HQST 10/20/30/40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller (30A)

Lasted 5 months and then stopped charging my batteries. I wanted to like this but I had to replace it.

Have had hooked up for a week so this will not be a longevity review.Seems to be working normally.Couple of Notes: The screws in the bus attachment are not the greatest quality, they're ok. The location and size of the screws makes it a bit difficult to find the correct size screwdriver to fit.NOTES: I wasn't sure which way the screws were supposed to turn to open. If the metal lugs are all the way to the top, as-in the hole is mostly open, you have to turn the screws COUNTER CLOCKWISE to get them to come down on the wire attachments. This should have been noted in the manual.Also, the manual notes a "key" you have to use to change the battery type. This "key" is actually a hole underneath where the led display is at. A tool/pin used for a cellphone can get into this hole. You hold it in for about 8 seconds and then when flashing you again press the button.My unit was described as coming with the LCD display but did not. CS sent me another unit which also DID NOT come with this display. HQST ended up sending the display separately. The display works as indicated. It provides current information but does not seem to log this information over time unless I am missing something.As I am currently using this with flooded lead acid, I can not speak to other complaints/reviews with it's use for lithium. I hope there is no issue as this flooded lead acid I have been using will probably be the last.I will update this review later if I run into any issues. I am currently only running it with 1 of 2 100 watt panels, so I'm hardly pushing it.

Installed with 100w panels from the same mfg. The system was easy to install and works great. No chance to test on a trip yet. I had another product, but got li battery and had to change. Tech service from the other mfg. was slow and difficult to work with. Decided to try these, no need for tech advice so far, but good out of the box.

HQST 40A MPPT Solar Charge Controller This particular controller offers a wealth of data about your system, including the V, A and KWH being put out by your panels 1) today 2) monthly 3) since the last time you connected them to your battery bank.It can handle up to 520W = five 100W panels, provided their total open-circuit voltage does not exceed 100VDC and their total amperage does not exceed 40A.Important note #1: the maximum cable size that the unit will accept is 6AWG for 1) your panels 2) your battery bank 3) your load, which also should not exceed 40A. If you wish to use larger cables, you will need to purchase the appropriate size pin-type lugs, which will actually give you a much more secure connection to the charger than simply inserting stranded cable.Important note #2: if you wish to monitor the unit from up to 6’ away, then this is the meter to get: B00SW1ZP2W (copy & paste into Amazon's Search bar). From here you may 1) monitor the controller's temp 2) set the Ah of your battery bank 3) set the date and time that you began monitoring 4) choose the type of batteries, plus much more. Hint: if you are using AGM batteries, then select the setting for Gel batteries, which is the only preset that will avoid monthly equalization, which is not generally required/recommended for AGM batteries.The FIRST IMAGE depicts from left to right a) Remote Switch (B00HHRVKYO )for my Samlex SEC-1250UL charger (B00H8N9AKS ) b) Inverter Remote (B004RCQRZO) for my Samlex SAM-2000-12 MSW inverter (B004RCWYT2 ) c) MT-50 remote monitor (B00SW1ZP2W ) for my HQST 40A solar charge controller (B01B2938BU).The Remote Switch LEDs indicate that the image was made during Stage 2 of charging, which for AGM batteries is a continuous output of 14.4V; the Inverter Remote confirms my battery bank is being fully charged but that the inverter’s Output is only on standby (Fan icon is OFF)*****; the MT-50 monitor is confirming 14.4V, which confirms the SEC-1250UL is at Stage 2 of charging.The reason you want to know the stage of charging is that, if the charger never gets to a Stage 3 Float stage, it means something is awry, which in turn means that your batteries will never become fully charged.*****According to Samlex America, when the inverter is on standby the current draw is so small that it does not count as a load, which means no need to adjust the DIP switches to 2-stage charging, which bypasses stage 2. In the SECOND IMAGE, the green LED of the Remote Switch for the charger does confirm that Stage 3 was attained despite the Inverter Remote drawing power from the SAM-2000-12 inverter. The MT-50 depicts the following:--no power is coming from the solar panels (moon icon)--the voltage of my battery bank during the Stage 3 Float stage has dropped from 14.4 during Stage 2 to a fully-charged condition of 13.4V at the current internal temp of my battery bank--0.0A are currently, during the Float stage, being inputted into my battery bank--there is no load on my bank (fluorescent light icon shows 0.0V/0.0A being consumed).

Can't speak to long term use, but after bouncing between a bunch of charge controllers I think this one will finally work. I needed programmable charging that could accommodate 3s lithium packs - surprisingly hard to find. This controller has it and I didn't need to install a garbage app just to set it up and manage it. This charge controller will remember user programming after power off, something else I needed as I have a low temp cutoff btw this and my batteries. Solid, easy to use, seems to be relatively efficient in MPPT, good size - no complaints, wish I bought this first. If you go into this with realistic expectations (this is not a victron) you'll be pleasantly surprised with what you get for the price.