Waterproof PWM LS2024RP Solar Panel Charge Controller Regulator 12/24V 20A

• 12/24V automatic recognition
• Widely used, automatically recognize day/night.
• Digital LED menu, only one key solve all setting simply
• Intelligent timer function with 1-15 hours option
• Gel, Sealed and Flooded battery type option.

I originally got this to be used with a portable 200 Watt system using 2=100 Watt 12V panels. It is water resistant, but water could get into the unit around the wire entry points.

Here are a few problems I have with it. It starts the charge cycle every day trying to "equalize" my RV batteries (2=6V series Trojan T105RE @12V) the voltage it tries to maintain for about 2 hours regardless of the charge state of my batteries is 14.8V. Then it drops to 14.4-6V for 30min or so. Then it "floats" at 13.8V. The main problem is that the "boost" and/or "equalize" is often too short, or too long. This cycle is "dumb" and only on a timer, but it doesn't seem to care if your batteries need more charge or not, and won't provide more if they do, nor less if they don't. The indicator light on this controller might show a "full charge" but the controller continues to charge too much sometimes, but most often not enough, leaving the batteries under charged and requiring me to use another charger to actually bring them up to full charge, using a hydrometer as a charge indicator to actually determine the charge state.

The float voltage would be too high from this controller for my batteries which should be 13.2V, and the equalize voltage would be too low from this controller, I need 15.2+V and using this controller I noticed 1 cell in my batteries was already developing a drop in voltage after using this controller 2 months or less. (not equalized, but my other charger seemed to remedy this)

I did not use the light timer feature for load control (I was interested mostly in the "waterproof" part), so I can't comment on this feature.

So for intermittent emergency use it might be okay, and it might work okay if you have better math than I do and can perfectly match your panels/batteries/load to only require 2-3 hours of full charge, such as a driveway light system or something... but its not very good for variable loads and uses such as an RV.

I didn't get enough rain to really test the waterproof part, but I did use it outside hooked to the back of my panels which I moved around the yard chasing the sun. The wires on this unit appear close to 10 gauge but may be 12, it is China built, but comes with instructions easy enough to understand in super tiny print I need a magnifying glass to read.

I will be replacing this unit with something else that is "smarter" so I don't have to be. :)