If you are looking for all the trimmings or running a large household grid tie array, this is not the controller for you. If you are looking to automatically light up the barn on all sides, you will adore this. For small solar power needs, such as rv, cabin, camping, and other plain deployments, this will simply do. In a word, I would peg this controller as "perfectly adequate".
I've had this controller for one year, so can attest to its reliability. It has served me, and under non-ideal conditions of some rigour. It has seen the extremes of desert heat and cold. It has ventured to mountaintops and been dusted with grit and grime. And it still works, topping off my two small industrial deep cycle batteries and floating them just as specs detail. I know this because I added an inexpensive, but nonetheless equally hardy, voltmeter into the line.
It would have been nice to have that information displayed by the controller itself instead of selecting for photocell options. There is something a bit ridiculous and obsessive about the numerous options for automatic power for lighting. I've never used any of these. But if you need to light that barn or flag pole, you will enjoy this.
The unit feels well built on the whole. The enclosure is sturdy. I cracked it open to examine and all was neat, no components cold soldered. But for a unit presumably meant to be mounted outside, there is not even a fig leaf of water resistance. Also, the ports for connecting wires are perfunctory at best. If you planned on using anything better than #10 AWG wires direct to the box, think again. Even at #10, it is a tight squeeze into a somewhat jiggly screw clamp. I've hitherto had no issues with disconnection, but would tie off any wires connected to this.
A controller reliably handling 30 amps is at least better than the usual throwaway units supplied by solar power kit scams. If you are building a small system for your rv, on a budget, one could do much worse. You can probably rely on this unit. Faint praise, it sounds, but in a world where disposability is not regarded with the proper shame it should accrue, plain reliability is a rare virtue.
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From the manufacturer
Compatible With Sealed, Gel, and Flooded Batteries
Optional Component
Temperature Sensor.
- Measures the temperature at the battery and uses this data for very accurate temperature compensation. The sensor is supplied with a 6.6ft cable length that connects to the charge controller.
- Optional component requires a separate purchase.
Renogy Wanderer 12V PWM Negative Ground Solar Charge Controller
The Traveler SeriesTM
The Renogy Wanderer is a 30A PWM solar power charge controller. This advanced negative-ground controller is designed for off-grid solar applications and can be used with a 12V battery or battery bank. Integrating highly efficient PWM charging, the Wanderer increases battery life and improves system performance. The controller comes equipped with fully comprehensive self-diagnostics and electronic protection functions to prevent damage from installation mistakes or system faults.
Specifications
- Max Gauge Size: Up to 4AWG
- Self-Consumption: <10mA
- Dimensions: 6.45 x 4.31 x 1.76 inches
- Weight: 0.65 lbs
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Layout
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LED Indicators & Battery Select ButtonMonitor system status and set the battery type. |
Temperature Sendor PortFor optional temperature sensor. ASIN: B07WMMJFWY |
Pre-drilled HolesFor convenient mounting. |
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| Renogy Wanderer 30A | Renogy Adventurer 30A PWM | Renogy Voyager 20A PWM | Renogy Rover 20A/40A MPPT | |
| Nominal System Voltage | 12V DC | 12V/24V DC | 12V DC | 12V/24V DC |
| LCD Display | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Grounding Type | Negative | Negative | Negative | Negative |
| Battery Type | Sealed, Gel and Flooded | Sealed, Gel, Flooded and Lithium | AGM, Gel, Flooded and Lithium | Sealed, Gel, Flooded, Lithium and User |
| Temperature Compensation and Intelligent Protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote monitoring with Renogy DC Home App | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Waterproof | ✓ | |||
| Mounting Options | Surface mount | Surface mount and flush mount | Surface mount | Surface mount |
| Dimensions | 6.5x4.3x1.8 inches | 6.5x4.5x1.9 inches | 6.08x3.83x1.40 inches | 20A 8.3x5.9x2.3 inches; 40A 9.4x6.8x2.9 inches |
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2015
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HOA Sign lighting system uses solar components
By Lynn Potter on January 1, 2015
Bought 3 of these ( 1 spare) for 2 sign lighting systems. Positive ground prevented input wattmeter keep-alive. Following inverter positive had to be connected directly to battery to prevent controller resetting. Single digit readout of work mode took some "getting used to" Difference in readings of "7" Mode 7 and "7 Dot" (Mode 17). Competition 30 A controller (Amazon: XCSOURCE LD296) seems to have resolved that. "Rising Block" terminals require backing screws out until they click once for every turn, to make sure connecting wires are seated properly INSIDE the block before tightening. You need to look into the wire holes as you're inserting the wires to get it right. We had one battery wire that wasn't inserted properly, but "felt" tight, it generated enough heat to partially melt the terminal block housing. We didn't give it a "stiff tug" to make sure the connection was good. Not necessarily a design flaw, more like an uneducated user. We got it resolved but it involved removing the terminal strip from the board... a process that could have been avoided had we followed the above instructions. Some on-line reviews stated that manufacturer would no longer support the timing function but it wasn't a problem for us. Our systems run 7 hours nightly in mode 7, confirmed by a running time meter, with no problem. Renogy's 100 watt panels, tilted 45 degrees south, recharge 35AH and 55AH batteries, after a 43% nightly discharge, by 1 PM in southern Arizona sun on shortest December days.
By Lynn Potter on January 1, 2015
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Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2017
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Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2015
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Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2019
Verified Purchase
Its alive !
By Filthy Fester McNasty on April 20, 2019
Works good for my first mobil solar gen. project.
By Filthy Fester McNasty on April 20, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2014
Verified Purchase
