you did after hooking it up and running all of your tests was to crack open the manual. 😂

[@TheSmokinApe]

Haha, thanks for watching!

[@kendebusk2540]

@@TheSmokinApe I used to teach proprietary computer programs and I can't count how many times I told people (in a polite way) to RTFM. Hats off to those who don't have to be told! Ken, Michigan, KA8VLW

[@rippleeffect3910]

Ok buddy. Definitely need to hear if you can run HF while this is in circuit. Personal experience, Renogy products completely wipe out radio. I've been running a Morningstar in my mobile ham shack without issue. Heard Victron is noisy, too, unfortunately. Multiple chemistry capability with this unit is exciting. Thanks for all your hard work Ape!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks RE. I suppose I am going to have to do some RFI testing.

[@Hank_W6IR]

Son, you forgot the all important RF test. Can we use it near our radios?

[@TheSmokinApe]

That's a good question. I am planning to test a few controllers for RFI at some point 👍

[@RicSpivey]

Great breakdown ape! I actually have this charge controller, along with a few others but I still don't have the battery storage capability to REALLY test the dang thing! Hopefully I can add that in the future, and not to mention it's so shady here in my yard with all these massive oak and pine trees around I'd need a 100 foot run to some solar panels at least to get to open sun! All to say, I think you did a fantastic job digging into the capabilities of this charge controller and if I was on their marketing team I'd say you earned the hell outta that product! Thanks again ape! 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Spivey and good luck with the system build out!

[@dougdaniels]

Nice review, as always. From watching a lot of charge controller tests/reviews, the MPPT controllers out perform the PWM, but have yet to see one that's not RFI heavy. I will likely get an MPPT controller at some point for non Ham use, and stick to my Bioenno and powermini PMWs for Ham use. Maybe if I wait long enough someone will make a Ham friendly one.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks Doug. I have a few chargers... I suppose at some point I need to do an RFI test on all of them 👍

[@FreeStuffGuy916]

Great video, Ape. I have this controller with different branding (HQST). It works well but mine is really RF noisy especially on 17 to 10 meters. I can't run the radio off the battery at the same time I'm charging if I'm on 17 to 10 meters. It's tolerable on 20 and 40. With a 200 watt Renogy panel, it charges my 60Ah LiFePO4 battery pretty quickly. I noticed the difference in charge time with MPPT vs. PWM controllers but probably not enough to give up my PWM Bioenno 20A charge controller. 73 de N6EF

[@TheSmokinApe]

Dang. I haven’t tried it with a radio yet.

[@1originaloutlaw675]

Great video. I need to work on my solar!!!

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks 1OO glad you liked it 👍

[@LeeMcc_KI5YPR]

I was just looking at products like this, and I noted "Load" is rated maybe half of the headline value. So direct connect to the battery is probably necessary, rather than to Load, to run 100W.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Yep, totally agree.

[@robertmeyer4744]

That look real nice. love the Bluetooth app. with MPPT controllers HAM and SWL people may get some RFI noise from them. I have several MPPT controllers and some for POTA go kit. what I found that works great for this is ferrite . can be snap cores but I have found T 240-31/43 works the best. just wind like a common mode choke. wrap red and black together get as many turns as you can . and mount them right at controller . 1 for each. solar/battery/load .every MPPT I had or used this works on. Victron ,Morningstar Etc. also that load can be used as a light controller. turn on lights at night for X time you set that or dusk to dawn. for LiFePO4 you do not need temp probe but still can use to check temp in the room. they gave it. use it I say. that WMR battery tester can test solar panels as well. and load test power supply's to a point. should use #8 AWG for 40 amps. #6 AWG better if long. they make bigger power pole connectors Powerworkx has them. PP75 is next size bigger. also the SB 50 Anderson is great. they have up to 350 amp ones. for SB and power pole up to 180 amp ones. same red and black. they also have many colors. I used power pole yellow and black on my solar POTA go kit. nice to see a HAM radio side of this review. 73's

[@TheSmokinApe]

I still need to test RFI but yes ferrite is the way. Thanks for the comment 👍

[@BobBob-il2ku]

Helios is the OEM for HSQ,Redodo,litime charge controllers the HSQ has low temp cutoff though wich is a nice feature

[@TheSmokinApe]

Thanks for the info Bob 👍

[@gfodale]

Definitely budget worthy, waiting on RFI test....

[@TheSmokinApe]

It’s on the list 👍

[@KS0JD]

Maybe you need to put a meme of Jim with his cat when you cut to cat videos. Just a suggestion. 73

[@TheSmokinApe]

LOL!

[@temporarilyoffline]

600w is a great place to start - lots of room to add panels! I get that you need to run your load off the battery, but that makes all that "intelligence" in the controller pointless since you can't measure what's coming out of the battery, only the load port and charge port.

[@TheSmokinApe]

Even at 40A out it still wouldn't be enough as my inverter is 2,000 watts, but I can use the controller to track what goes into the battery. Most solar systems are like legos and end up being a hodgepodge of components. I'm thinking about using a shut on the battey to measure output but that ends up being one more link in the chain.

[@temporarilyoffline]

@TheSmokinApe right! Too many parts. I have a controller with no display if I didn't leave it in the storage unit...

[@ericschaffer9228]

Does Redodo make this because I'm seeing similarities from other brands.

[@TheSmokinApe]

I suspect someone makes this batteries which a sold to various distributors.

[@ericschaffer9228]

@@TheSmokinApe I see LiTime and HQST has the same solar controllers. I'm seeing a lot of rebranding and the industry whether it's batteries, solar controllers, or solar panels. HOBOTECH does a review on the HQST and he seems to be impressed with them.

[@TheSmokinApe]

@@ericschaffer9228 I think Power Queen might have one as well

[@Scaliad]

RS-485 is probably modbus... I'm trying to figure out how to connect to another Chinese charge controller (WZRELB 40a) to Solar Assistant and Home Assistant. I wish it was as simple as buying an specified available cable. Maybe it is, but it looks like I have to buy a USB FTDI cable and an RS-232 breakout... Wish I was smarter...

[@TheSmokinApe]

All the cables and connections turn into a confusing chore for sure.

[@jonathanwelter]

Where is it made?

[@TheSmokinApe]

I'm gonna guess China.

[@Ellifiknow]

Looks like an HQST charge controller

[@TheSmokinApe]

I’ve seen the same on or similar under different brand names 👍

[@leroymay8156]

pse link to cat video. :)

[@TheSmokinApe]

lol