The best solar charge controllers efficiently manage the energy going from your solar panels to your batteries.
In my research for the best MPPT solar charge controllers, I reviewed the five most popular brands.
All of these manufacturers have MPPT charge controllers with various ratings. In this article, I’ll review the manufacturers and 60A MPPT solar charge controllers from these companies.
Table of contents
- Snapshot – 60 MPPT Solar Charge Controllers
- How to select a Solar Charge Controller – What size Solar Charge Controller Do I need?
- Victron MPPT Solar Charge Controller
- Renogy MPPT Charge Controllers
- OutBack MPPT Controllers
- MidNite Solar Charge Controllers
- EPEVER MPPT Solar Charge Controllers
- Related Articles
Snapshot – 60 MPPT Solar Charge Controllers
How to select a Solar Charge Controller – What size Solar Charge Controller Do I need?
There are two things to consider before buying a solar charge controller.
- What is the voltage size of your battery array and inverter?
- What is the maximum current your solar panel array can deliver?
This video does a good job of explaining these.
Victron MPPT Solar Charge Controller
Highlights
- Built-in Bluetooth
- Remote On/Off
- Advanced PP Connection for Shade
Victron Energy is a Dutch company that makes good products. All of their charge controllers are backed by a 5-year warranty.
If you want a well-made, durable controller with cutting-edge technology, Victron should be one of your top choices.
Technology allows Victron to set the standard in their industry.
- Built-in blue tooth technology and the VictronConnect App for monitoring
- Maximum Power Point Tracking and Advanced Power Point Detection when there is shade or clouds
- Excellent conversion efficiency
- Convection cooling
- Automatic recognition of battery voltage
- Flexible charge algorithm.
- High temperature protection and derating of the power when temperature is high
Specifications: 10.63 x 9.84 x 5.91 inches, 6.6 pounds, built-in Bluetooth, VictronConnect App (Free Download), Remote On/Off, Programmable Relay,150 operating voltage, 60A max out current,
Heads Up: Victron uses distributors for their products so you will have trouble reaching them for service. Some distributors are excellent, and some are “eh.”
Renogy MPPT Charge Controllers
Highlights
- LCD Display & LED Indicators
- Multiple System Protections
- Compatible w/multiple battery types
Renogy is well-known by off-grid, RV, boat, and most any DIY solar person. This manufacturer has made grown quickly in the DIY solar industry over the last ten years.
Renogy provides products that are “user-friendly.” You will often hear “plug-n-play” when people talk about Renogy products.
There are a lot of features to appreciate in this Renogy solar charge controller.
- Die-cast aluminium design ensuring good heat dissipation
- High tracking efficiency of up to 99%
- Self-diagnostic capability protects against reverse polarity, battery overcharging, battery over-discharging, overload, short-circuits, and reverse current
- LCD screen and LED indicators
- Features 4-stage charging (Bulk, Absorption, Float, and Equalization)
- Compatibility with multiple battery types
Specifications: 11.22 x 8.07 x 4.00 in, 7.9lbs, Nominal Voltage: 12V/24V/36V/48V Auto Recognition,150 operating voltage, 60A max out current,
Heads Up: You will need to purchase the Bluetooth module, and customer service is not their strong suit after purchase.
OutBack MPPT Controllers
Highlights
- Intelligent thermal management cooling
- Built-in, backlit 80 character display
- Integrated network communications
Outback Power is another US-based company with a strong brand. They manufacture their equipment and provide service and installation.
Much like Midnite, Outback is well known amongst the DIY crowd. You will pay a little more for their charge controllers, but you will get a robust set of features, quality, and durability in return.
Outback pioneered some of the features you now see in Charge Controllers and offer many others.
- FLEXmax MPPT software algorithm
- Active cooling and intelligent thermal management cooling
- Charge controllers can operate at their full maximum current rating in ambient temperatures as high as 104°F (40°C)
- Support for a wide range of nominal battery voltages
- The ability to step-down a higher voltage solar array to recharge a lower voltage battery bank
- Backlit 80 character display
- Logged system performance data for the last 128 days
- OutBack network communications allows remote programming and monitoring via a MATE system display
Specifications: 41.3 × 14.6 × 11.4 in, 5.53lbs, 150 operating voltage, 60A max out current, 3.1″ LCD screen, 128 day data logging
Heads Up: The cooling fan can be a little noisy, and the set-up guide is lengthy, but overall this charge controller has excellent reviews.
MidNite Solar Charge Controllers
Highlights
- 5-year plus extended warranty
- Exclusive HyperVOC extends VOC limits
- Monitor remotely
Midnite Solar’s charge controller is a workhorse. This 96A charge controller is larger than the other 60A controllers, but its popularity required it be in this group.
Midnite is known for its innovative energy solutions for DIY power enthusiasts. This is a popular controller, often found in off-grid solar and wind systems.
One other thing worth noting on the Midnite is the Extended Warranty.
The Midnite is backed by a 5-year warranty, and if you return it six months before it expires, and pay $147 plus shipping so that they can perform maintenance, the contract is extended by two years.
That is the best warranty in this group.
Features included in the Midnite controller make it a standout in its category.
- Charges Lithium, Flooded Lead Acid, AGM and virtually any other battery
- The exclusive HyperVOC extends VOC limits when it is needed
- Solar, wind and hydro MPPT modes
- Built in DC-GFP and Arc Fault
- Made in the USA
- MidNite Battery Temperature Sensor (MNBTS)
- The FREE MidNite Solar Local Application enables you to monitor your Classics over your local network or the Internet
Specifications: 14.9″L x 6″W x 4″ D, 12 lbs., 150 Operating Voltage, 96A max out current, Exclusive HyperVOC, Solar, wind, and hydro MPPT modes, Battery Detector
Heads Up: Do not exceed the maximum input voltage, or you will damage the units. There is no built-in protection. You will also need to purchase a “Whiz Bang Jr” to monitor battery output.
EPEVER MPPT Solar Charge Controllers
Highlights
- Automatically identifying 12/24/36/48V
- Compatible Sealed, Gel, Flooded and Lithium
- Support up to 6 charging in parallel
Epever has a solid reputation, and is especially well-known in Europe.
Their “claim to fame” in their chargers is the technology. This is the ability to automatically detect different voltages across different types of batteries, and their communication technology.
Multiple features and good reviews make this charge controller a good option.
- 3 relays (utility, generator, load) designed for different demand
- Remote temperature and voltage sensors
- Common negative grounding and charging current up to 100A
- Support up to 6 units in parallel, allowing for significant system expansion
- Isolated RS-485 with 5VDC/200mA and MODBUS protocol
Specifications: 340×236×11, 9.9 lbs., 150 Operating Voltage, 60A max out current,
Heads Up: This charger cannot automatically detect voltage if connected to lithium batteries, so they should probably state “partially automatic” since so many people use lithium batteries. I could not find their warranty policy easily (ok, at all), so this is definitely not something they advertise.