Customer Reviews for Renogy - 400 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Kit w/ 4 Pcs 100W Solar Panel and 40A MPPT Charge Controller - Black
Customer Rating
5
Great off grid RV Garage
on November 23, 2021
Posted by: HoneyBadger
from Menifee, CA
Perfect, purchased for a 24 x 48 off grid RV Garage two Hybrid GEL, 2000w Renogy inverter, Renogy 400w solar system. Very happy with the entire system.
Easy install. Great instructions. Product works phenomenally. Only comment is on my trailer the joists did not line up. Had to buy some metal to get it to bolt up strong. I'd assume not every trailer is built the same. So this may fit some one else's joists perfectly. Not a negative in my opinion
It's early to give a great review but, I set the system up in about 2 hours on a small cabin. The directions could have been a little better but getting online once answered all my questions. It was around 4 pm when I finished the install and it immediately started charging my batteries. The Renogy monitoring app is an awesome tool. The first morning after install I was watching the app and around 8 am it started the recharge process. I think my batteries were at full charge by noon. My panels are facing SSW and are mounted flat on a 3:12 pitch roof. Probably not optimal but I wanted them on a surface that they had the least chance of getting damaged. I used it the 3 days I was there with no issues. I hope to use it several more times this fall and winter. I was able to run my lights until I went to sleep with no issues. Hopefully I can run a lot more after the cabin is completely wired. I'm using automotive batteries (not optimal I know), I would like to hear some suggestions on a better battery to use that doesn't break the bank.
Have had it up and working for a few weeks, using the Rover 40, a total of 10 x 100 on my 30 foot 5th wheel trailer. Impressed with the completeness and flexibility of installation. I did add a few one-to-four cable splitters. If trying to think how to improve the design, would have an option for cables to the Rover to connect without having to strip wire and use a screwdriver, perhaps some kind of plug option that does not preclude the present method when used with other cabling. Those tightening screws are awful and not very sturdy, and bare wire is exposed. (I did lose one Rover when some exposed copper wire corroded in the salt air and burned up the plastic case.) And, the last cable pair from the panels to the controller could be combined into an insulated pair, perhaps with a single plug into the controller. When mounting the panels onto wooden rails (fiberglass covered wood), of a spacing different from that allowed by the panel bracket design, it would be nice to have screw holes in the frame. But it was easy enough to drill new holes in the brackets. The controllers are designed to be mounted on a wooden panel, say, but are awkward for me since they are on the carpet under a big bench next to the batteries and do not stand vertically on their side. I have both a Tracer and a Rover on two of my three small solar systems for this trailer. BUT, I would recommend to anyone to buy Renogy products and am quite happy to be up and running. The 400W panels have generated a maximum of 296 W, and after using the microwave, replenish the LI battery pair with a steady ~20 amps DC.