BougeRV 180W 12V Mono Solar Panel: Review & Testing. Bougerv solar charge controller

BougeRV 180W 12V Mono Solar Panel: Review Testing

With so many rigid solar panels available on the market today, the ideal one for you may be hard to find. After testing the BougeRV 180W solar panel myself, I found that it has several qualities that make it a competitor in the industry.

The BougeRV 180W solar panel has high output capabilities. It’s heavy but made with high-quality materials. Its long warranty period also allows for a cushion of security – especially in rampant weather. I can easily see myself using this panel on my roof year-round.

BougeRV 180W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel (5BB)

Enter best12 coupon code at checkout for a 14% discount (code valid until 12/31/22).

However, if you’re like me, you want all of the details before considering this option. Below are my results. After that, I’ll discuss the specifics of my testing.

My results

This is the BougeRV 180W solar panel on an angle in my backyard. I used it mainly with my EcoFlow River Max power station because its input could handle the panel’s output.

• Maximum power output recorded: 128-133W (using my EcoFlow River Max power station)
• Time of day max output was recorded: 9 AM
• Weather: Humid and clear skies in the middle of summer
• Location: Midwest United States
• Note: The 133W was achieved after pouring water on the panel. The max output without adding water was 128-129W.

The output of this panel is excellent considering the conditions I tested it in. The air was dense and humid, which usually has a negative effect on the solar panel’s performance.

In addition, I ended my testing a bit too early at 9 AM, and didn’t experience peak sunlight while using the panel.

I’ll get into peak sunlight later and give you an estimate of its full potential if I tested it later in the day.

But first, I’ll give you the specifications.

Specs – BougeRV 180W panel (5BB version)

Here I’m charging my EcoFlow River Max with two of my Elecaenta solar panels. Both of these panels total 240W of peak power, so I performed this test on the EcoFlow power station to see how it handled a higher wattage compared to the 180W of peak power from the BougeRV solar panel.

I used the following additional equipment in my testing:

• Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power station
• EcoFlow River Max portable power station
• 2x Elecaenta 120W portable solar panels
• Multiple adapter cables to connect the panels to the power stations

The purpose of using two solar generators was to see if one of them inputted more power than the other in the same conditions.

I used the two Elecaenta 120W panels to see if they could outperform the BougeRV panel or give me other insights on how the power stations interacted with the panels.

The Jackery Explorer 1000 has a 163W maximum solar input. For beginners in solar, volts x amps = watts. This is important because the max amps the Jackery 1000 can handle is 7.5A (source: manual).

This 7.5A cannot receive the full output from the BougeRV panel in ideal conditions because the panel outputs around 10A in good sunlight.

However, by using my EcoFlow River Max, I could harness the full output of this panel because the solar generator is capable of a 200W max solar input with a 12A Max.

You’ll see how this computes into wattage performance later on. Before that, however, I want to show you my testing conditions.

I know this can seem quite tedious, but there are several variables that affect the capabilities of a solar panel.

Variables in my testing

BougeRV 180W solar panel charging EcoFlow River on my porch

The following are the variables that I worked with:

Humidity fluctuation in my morning testing (6:45-9:00 on 7/12/22)

• About 3°F increase (6:45 vs 9:00)
• About 10.5% decrease in humidity (6:45 vs 9:00)
• 64.5% (6:45 AM) vs 53.6% (9 AM)
• Humidity can cause decreased solar panel performance (10-20%)

Change in the angle of sunlight peak sun power

According to several google results, the best time of day for direct solar charging is from 10 AM to 2 PM. This is because the rays are more direct and void of any obstructions.

My last test was at 9 AM, which may have had a significant impact on the performance of the panel compared to the 6:45 test.

With the sun moving in the sky throughout the day, the angle of the solar panel needed to be adjusted to be perpendicular to the sun. This allows the panel to capture the most sunlight possible.

Variation in battery charge status

This can affect the allowable input from the solar generator’s MPPT charge controller. In short, charge controllers read the battery and charge it at different power levels depending on its battery charge status.

• I reduced the EcoFlow River Max from 71-75% capacity to 59% between 7:30-8:30 AM.

• At my 6:45 AM test, the EcoFlow River’s battery was at 71% capacity and was pulling in 92W.
• At my 9 AM test, my River battery was at 64% battery capacity and was pulling in 128W (w/o me adding water to the panel).
• Based on this data, I’m not entirely sure if my solar generator’s battery capacity affected the maximum allowable power from the solar panel.

Additional factors

• Raised the panel about one inch

• I used two tree branches to hold the panel up. The panel was laying in tall grass which was possibly blocking some sunlight from reaching the panel.

• Cable length and the use of adapters can affect the incoming power from the solar panel.
• I was using two different cables to connect the panel to my portable power station:

• MC4 to XT60 (about 3ft long)
• MC4-to-Anderson w/ Anderson to XT60 adapter (about 1ft long)
• ^The smaller cable seemed to improve the efficiency by 1-2 watts

• I did this once or twice throughout my test using just water and a small towel.

• At 9 AM, I poured water on the panel using a gardening bucket. This increased the panel’s output by 4-5W and helped me achieve a 133W maximum output from the panel.

Overall, testing the BougeRV panel with the EcoFlow River Max resulted in about a 28% improvement in solar panel wattage (9 AM test versus 6:45 AM test).

Taking into account these steady increases in power, I created a table below displaying the actual wattage (from my testing) and the potential output wattage (if I stayed out longer).

Actual estimated output

Assuming that peak sunlight is at 12 PM, I’ve included my actual output results from 6:45-9:00 AM and then incorporated the estimated wattages from 9:30 AM-12 PM into my analysis.

I factored the following into my estimations:

• Peak sunlight: Where the sun is highest in the sky and emits the highest amount of harnessable power (around 12 PM).
• Decrease in humidity: Less humidity equals better solar panel performance. The humidity decreased by over 20% from 6:45 AM to 12 PM.
• Temperature: Temperatures above standard testing conditions (25ºC) can decrease overall solar performance.

Here I used the BougeRV solar panel to charge the battery in my Cutting Edge Power solar generator (link to my YouTube review).

After gathering some data to estimate its full potential, the BougeRV panel has a high output threshold and can be an effective off-grid tool year-round.

Its 200 price tag is competitive in the industry, especially when considering its performance and quality.

• Mounting holes for rooftop installation on a home, shed, RV, etc.
• Draining holes
• Warranty:

• 25-year transferable power output warranty
• 5-year material and workmanship warranty

If you intend to get a heavy-duty mountable solar panel, I recommend the BougeRV 180W panel. After factoring in its performance, materials, warranty, and price, I consider it an excellent value.

BougeRV 180W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel (5BB)

Enter best12 coupon code at checkout for a 14% discount (code valid until 12/31/22).

This is an affiliate link, where I make a small commission on every sale (at no additional cost to you).

You can also watch my performance tests done on this panel via my YouTube video below.

BougeRV 20A MPPT charge controller, the cheaper alternative to Victron Energy

I run two off-grid DIY solar systems primarily for fun and interest, but also to save electricity. So I use the off-grid system in my breaking office in combination with 2x 100Ah batteries, for example to charge power banks, power stations, etc. for tests, to operate measuring equipment, etc.

So far I have used a Victron Energy solar charge controller in my office, with up to 15A.

However, BougeRV sent me its Smart 20A MPPT Solar Charge Controller, actually for testing in combination with the BougeRV 200W Flexible Solar Panel.

However, I would like to take this opportunity to take a look at the charge controller in a test. How does this compare to my Victron Energy model?

The BougeRV MS2420N 12/24V 20A MPPT Solar Charge Controller in Test

The BougeRV solar charge controller relies on the typical box-like design. At 19012560 mm, it is a bit larger than the comparable Victron Energy models, but subjectively not huge.

The BougeRV charge controller clearly has a good deal more cooling surface. The entire back of the charge controller is equipped with metal cooling fins.

On the front we find a glass cover, a small display and three status LEDs. There is also a small plastic cover here.

This small cover is only held on by magnets. Under this you will find the screws for the connection terminals.

On the underside you will find 2x connection terminals for your solar panels as well as for your battery.

You also have a ground connection, a connection for a temperature sensor and an RS485 communication port.

Smart, even if it doesn’t say so

As a general rule, it is always a big deal for manufacturers when a device is “connected”. But BougeRV almost hides the information that this solar charge controller is “Smart”.

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To put it bluntly, this one has Bluetooth! You can use the ChargePro 2.0 app to adjust the current performance values, historical values ​​and settings.

The app itself makes a very useful impression. Here you will find the current live values ​​on the start page, such as the voltage of the battery, the voltage of the solar panels, the power, etc.

You will also find the daily maximum value and the energy gained on the respective day in Wh.

In the second tab you can see historical values. So how much energy was produced on which day. The charging controller saves the values ​​of the last 30 days here.

In the last tab you can adjust the battery type. So you have a lead gel battery, lithium battery, etc. If in doubt, you can also freely adjust the voltage values.

Performance and Specifications

First, let’s talk about the performance of the charging controller.

• 12V / 24V batteries
• 20A maximum power
• 100V maximum voltage PV input
• MPPT

The BougeRV 12/24V 20A MPPT Solar Charge Controller initially supports 12V or 24V batteries. FLD/GEL/SEL/Li batteries are supported here. I use LiFePO4 batteries on the charge controller, which works without any problems.

Due to the maximum power of 20A, the system is limited to approx. 240 – 300W on 12V batteries and approx. 480.576W on 24V batteries.

However, the input voltage range of up to 100V is pleasantly large.

Wie testet breaking.org the BougeRV 12/24V 20A MPPT Solar Charge Controller?

I used the charge controller for breaking in combination with 2x 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries (connected in parallel) and a JA SOLAR 380 Wp solar panel.

The latter offers up to 380W and a maximum voltage of 41.62V.

I replaced a Victron Energy MPPT 75/15 with this one.

How well does the BougeRV MS2420N 12/24V 20A MPPT solar charge controller work?

“Cheap” solar charge controllers are always a thing. Many of these are very unreliable, which is why Victron Energy models are so popular, they just work well.

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That’s why I was a little skeptical about the BougeRV MS2420N. However, after a few weeks now, I can say that this skepticism was not appropriate!

The charge controller works perfectly for me! in the peak I could reach a power of up to 286W. This also fits the 20A limit, which is reached accordingly.

The combination with the 380W solar panel achieves almost 1700 Wh on a good day in the currently somewhat moderate spring, which seems consistent compared to the Victron Energy (is approx. 300-500 Wh more than the Victron Energy).

So the efficiency of the BougeRV MS2420N is also good in bad weather or at dusk! Unfortunately, I don’t have any direct comparison values ​​with the Victron Energy MPPT 75/15, but both don’t do much here.

What is striking, however, is that the BougeRV charge controller stays a lot cooler! I don’t think this is due to better efficiency, but simply primarily to the significantly larger cooling surface compared to the Victron Energy model.

I couldn’t observe any dropouts or anything like that! The voltage values ​​read were also correct and the charging voltage for the batteries accordingly.

• 35.5 V according to the app – 35.43 V according to the meter at the solar input
• 13.4V according to the app – 13.427V according to the meter at the battery output

Display somewhat useless

A small display is installed in the charging controller. This can show the error codes, battery voltage and temperature. However, this only happens when you tap the touch button.

I would like the display to constantly show me the current performance, but this is not possible. A pity!

Next to the display, the three have potentially very bright LEDs. One for the battery, one for the solar panel and one for errors.

Theoretically, the LED for the battery and the solar panel should light up constantly. But the PV LED doesn’t seem to work for me?! Not that I’m complaining, but this one just doesn’t glow.

Battery always at 100%

There is a battery level indicator in the app. This is always at 100% for me. So you cannot rely on this.

Conclusion, how good is the BougeRV MS2420N?

The BougeRV 12/24V 20A MPPT solar charge controller is generally recommended! The charging controller worked at breaking.org in the test without any problems, quibbles or the like.

So I used this with a 380W solar panel as well as two 100Ah LiFePO4 batteries and the charge controller delivered a good performance! I could observe a maximum of 286W, which corresponds to the 20A limit.

The app itself is also decent. This is not world class, but due to the historical values ​​it represents an added value.

While there are points that bothered me, like the constant display of “100% battery charge”, although that’s not correct, and that the app doesn’t always connect on its own, on the whole the solar charge controller did a good job technically Impression!

However, in a direct comparison I would prefer a Victron Energy charge controller, they just seem a bit more “robust” when it comes to the app. However, the Victron Energy models are also a good deal more expensive!

And especially if you don’t want to pay the premium price for the Victron Energy models, the BougeRV 12/24V 20A MPPT solar charge controller is a very good alternative!

BougeRV B092J44R8R 30Amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller User Manual

Home » BougeRV » BougeRV B092J44R8R 30Amp MPPT Solar Charge Controller User Manual

Features

• Activation is available for dormant Lithium batteries, and auto-voltage identification is available for lead-acid batteries.
• Large-screen backlighting display, charge and discharge parameters adjustable by the button.
• Built-in reverse connection protection, open-circuit protection, high-temperature protection, and over-current/ short-circuit protection(adjustable), are all self-recovery types, with no damage to the controller.
• Double MOS anti-backflow circuit, ultra-low heat generation, equipped with the heat sink. With temperature compensation function.
• Dual USB output, maximum current up to 2A, supporting high current charging of iPhone, iPad, and Android mobile phones and other devices.
• Complete multi-stage PWM charge management.
• 32-bit high-speed master control chips.

Limited Warranty

BougeRV Solar Panel comes with an 18-month warranty that commences from the date of purchase. If you have any questions during use, please feel free to contact us:

If you have some problems in the process of using the controller, please send the following information to the email: service@bougerv.com

• Specifications of the solar panels (series / parallel, quantity, voltage, power).
• The voltage and battery type of the battery.
• The pictures or videos of the controller: battery voltage, battery charging current, the output voltage of the solar panel.

Charge Controller Safety

Charge Controller Safety

• NEVER connect the solar panel array to the controller without a battery. The battery must be connected first. This may cause a dangerous occurrence where the controller would experience a high open-circuit voltage at the terminals.Ensure input voltage does not exceed 50 VDC to prevent permanent damage.
• Use the Open Circuit (Voc) to make sure the voltage does not exceed this value when connecting panels together in series.
• The charge controller should be installed indoors in a well-ventilated, cool, and dry environment.
• Do NOT allow water to enter the controller.

Battery Safety

• Do NOT let the positive and negative (-) terminals of the battery touch each other.
• Explosive battery gases may be present while charging. Be certain there is enough ventilation to release the gases.
• Be careful when working with large lead-acid batteries. Wear eye protection and have fresh water available in case there is contact with the battery acid.
• Over-charging and excessive gas precipitation may damage the battery plates and activate material shedding on them. Too high of an equalizing charge or too long of one may cause damage. Please carefully review the specific requirements of the battery used in the system.

System Wiring

• Connect the battery to the solar charge controller FIRST, ensuring polarity correct.
• Then connect the positive and negative poles of the load to the load terminals of the controller.
• Finally, connect the positive and negative poles of the solar panel to the PV terminals of the controller.

Note: Please strictly follow the above sequence for connection, otherwise the controller may be damaged. The disassembly sequence is the opposite of the wiring sequence.

• First, make sure your battery system is 12V or 24V. Ensure that the maximum open-circuit voltage of the solar system does not exceed 50V.
• Ensure that the maximum output current of the solar panel does not exceed 30A.
• Ensure that the voltage of the solar panel is higher than the battery voltage.

Identification Of Parts

• Set Button
• LCD Backlighting Display
• PV Positive Terminal
• PV Negative Terminal
• Battery Positive Terminal
• Battery Negative Terminal
• Load Positive Terminal
• Load Negative Terminal
• USB Output Port
• Mounting Holes

Button Functions

• When you see the main menu interface on the screen, click the button to turn on or off the load.
• Long press the button for 2s to enter the menu selection interface, then click the button to select the menu that needs to be changed.
• In terms of the menu that needs to change the setting, long press the button for 2s until the parameter is flashing, and click the button to change the setting. After the setting is completed, long press the button for 2s to confirm.
• After confirming the parameters, no need to press the button, and the main menu will be returned after 5s (click the button within 5s if you want to enter the next menu).
• Long press and hold the button for more than 10s until the screen displays F01, the controller can be restarted.
• Long press and hold the button for more than the 20s until F02 is displayed on the screen, and the factory settings can be restored.

Display Interface

Main menu interface

Menu 1: System voltage setting interface

Setting method: long press for more than 2s until the parameter flashes, short press to adjust the parameter, after the adjustment is completed, long press for more than 2s until the parameter no longer flashes, the setting is complete.

• Automatically identify voltage (only applicable to the lead-acid battery)
• 12V battery
• 24V battery

Menu 2: Battery type setting

Setting method: Same as above.

• b01=Sealed Lead Acid battery (SLA)
• b02=Absorbed Glass Mat battery（AGM)
• b03=GEL battery（GEL)
• b04=Flooded Lead Acid battery (FLA)
• b05=Ternary lithium battery
• b06=LiFePO4
• b07=LTO

Menu 3: Display the current controller temperature

Note: This interface can only view the temperature value, and cannot adjust the parameters.

Menu 4: Display solar panel output voltage

Note: This voltage is the voltage from the solar panel to the controller. Only the voltage can be viewed, and the parameters cannot be adjusted.

Menu 5: Display load output current

Note: This interface can only view the current, and cannot adjust the parameters.

Menu 6: Over-discharge voltage adjustment interface

When the battery voltage is lower than this voltage, the controller will automatically cut off the load output.

Setting parameter range: U12V system, 9.0-12.0V; U24V system: 18-24.0V.

Setting method: Same as above.

Menu 7: Over-discharge recovery voltage adjustment interface

When the controller cuts off the load due to low voltage, the load will not be switched on until the battery voltage rises to the set voltage again. Setting parameter range: U12V system,

10.5-13.5V; U24V system: 21-27.0V.

Setting method: Same as above.

Menu 8: Load working mode adjustment interface

• 000H: Pure light control mode, the controller turns on the load when there is no sunlight and turns off the load when there is sunlight.
• 01.0H-23.0H: In time control mode, the controller turns on the load when there is no sunlight, and the set time controls the load of time.
• 24.0H: 24-hour working mode with the load.

Menu 9: Boost charging voltage-adjust interface

Adjust the boost charge voltage.Setting parameter range: U12V system,

12.0~14.8V; U24V system: 24~29.6V.

Setting method: Same as above.

Note: Only when the controller sets the battery type to b05, b06, b07, the parameters can be adjusted; When the controller sets the battery type as b01-b04, the parameters cannot be adjusted; Only lithium batteries can be adjusted the boost charge voltage, it is recommended to keep the default value.

Menu 10: Short circuit protection setting

Some inductive or capacitive loads will have a large current at the moment of starting, which may trigger the short-circuit protection of the controller and cause the output to shut down. At this time, the user can turn off the short-circuit protection function.

Setting method: Same as above.

Working Stage

Lead-acid Battery Working Stage

• Bulk Charge: Constant current charging, providing the maximum current to the battery until the battery voltage reaches the constant voltage stage (boost charging voltage or equalizing charging voltage).
• Boost Charge: Constant voltage charging, the battery is charged for 120 minutes at an elevated charging voltage.
• Float Charge: After the boost charge, the controller will reduce the battery voltage by reducing the charging current, and let the battery voltage is maintained at the set value of the floating charge voltage. During the floating charge stage, the battery is charged very weakly to ensure that the battery is maintained in a fully charged state. In the floating charge stage, the load can obtain nearly all solar power. If the load exceeds the power that solar energy can provide, the controller will not be able to maintain the battery voltage at the floating charge stage. When the battery voltage is low to the set value of boost charge return voltage, the system will exit the floating charging stage and enter the bulk charging stage again.
• Equalization: Equalization charging raises the battery voltage to higher than the standard supplementary voltage to charge the battery. Certain types of lead-acid batteries benefit from regular equalization charging, which can agitate the electrolyte, balance the battery voltage, complete a chemical reaction, and prevent battery vulcanization.

Note: Only b01, b02, b04 can perform equalization charging. The equalization charge will be carried out every 30 days, and the charge time is 120 minutes. When the battery is charged in equalization, the boost charge stage will not be performed.

Lithium Battery Working Stage

• Boost Charge Stage: constant current charging, providing the maximum current to the battery until the battery reaches the boost charge voltage. Ternary lithium battery, LiFePO4, LTO can be adjusted the boost charge voltage.
• Disconnect Charge stage: when the battery reaches the boost charge voltage, the charging will be disconnected. When the battery voltage reaches the boost charge return voltage, the battery enters the boost charge stage again.The boost charge return voltage, reduce 0.5V (U12V system) / 1.0V (U24V system) on the basis of the boost charge voltage.

Error Code

The battery over-discharge causes the voltage to be too low, which is lower than the over-discharge voltage set by the controller.

The battery voltage is higher than the high voltage protec- tion HVD value or the battery voltage isinconsistent with the system voltage.

The charging current exceeds 32A.

Specification

• System voltage 12V/24V
• Rated charge current 30A
• Rated discharge current 30A
• Maximum PV input voltage
• Backlight display time 15s off without operation
• The maximum allowable voltage of battery terminal
• No-load loss
• Working temperature.31℉～140℉
• USB output 5V/2A
• Temperature compensation.3mV/℃/2V
• Light control delay 1 minute
• Protection level IP32
• Altitude 3000m
• Net weight 290g
• Dimensions 159×100×39(mm)
• Installation size 147×80(mm)
• Installation aperture φ4.5(mm)

Electrical Parameters

Discharge charge parameter

Note: The above data are 12V battery system parame-ters. If you use a 24V battery system, please set the above parameters2. The parameters corresponding to the yellow font can be modified by pressing the button, and the other parameters cannot be modified.

Frequently Asked Questions

A1Send the following information to the email:

1 The connection method of the solar panels (series/ parallel, quantity, voltage, power).

2 The voltage and battery type of the battery.

3 The display data of the controller: battery voltage, battery charging current, the output voltage of the solar panel.

Please provide these above information with picures

A21 The output current may be low due to weak light or shadows of solar panels.

A3There may be the following reasons: the solar panel line is connected reversely, the output voltage of the solar panel is lower than the battery voltage, and the output voltage of the solar panel is higher than the maximum PV input voltage.

1 Check whether the line from the PV terminal to the controller is correct or not.

A41 Ensure that the system voltage and battery type of the controller are set correctly.

2 The controller should be installed as close to the battery as possible to avoid the voltage drop caused by too long wires, which will affect the normal voltage judgment.

Limitless energy, limitless life. www.bougerv.com

Documents / Resources

KICKASS KA1224MPPT15A MPPT Solar Charge Controller User Manual KA1224MPPT15A 1. MAIN FEATURES For use with monocrystalline, polycrystalline…

POWERTECH MP3743 MPPT Solar Charge Controller Instruction Manual BOX CONTENTS: 1 x 12V/24V 30A MPPT Solar Charge Controller…

MC Series MPPT Solar Charge Controller

Grape Solar GS-PWM-10A-IP68 Waterproof IP68 Solar Panel Battery Charge Controller ■ IP68 level waterproof ■ PWM 3-stage charge…

Renogy Vs BougeRV Solar Kits: The Coolest Solar Panel Kits for Your RVs, Campers, and Boats

Are you looking at buying a solar power kit for your RVs, vans, or boats? There are many brands that offer reliable solar power kits, with Renogy and BougeRV being two prominent vendors. In our article on Renogy Vs BougeRV solar kits, we would like to check out the best models from the top brands.

The brands have on sale a wide collection of solar kits in various power options. Starting with a 100W solar kit, you get ready-to-use off-grid solar bundles in many power options. Solar kits typically contain solar panels, charge controllers, solar cables, adapter kits, and a number of other accessories, including Z brackets for mounting.

BougeRV 180W Solar Starter Kit

• 180W Highly Efficient Mono Solar Panel.
• 30A PWM Solar Charge Controller.
• Solar Cables and Copper Tray Cable.
• Mounting Z Brackets Mount Kits.

BougeRV 400W 12V Solar Starter Kit

• Two Units of 200W Mono Solar Panels.
• 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller.
• Solar Cables and Copper Tray Cable.
• Y Branch Connectors for Solar Panels.
• Mounting Brackets and Screws.

Renogy Vs BougeRV Solar Kits

Both Renogy and BougeRV offer a wide range of quality solar power kits. The bundles pack up highly efficient solar panels, reliable charge controllers, and other accessories. If you are looking ahead to buying a solar kit for your off-grid power needs, these two brands are, of course, the best choices for you.

Renogy Solar Panel Kits

As a prominent supplier of solar products, Renogy shows off an extensive collection of off-grid solar kits. Well, the USA firm offers different solar kits for a range of applications like RVs, campers, trailers, and boats. If you are looking to buy a reliable solar kit for your recreational vehicle, Renogy is indeed one of the best vendors to go for.

A solar kit is a simple way to set up an off-grid power system in your vehicle, home, or cabin. It makes shopping and installation tasks a lot easier as you get the right components packed up in readymade solar kits. You can simply put together the components and bring to life a reliable solar power system right anywhere.

Being a top supplier of solar panels, solar charge controllers, power inverters, and other components, Renogy is certainly leading the market with its wide range of off-grid solar kits. That said, you will be lucky enough to find a matching kit from the brand, which perfectly meets your requirements and budget.

Renogy Off-Grid Solar Kits

Renogy off-grid solar kits appear in multiple categories. Based on their size, capacity, applications, and components, they are Starter Kits, Premium Kits, RV and Marine Kits, and Home and Cabin Kits. Of course, from their names, you can clearly imagine what applications each category is suitable for.

Each Renogy solar kit, as you perceive, comes with a range of basic components, including solar panels. They typically include a charge controller, wires and cables, mounting brackets, and more. Anyway, stay tuned for our list of the best Renogy off-grid solar panel kits below.

Renogy Solar Starter Kits

Renogy starter kits are apparently designed with beginners in mind. The starter kit series has a handful of models with different output options, ranging from 50W to 400W. Different kits feature different numbers of Renogy mono solar panels with charge controllers, brackets, and more. Below, we have two of the popular solar starter kits.

Renogy 100W Mono Solar Starter Kit

It is a 100W basic off-grid solar kit from Renogy. The kit has a unit of the brand’s famous 100W mono solar panel that can offer you a decent conversion rate. The charge controller included is a 10Amp Wanderer PWM unit and it has got an LCD screen. As its name speaks, it is a perfect pick for new customers who are to get a start in solar.

Besides the solar panel and controller, the kit packs up a 20-feet 12AWG solar adaptor kit, an 8-feet 12AWG tray cable, and brackets, which enable you to quickly set up an off-grid power system for different uses such as RVs, campers, trailers, and more. Check out its latest price at Renogy with the link below.

The charge controller is capable of charging sealed, gel, flooded, and lithium batteries. The four-stage battery charging process guarantees efficient, safe, and quick charging of your backups. The integrated 5V 2A USB ports let you recharge your USB devices directly.

Overall, with an ideal output of around 500Wh a day, the starter solar kit can recharge your battery packs and power stations. You can also expand the system with additional solar panels to increase the capacity.

Renogy 400W Mono Solar Starter Kit

Here is the top-end variant of the starter series of Renogy off-grid solar kits. As you see, it is a 400W solar panel kit with a Renogy Wanderer 30A PWM charge controller. Obviously, the kit packs up four units of the brand’s 100W mono solar panels.

Exactly like the above bundle, you also get it with the basic cables and wires, and mounting brackets. So, you can use it to set up a bit more powerful off-grid solar power system in your RVs, campers, trailers, and boats. Check out the link below to order the kit.

Besides the solar panel and charge controller, you get it packed with a solar adapter kit, solar tray cable, multiple pairs of branch connectors, and Z mounting brackets to mount the panels.

Ideally, this Renogy solar kit can produce an output of 1500Wh per day. That is enough to fully charge a 150Ah battery from 50 percent in around three hours. The kit is indeed one of the top sellers of the Renogy kits.

In simple steps, you can install this solar system anywhere and set up a reliable off-grid solar power solution. It is certainly an option for a solar beginner to rely on solar energy to recharge RV and camper battery backups to stay powered out in the wild and on adventures.

What’s Included

• Four Renogy 100W Mono Solar Panels.
• 30A PWM Wanderer Charge Controller.
• 20-Feet 12AWG Solar Adaptor Kit
• 8-Feet 10AWG Solar Tray Cable.
• Three Pairs of Branch Connectors.
• Four Sets of Mounting Brackets

Renogy Solar Premium Kits

Next, we have Renogy premium solar kits. Ranging from 100W to 800W, these kits are highly efficient and reliable off-grid solar solutions. The kits combine the brand’s high-efficiency 100-watt solar panels with its super-efficient MPPT solar charger controller, Renogy Rover. So, you can achieve excellent charging speeds.

Here, we would like to cover a few of the top-seller Renogy premium solar kits. You will be lucky enough to have a premium Renogy kit to recharge backup batteries in your vehicles and boats for an amazing camping and outdoor living experience. Stay tuned for the list below.

Renogy 100W Off-Grid Solar Premium Kit

This is the base variant of Renogy premium solar kits. As you see, it comes with a unit of Renogy’s popular 100W high-efficiency mono solar panel. Well, the solar charge controller included is its famous 20A MPPT Rover unit, which highlights multiphase synchronous rectification and faster-charging speeds.

The sleek and lightweight solar panel in the kit has got an additional thick and anti-reflective low-iron tempered glass coating for increased durability and longer life. It is also compatible with the brand’s Bluetooth module and mobile app so you can remotely monitor the system.

The built-in bypass diodes help forestall power drops due to shade and ensure reliable performance even under low-light conditions. Besides the solar panel and charge controller, the kit bundles a unit of IP65-rated junction box that can survive water splashes and rough outdoor climatic conditions.

Above all, the premium solar panel kit includes a solar adapter kit, solar tray cable, fusing components, mounting brackets, and more. That said, you get a very rich solar kit that you can simply set up in your RV, trailer, and boat for access to unlimited solar power.

What’s Included

• Renogy 100W Mono Solar Panel.
• 20A Rover MPPT Solar Charge Controller.
• 20-Feet 12AWG Solar Adaptor Kit
• 8-Feet 10AWG Solar Tray Cable.
• Branch Connectors and Z Brackets.
• IP65-Rated Junction Box.
• Compatible with the BT Module and BT App.

Renogy 400W Off-Grid Solar Premium Kit

It is one of the mid-variants of the Renogy premium solar kits. With four pieces of 100W mono solar panels and a 40A Rover Li MPPT solar charge controller, you get a pretty nice solar kit for your RVs, campers, boats, and more. You can simply set it up in your vehicle, remote cabin, and home and enjoy access to unlimited solar power.

If you have more budget and a requirement for more power, it seems to be the most economical variant for you. At a price of around 800, you get a decent solar panel kit that you can quickly install in your vehicle and start charging your backups at a faster pace. Check out the product on the link below.

The charge controller is an advanced MPPT unit that highlights multi-phase synchronous rectification and a lot of other safety measures. Fine, the 4-stage solar charging process can ensure the efficient, safe, and fast charging of your backups. The RS-232 port makes it equipped with more additional features, too.

It is also compatible with the brand’s famous Bluetooth module and BT app so you can easily monitor important data wirelessly. The included junction box is also a quality one. Thanks to its IP65 rating, it will work finely even in rough outdoor conditions. The other items in the kits include brackets, wires and cables, connectors, and more.

What’s Included

• Four Renogy 100W Mono Solar Panels.
• 40A Rover MPPT Solar Charge Controller.
• 20-Feet 12AWG Solar Adaptor Kit
• 8-Feet 10AWG Solar Tray Cable.
• IP65-Rated Junction Box.
• Branch Connectors and Z Brackets.
• Compatible with the BT Module and BT App.

Renogy 800W Off-Grid Solar Premium Kit

We have yet another example of Renogy premium solar kits here. As you see, it is the top-end model of the line-up with a solar output of 800 watts. Like the above kit, it also highlights the brand’s 100-watt mono solar panel, but you obviously get eight pieces of it to take its overall capacity to 800 watts.

The solar charge controller is also a more powerful one. That is a Rover Li 60A MPPT charge controller, a 4-stage controller with efficient, Rapid, and safe battery charging. It also supports the Bluetooth module and mobile app and so you can enjoy remote monitoring of vital data. Check out the link for its latest price.

Well, the other items in the kit are also the same, but you get a different number of items to match their output and size. See, you have as many as eight sets of the Z mounting brackets to install the solar panels.

Meanwhile, there are also multiple pairs of branch connectors, a 20-feet 10AWG solar adaptor kit, an 8-fee solar tray cable, fusing components, and more. So, you can use it to easily install a large solar power system in your RV, camper, trailer, boat, and more.

What’s Included

• Eight Renogy 100W Mono Solar Panels.
• Rover Li 60A MPPT Charge Controller.
• 20-Feet 12AWG Solar Adaptor Kit.
• 8-Feet 10AWG Solar Tray Cable.
• Eight Sets of Z Mounting Brackets.
• IP65-Rated Junction Box.
• Compatible with the BT Module and BT App.

Renogy Van and RV Solar Kits

Renogy solar panel kits are indeed great additions to your RVs, trailers, motorhomes, and boats. You can simply install solar kits in your vehicles and enjoy outdoor life with no power shortage. Equipped with the required components for on-the-go projects, Renogy RV and van solar kits are certainly the best of their kind.

The Renogy off-grid solar kits come up with flush-mount solar charge controllers, cable entry housing units, and excellent portable solar panels, including semi-flexible ones for quick installation on top of your vans and boats. Of course, the brand offers a variety of kits, and below we have a take on a few items for you to have a look at.

Renogy 200W Flexible Solar Panel Kit

When it comes to solar solutions for RVs and vans, a kit with a flexible solar panel is the best way to go. Here, we have Renogy’s leading 200W flexible solar kit, which packs two units of the brand’s high-performing 100W flexible solar panels. That is, you can mount the solar panels on the roof of your RV or boat neatly.

Well, the highly durable solar panels are capable of bending up to 248 degrees. over, they can withstand high winds of up to 2400pa and heavy snow loads of up to 5400pa.

Apart from the panels, the kit includes a unit of Renogy’s 20A PWM Voyager solar charge controller. It is a four-stage highly efficient, safe, and fast-charging controller with an LCD back-lit display. It supports four types of batteries such as sealed/AGM, flooded, gel, and lithium.

over, the kit features basic solar cables, cords, and adapters. This flexible Renogy solar kit is also available for several other power options, like 100W, 160W, and 300W. Each of the kits has the respective number of PV panels and other accessories. So, you can choose a model that matches your needs perfectly.

What’s Included

• Two Renogy 100W Flexible Solar Panels.
• Renogy 20A PWM Voyager Charge Controller
• 8-Feet 10AWG Battery to Charge Controller Cables.
• 20-Feet 10AWG Panel to Controller Adaptor Kit.
• 1.5-Feet 12AWG Solar Extension Cables.
• A Pair of Solar Branch Connectors.

Renogy 400W Monocrystalline Solar RV Kit

Here comes the top-end model of the brand’s famous series of van and RV solar kits. As you see, it comes with four pieces of Renogy’s 100W mono solar panels. Renogy has clearly designed this kit exclusively for use in RVs, boats, trailers, and motorhomes, even though it doesn’t have flexible solar panels.

The solar charge controller included is Renogy’s 30A PWM Adventurer, which is a negative-grounded unit for battery compatibility in your vehicles. Also, it allows for clean flush mounting on walls, making the kit perfect for RVs, vans, and more.

Other than the solar panels and controller, the bundle packs many other basic accessories. They include a 30-feet 10AWG solar adapter kit, a 16-feet 10AWG solar tray cable, three pairs of branch connectors, cable entry housing, a junction box, and a Renogy BT-1 Bluetooth module.

Well, the charge controller is capable of pairing the solar system with the newly added BT-1 Bluetooth module. So, you can monitor system performance in real-time on your smartphone via the Renogy BT app. Overall, with the kit, you get a very rich and reliable solar panel solution for your recreational vehicles from Renogy.

What’s Included

• Four Renogy 100W Mono Solar Panels.
• Renogy 30A PWM Adventurer Charge Controller
• 10-Feet 10AWG Battery to Charge Controller Cables.
• 30-Feet 10AWG Panel to Controller Adaptor Kit.
• Renogy Cable Entry Housing.
• Mounting Brackets and Branch Connectors.
• Renogy BT-1 Bluetooth Module.

Renogy Cabin and Home Solar Kits

Finally, we have Renogy’s cabin and home solar kits. They are exclusively meant for independent use away from the grid. Different from the above kits, they are evidently more powerful solar solutions to power remote cabins, sheds, outhouses, tiny homes, and more. Hence, they certainly pack up more powerful solar panels, solar charge controllers, and other components. The kits range from 1500W to 4800W kits.

Renogy 1200W Monocrystalline Solar Kit

It is a full-fledged 1200W solar kit for your tiny homes, sheds, cabins, and more. With large solar output, you can use it with powerful off-grid residential as well as commercial rooftop systems for unlimited solar power. Fine, the solar kit is featuring four units of the brand’s well-known 320W mono solar panels.

In addition, the kit is having Renogy’s highly efficient MidNite Classic 150 MPPT charge controller, which makes you stack up multiple charge controllers, giving you a way to expand. Overall, the kit will really make you set up a powerful solar solution with excellent performance even in low-light conditions.

The Renogy kit further contains a MidNite solar combiner box, a pair of MidNite solar 15A-150 circuit breakers, an MNEDC100 breaker, an MNEDC- quad enclosure, 8-feet 8AWG stranded and 40-feet 10AWG AK, THHN solar cable, and more. MidNite Classic enables you to monitor system info remotely via LAN or midnitesolar.com.

What’s Included

• Four Pieces of 320W Mono Solar Panels.
• MidNite Classic MPPT Charge Controller- 150.
• MidNite Solar Combiner Box MNPV6.
• Two MidNite Solar 15A-150 Circuit Breakers.
• MidNite Breaker MNEDC100.
• MidNite MNEDC- Quad Enclosure.
• 8-Feet 8AWG Stranded and 40ft 10AWG AK.
• Stranded and THHN Solar Cable.
• 4AWG Tray Cable, THHN, and Double Ring.

Renogy 4800W Monocrystalline Solar Kit

Here is the 4800W variant of the Renogy solar kits for RVs and vans. It is exactly the same bundle, but you have it packed up with 15 pieces of the brand’s 320W mono solar panels. Thus, it offers you a high solar output of 4800 watts to let you recharge your battery packs faster and more efficiently.

Well, the big solar kit is ready-made for supporting your typical home appliances. With it, you get a chance to use your own power for a sustainable life in your cabins, tiny homes, outhouses, and more. over, it makes you ready for emergencies and social events with unlimited power. Check out its latest price on the link below.

The included charge controller is the sophisticated MidNite Classic MPPT 150, which helps you stack up multiple solar charge controllers to expand the solar system further. The solar kit further includes a combiner box, circuit breakers, quad enclosure, wires, cables, and more.

What’s Included

• 15 Units of 320W Mono Solar Panels.
• MidNite Classic MPPT Charge Controller- 150.
• MidNite Solar Combiner Box MNPV6.
• Five MidNite Solar 15A-150 Circuit Breakers.
• MidNite Breaker MNEDC100.
• MidNite MNEDC- Quad Enclosure.
• 8-Feet 8AWG Stranded and 40ft 10AWG AK.
• Stranded and THHN Solar Cable.
• 4AWG Tray Cable, THHN, and Double Ring.

Why Should You Buy

Ready-to-Use Off-Grid Solar Panel Kits

Of course, these are some exceptional ready-to-use solar panel kits for various purposes. If you are up to making a DIY solar power solution in your home, RV, camper, and boat, these line-ups of Renogy off-grid solar kits are the best choices. You can just put together the components to set up a solar power solution. You would only need to add the batteries and power inverters to build reliable solar power solutions in a matter of time.

Multiple Variants With Different Power Options

As you see, you get the Renogy solar kits in an amazing number of variants. In four categories, there are around fifty ready-to-use solar kits in different capacities on the market. Hence, as per your needs, you can find a model and set it up to build a DIY solar power solution. All the Renogy off-grid solar kits feature quality solar panels, reliable solar charge controllers, and other accessories like cables, brackets, and more.

Perfect for a Multitude of Purposes

These off-grid solar power kits are certainly ideal for homes, remote cabins, RVs, boats, trailers, caravans, and more. You can easily fix them on the roof and ground anywhere and set up other components nearby to make use of the sun for alternative power. over, most of the Renogy solar kits are amazingly expandable solutions. You can add extra controllers and panels to increase solar power production.

BougeRV Solar Kits

BougeRV is a top supplier of sustainable energy products. Its portfolio of products includes solar panels, solar kits, charge controllers, and portable solar fridges apart from a collection of RV roof racks.

Its solar kits are available in various power options, ranging from 100W to 400W. It also offers a 180W solar kit that packs its much-touted 180W single-piece solar panel.

The charge controllers the brand has in its kits include a 40A MPPT unit and a 30W PWM controller. Overall, apart from Renogy, BougeRV is one of the coolest brands for you to go for a solar power kit.

Its highly efficient 100W and 180W mono solar panels are the important parts of its of solar kits, which you can get at affordable prices.

BougeRV 180W Solar Starter Kit

It is one of the starter solar kits from BougeRV. This kit packs the brand’s 180-watt single-piece solar panel, which is a highly efficient unit with a higher conversion rate.

Besides the panel, you get a 30W PWM charge controller that can protect your system from multiple safety issues like over-heat, open circuits, short circuits, overcharging, and more.

The included solar panel is a highly durable unit that is made of corrosion-resistant aluminum and so it can survive rough outdoor environments. The panel features an IP65-rated junction box so it can last longer even in different climatic conditions.

The solar kit is ideal for charging a variety of batteries as sealed, gel-flooded, and lithium. The kit is expandable with additional solar panels up to 360 watts (12V) and 720 watts (24V).

What’s Included

• 180W Highly-Efficient Mono Solar Panel.
• 30A PWM Solar Charge Controller.
• Solar Cables and Copper Tray Cable.
• Mounting Z Brackets Mount Kits.

Final Thoughts

That has been our take on Renogy Vs BougeRV solar kits. We have covered all the best-seller models of the brands in detail in the article.

The Renogy and BougeRV off-grid solar kits are, in fact, perfect for mounting over your RVs, boats, remote cabins, sheds, and more. It is indeed a point of time people are largely thinking of going solar to ensure unlimited off-grid power in the wild. It is here you have two amazing brands to choose a variety of products from.

Vahid Vee is a full-time blogger who is highly passionate about off-grid and sustainable power systems and is an expert at researching and exploring new topics, checking facts, and presenting things in simple language. As an avid observer of the global off-grid power and battery market, he is really excited to share with you the latest trends, fresh products, and other developments in the markets. #Contact Email @ veevahid@gmail.com – LinkedIn – Full blog profile.

Solar Charge Controller Error Codes

An error code flash on your Solar Charge Controller indicates a problem has occurred. Here’s a reference list to help you determine what the problem is and what steps to take.

Some errors can be fixed by yourself with some simple troubleshooting. This will help you get your solar charge controller back up and running.

NOTE: The information provided is for most ZHCSolar pwm solar charge controllers.

Other mppt controllers may have different available charge settings and options.

Some models of solar charge controllers do not have a digital display, so when it’s time to display an error code, they will use a flashing led instead.

The combination of flashing LEDs identifies the code.

However, you should really only consider this an error code if the charge controller is not operating normally, since the LEDs may be flashing as part of normal use of the charge controller.

A simple fix, such as adjusting the charge voltage of your regulator or making sure the regulator is installed properly, is usually all that is needed to clear the error code.

Detailed error codes can be viewed using

Controller Screen, Remote Monitor, LED Indicator, App.

solar charge controller error codes

PWM Solar Charge Controller Error Codes List

The error code list applies to these products:

Most ZHCSolar PWM charge controllers

Fault Code Basics

E01 – Battery Low Voltage or Load off

E02 – DC load overload or Load off

E03 – Load short circuit or Load off

E04 – Battery Over voltage or Load off

E05 – Solar Panel Over Current, Controller stop working

Solar Charge Controller Error Codes e01

solar charge controller Error code E01 appears when the battery bank is at low voltage and the charge controller cannot charge it.

To correct this, first charge the battery bank using AC chargers or replace the battery with a new one.

E02 Error Code

The E02 error code appears when the DC Load is overload and stop running. decrease the load voltage and wait for seconds the load will relive.

E03 Error Code

The E03 error code appears when the DC Loads is short circuit. Remove the Loads first and replug, wait for seconds the load will relive.

E04 Error Code

The E04 error code appears when the battery is overcharged, if the battery cannot bear the heavy input voltage, it may stop working or get destroyed, first check the wiring, make sure is not caused by wrong connection, then check the battery capacity.

If the battery capacity is too small for the current system, change to a new battery. the third reason is it may be connected with another charger, if so, remove another charger. and reset the solar charge controller to work again.

E05 Error Code

The E05 error Code appears when the Solar Panel is Overcurrent, overcurrent means the PV send over current to the charge controller and make it stop working, to solve it please make sure the solar panel hooked doesn’t over the rated range. remove some panels and the charge controller can start working again.

mppt solar charge controller e01

Solar Charge Controller E01 in the MPPT Solar Charge Controller indicates the same as a PWM controller, which is the battery in low voltage.

MPPT Error Codes e02

like e01 on solar controller, e02 is another common fault code, The error message is also point to the load, reconnect or replace the load to fix it.

Final Thoughts

The solar charge controller will display an error code if there is a problem. The solar charge controller error codes are not always the same.

For example, the controller may display an error code when the solar power it is receiving is insufficient to start charging the batteries.

This is usually the case when the battery bank is partially discharged. To reset the controller, you must reconnect all of its wires and make sure it hasn’t been bypassed.

A few causes of this error code include reverse polarity, obstructions near the heat sink, or a faulty charger. The first is probably the most obvious – the regulator itself is faulty.

If this is the cause, you will need to contact a solar charging company or battery charger repair company. If your solar charge controller isn’t working, check out the troubleshooting guide here.

Another common cause is a problem with the PV array. The solar panel error codes will tell you to disconnect and reconnect the panels to restart the charging process.

If the error message persists, you may need to manually reconnect the batteries.

If this does not work, the controller may be faulty. In this case, disconnect all power sources from the charger, wait three minutes, and then reconnect.

If this doesn’t work, you may need to replace the solar charge regulator.