Victron MPPT vs Epever charge controller

Victron MPPT speed and efficiency compared to the Epever charge controller...a clear winner?
Victron MPPT 75/15 controller: amzn.to/3ED63Dw
Victron MPPT 100/50 controller: amzn.to/3vFF46e
Epever 40amp charge controller:amzn.to/389YacF
Ampere time 12v 100ah LiFePO4 battery: amperetime.com...
Discount code for Ampere Time battery: Aloha20
Filmed with gopro hero 10 : amzn.to/3L7W0Jd
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[@stevebakker6884]

Very helpful video. After ordering and returning two cheap Chinese Solar charge controllers, I ordered a 60A EPEVER controller. Not too happy with it in the first couple of days of operation.... hard to set parameters for LifePo4 as I wished, and could not get the wifi remote module to connect. Another utuber who added a Victron controller to his two EPEVER controller set up to get it to work right I was starting to think VICTRON. Your video clinched it for me. In my small application -4 275 watt panels- I will save money by returning the EPEVER to Amazon and taking delivery on a 150V 35A Victron controller. Your video really helped. So know that it is worth it that you are making these videos!

[@trevortrevortsr2]

Epever - You need to set it to the Lifepo4 light settings ie 3.6 v top voltage 2.8v undervoltage cut-off - not had to change mine in 4 years it works flawlessly

[@organikness]

^ This. Plus, Ive had the Epever for years now, and worked flawlessly

[@offgridliving4128]

I to started off with a 75/15 with 2 Grape solar 100w panels. Used it for 5 years in my RV with zero problems. When I sold my house and moved off grid I stuck with Victron for my house also. Couldn’t be happier set it and forget it. I bought the 250/70 for my house it works for 12 24 and 48v. So if you do end up getting one for your house find a multi volt model in case you ever want to go 24/48v.

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

I think I am going to save to put them on the main house bank. Great advice on making sure to get the multi volt model! Mahalo 🤙

[@unclejack41]

I love my Victron. Built way better than Epever

[@sketcheddraftingdesign6093]

Hi. I'm thinking of purchasing this 100/20 controller using a single 275w Monocrystalline Silicon panel. What would be the maximum solar array the 100/20 could handle ? Could I even use a 75/15 or would that be too small. My setup will only be used for camping. I only need to power a 12v 60L fridge and some LED strip lighting at night. Im planning on using a 100AH Lifepo4 lithium battery.

[@offgridliving4128]

@@sketcheddraftingdesign6093 what’s your panel VOC and ISC? I’m pretty sure you could use a 75/15 long as it’s not winter time. I don’t think one 275w panel can output 75v or 15 amps.

[@pteppig]

@@sketcheddraftingdesign6093 If the 275W panel is 12V, it could output over 12-15A. But with 36V Panels on 24V, you could easy run 1200W or a bit more. The 100/20 costs not much more than the 75/15, also higher effective output on the 12V load connector to power 12V fridges, laptop chargers, etc directly while protecting the battery at the same time.

[@unclejack41]

Adjust the Epever was a fuquin Nightmare. Im selling it, 50amp . I bought a Victron ,and it runs flawless with lithium batteries.

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

I gotta admit, the plug and play with the Victron is pretty nice🤙

[@bimmers323ci]

I have been using 3 of the epever an 10420 for about 2 years now with no problem

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

Yeah, same here. No real problem, just a ton of time finding the sweet spot for charging, and much slower tracking than the Victron. All in all both working well. 🤙

[@warrior9086]

Well, the Victron is a nice toy compared. However charge controllers should be evaluated by numbers. That means is there a difference in production of kw/H at the end of the day. That means a test of 2 equal solar panels at the same time and conditions and then let´s see. What I do know is the components of the EPEVER are very reliable and there is a big heat sink while the Victron gets hot and heat was never a sign of efficiency. A CLEAR WINNER ? For the moment facts are... spending saved Dollars on extra solar panels or more battery capacity is more efficient

[@snappertight]

I have the victron 100/15 and love it 2 rich solar pannels in series with a ampuretime 100 amp battery and 1k pure sine wave inverter. runs my 17 bh bushwhacker camper perfect can even run ac for several hours during the hottest part of day. microwave is a no go at 1,300 watts. going to upgrade to a bigger victron charge controller later or will need to go 24 volts want to add 2 more pannels.

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

very nice! aloha 🤙

[@boscodog4358]

I haven't lost faith in Epever yet. But they need to get their engineers busy on this programming problem. I feel bad about it now, but I return a pair of Chins battery because of this very problem. I was convinced that the BMS in the battery was bad. Andy has figured the parameters out

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

I haven't lost faith in them either, but my logs show such a discrepancy between the two , I'm going blue all the way. I spent a lot of time on the Epevers. Work, yes. As good...not imo. Aloha!🤙

[@hazcat640]

I've got $10k worth of Victron equipment running my off grid system and it is worth every penny. Set it and forget it.

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

That's it! aloha 🤙

[@BradCagle]

So are you thinking the EPever is surging the voltage over what you have set? I've used a lot of Epevers, and have not seen that. They are slow to find the maximum power point, but the buck conversion should respond very quick to regulate the voltage either way. Now what I have seen is batteries that are close to being topped off will fault when high current come in because one cell is on the verge of exceeding 3.65, and that current surge will push them over into fault almost instantly. The key is to set your voltage to something like 13.8 (3.45 per cell) and you'll pretty much stay out of that over cell voltage fault scenario, unless your pack is really crappy or out of balance. Even at 13.8v your pack can still get fully charged provided it's well balanced. As for the voltage reading, yeah that's because where it has to read the voltage is on the up stream of the wiring to your battery. Larger EPever models have a sense wire terminal you can connect to the battery so it can read the voltage correctly. Thanks

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

Great comment! Been thinking about everything you said since you posted. So much so, I decided to shoot a quick video about it, which I did, and will post momentarily. Mahalo plenty for that! Aloha 🤙

[@BradCagle]

@@ProjectsinParadise808 awesome! Can't wait to see it. Aloha to you

[@Abeaness]

There’s an app for Epever as well. You can program the mppt through the app too. You don’t necessarily need the additional mt50 display if you are using the app as you can update the settings in the app

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

I did not know that...mahalo for sharing with us!🤙

[@boscodog4358]

How can I find this app?

[@Abeaness]

@@boscodog4358 I found it on the App Store

[@Abeaness]

@@boscodog4358 App Store (and guessing Google equivalent )

[@Abeaness]

Although a subsequent iOS upgrade seems to have killed it for accessing it

[@jensritter6817]

Hello, aboot 3.5 years ago, my first mppt was a epever 3210An with a Mt 50,then tried a mt75,also with a cable for a Notebook, works good.... Roundabout ayear ago i buyd a victron mppt 100/20 with 3 LED, wich has Bluetooth includet,the victron is better for my use,it is also more expensive..... With my knowing of those two, actually i will Start with a victron with 3 LED.... Have fun withi Fotovoltaik Greatings from Germany Please excuse my Bad english

[@montyspearo]

The differences in measured battery voltages is likely to be your cable runs. Short heavy cables between battery and charger otherwise it won't fully charge battery as it thinks battery voltage is higher than it is. The high current chargers should really have separate voltage sensing terminals/ cables that will measure voltage at battery terminals.

[@dyslectische]

I use apever and my float i have set on 13.9 volt. And it go full charger with easy max amps The new epever basic float today is 13.8 volt . Its how the epever use it systeem. If clouds go on and of . It pick direct up again to full charge

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

🤙

[@USA-GreedyMenOfNoIntegrity]

Try charging to 14.0VDC. If you’re trying to charge to 14.4, no wonder voltage spikes. Your batteries are 100% full and there is no cushion. 13.5 float is fine.

[@alanbenham4139]

Thank you for a super comparison. It really helped me with a buying decision.

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

My pleasure! Mahalo for being part of the channel! Aloha! 🤙

[@solarandwindinsouthtexasda1473]

I have 4 60amp powmr charge controller I don’t have that problem and I have 3.2 kw of solar and 3840ah battery bank You just need more batteries

[@rickharold7884]

I use victron. Runs perfectly. But $. It’s worth it Thx for the video

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

Mahalo for tuning in and participating in the conversation here...aloha 🤙

[@JR-kk6ce]

Yes, plug and play is the way to go, at least in my case. Learning and tinkering can be a lot of fun. But...I don't want to be a slave to any technology. It defeats the whole purpose of technology.

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

I have seen the light!!🤙

[@robertmeyer4744]

if you ever change out your epever controllers make Shure your input voltage is not to much. and could be set for 12V .I may get that Victron controller for my camping 120W folding panel . two 60 watt in series. it has PWM mounted on back just re wire and replace .

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

Great advice as always 😉🤙

[@webdev217]

Shure!

[@tompreiss5010]

Try the Bluetooth or computer programming on the Epever.

[@russingersoll5761]

Their Bluetooth app is too old for my android phone and the computer cable doesn't install either.

[@cleanadrainltd1246]

I’m replacing an cs-evolution charger with an epever but my current charger has an output for the vehicle battery and the epever does not. Where do I put them wires. Thanks in advance.

[@russingersoll5761]

Please post ALL of the EpEver LiFePO4 "user" settings that you found to work best. Thank you.

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

What's working best for my system at this time is taking it to 14.2v for 60 minutes, and float at 13.6v. I get alarms if I try to absorb above 14.2v. , but this is working great now. aloha 🤙

[@Abeaness]

Those settings would be so very helpful for the rest of us also! I have an EPEVER 30 amp MPPT and using (2) SFK 260 HP LIFEPO4 12v in parallel for 520 amp hr capacity with 400 w solar and would like to confirm what settings as I’m sort of not sure where to find those recommended settings for LIFEPO4

[@bitsurfr46]

I am a little short on my arithmetic. I have two 120 watt solar panels. What is the minimum size Victron charge controller Ineed for this array?😮

[@garyenwards1608]

I have 2x230 watt panels I wanted to put on the EPEVER 40amp CC 460 watts total. Do you think this unit can handle 460watts no problem? within a safe limit? Thank you

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

I currently have two strings of 500watts each with a Epever 40a controller for each string, with no problem at all. Working great for me. Each string bumps up against the 40 amp rating for each controller, but typically pumping about 32-34 amps, and briefly at 40amps on a burst of sun when panels are cool. Hope this helps...aloha 🤙

[@garyenwards1608]

@@ProjectsinParadise808 I have a 40amp EPEVER hooked to 400watts in panels with a 30amp easy reset fuse and its only ever flipped it 2 or 3 times in 3 years. What size fuse did you put between the 40ampCC and the 500watts in panels? Thanks for the feed back mate. Much appreciated! aloha 🤙

[@kevinroberts781]

What kind of lithium batteries are you charging and how many in series? 3 or 4 cells?

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

On the house bank I've got two 300ah Chins Lifepo4 in parallel. Working great!🤙

[@houseofancients]

once you go dutch ,you'll never want something different

[@props-model-shop]

Quality cost more but will have less headaches...

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

Indeed 🤙

[@solardiyhobbyandrevies8118]

I thought you shouldn’t float charge Lipo4 batteries???

[@howardsmith9922]

Thanx

[@ProjectsinParadise808]

thank you as well 🤙

[@12vLife]

Anybody have issues with the epever terminals failing? stripping? lose? it's annoying and risky. I've got the 30amp version and it's been stable, but thinking my charging profile could be more aggressive, but where its situated in my van have trouble making config changes without a bunch of work. Want to try out Victron, but really need to the bluetooth to work with my new android Samsung Galaxy S22.

[@Abeaness]

There’s an Epever app

[@bartoszkaniewski8634]

How can you expect to top up battery full with load on. Offcourse victrone rules, buying chinese stuff never pays off. Dont worry and be happy with Victron.

[@organikness]

Hate to break it to you bud, but almost all of Victrons components are made in China and only assembled in the EU

[@igorkvachun3572]

Yes👍⚡ 🔌💡🔋

[@rastafari3972]

My epever died