MPPT survey (EC700 smart bypass surgery!)

LDPD wrote:Hi All,

We've read copious information about this subject on a variety of threads and are very interested  in updating our system.

We thought it might be useful for all interested members to know a little more about how people here have actually upgraded their electrics.

Are you willing to share details of what you have done?

Your motorhome model?
Which mppt controller have you used?
Did you do the install yourself?
... or,  who did you use?

Any surprises - good or bad!

Or, are you potentially interested in this as a future project

Look forward to hearing from you all

marconi wrote:
Another Solar EC700 thread, I thought you wanted to be loved.

Lamb to slaughter:-

2019 Nuevo
Votronic Dual MPPT
Self Install
N/A
Total improvement, no surprises having investigated the Sargent/AS approach and cheap Solar Controller.

Dbvwt wrote:I never thought the day would come but I’ve finally had enough of Solar threads 

To keep in the spirit of this one..

2018 Symbol with EC500
Votronic MPPT 250 dual
Self install (total cost £121 and two and a half hours)

In the more general picture, I really don’t understand why there are still so many threads that question the solution that has worked pretty much 100% for everyone with an EC500/700 that has done the mod due to issues with the Sargent and Solar.

It is so straightforward. Fit a dual MPPT controller (the popular Votronic or Epever) wired direct to both batteries. Wire the solar panel to the new controller bypassing the Sargent completely.
It just works.

Dbvwt wrote:LDPD, your assumptions are basically correct.
I did think of buying the S-BC but it costs more than the blooming controller! The Leisure and Vehicle battery voltages still show on my control panel so I’m guessing that will be the same on yours. 
For me, that’s all the info I need to make sure all is good.

Edit... when you say the Sargent solar smart settings can be ‘safely’ ignored, I would replace ‘safely’ with ‘happily and hope I never see solar smart charge ever again’ 

LDPD wrote:So, when on hookup, does the Sargent PSU charger have similar configuration options buried away somewhere?

Dbvwt wrote:On hookup, all works well and things can just be left to the Sargent.
It’s only the solar setup that falls very short.

Edit...just read your post again. Not quite sure what you mean by charging profiles with the Votronic?

LDPD wrote:

Dbvwt wrote:On hookup, all works well and things can just be left to the Sargent.
It’s only the solar setup that falls very short.

Edit...just read your post again. Not quite sure what you mean by charging profiles with the Votronic?

For each battery you can select, via slide switches, a charging program. Eg optimum charging and trickle charging voltages which may vary by battery type such as lead, gel, agm, lithium etc See this link for more

https://www.votronic.de/images/Manuals/07.%20Solar%20Current%20Technology/1710_1715_1720_1725_e.pdf

Perhaps I was expecting too much of the Sargent charger to do something similar! 

Caraman wrote:I see that the Voltronic MPPT 250 dual has connection sockets for Automatic Energy Selector fridges so that when the main battery is full the controller will automatically divert any excess solar energy to the fridge thereby switching the fridge from gas/mains to 12V operation.  Has anyone made use of this?