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BougeRV MPPT Solar Charge Controller – Worth It Over PWM?

Disclaimer: The BougeRV solar charge controller was sent to us to be reviewed and tested. This is our honest review and opinion of this product after testing and using it.

Is The BougeRV MC2440N10 MPPT Solar Charge Controller Worth It?

What Is Solar A Charge Controller?

A solar charge controller is installed between a solar panel and a battery. Its job is to regulate the electricity generated by the panel, and pass it on to the battery.

Without a charge controller the panel might send a voltage and/or current that your battery doesn’t like, which can lead to overcharging and permanent damage.

The two main types of solar charge controllers are PWM and MPPT, with the latter being the better but more costly option.

To put it in easy to understand words, an MPPT charge controller is 10-40% more efficient than a PWM charge controller because it’s able to adjust and use both the voltage and current depending on conditions. This is why it’s seen as the more advanced, or smart solar charger.

Our Setup

Most of the solar panels on the roof of our RV charge power stations inside the camper, but we also have a 100W solar panel that charges the 12V RV battery.

When we installed the 100W solar panel on the roof of our RV, we hooked it up to a PWM charge controller that was included.

While an MPPT charge controller might not be worth it if you only use a single 100W panel like we do, we’ve been talking about adding more panels and an MPPT charge controller.

So when BougeRV reached out and asked if we wanted to test one of its product, more specifically the BougeRV MC2440N10, we couldn’t pass up on the opportunity.

Check Price at BougeRV.com

Use the coupon code CAMNERD12 to get 12% off your purchase.

Let’s get right into the features of the Bouge RV charge controller, then we’ll share a couple of test results and answer common questions.

The BougeRV MPPT Solar Charge Controller – Model MC2440N10

The BougeRV MPPT solar charge controller can be used with both 12 and 24 volt battery systems.

Its max solar panel input power is 520W with a 12V system, and 1040W with a 24V. That is equal to 40A.

You can also wire panels in series, since it can handle up to 92V of total open circuit voltage.

Installation

It’s easy to connect the charge controller to your batteries and solar panels. All you need is a screwdriver.

Note that you should have install an inline fuse close, we went with a 40A fuse.

Starting with the batteries, connect the positive wire to the hole that shows a “+” by the battery icon. Then do the same with the negative wire.

When the battery is connected, you can connect the included remote/display.

Hold the “ENTER” button until the icons on the bottom row start to blink. Now you can click it again to set the battery type.

These are the battery types you can choose from:

Li – Lithium

Fld – Flooded

Sld – Sealed

Gel – Gel

Use – User, where you can set your own voltages.

If you’re not sure which battery type you have, you can figure it out by taking a look at the battery. It should mention the type.

We have an AGM battery, so we set it to Use so we could set the specific voltages that was recommended by the manufacturer, but you don’t have to do that.

The lights indicate battery type, state of charge, and charging mode.

When you have selected the battery type, it will return to the main screen if you don’t push any button for a while.

Now you’re ready to connect the solar panel(s). Start by connecting the positive wire, then the negative. The display will show you when it’s connected.

The display will tell you the battery voltage, battery percentage, solar panel voltage, watts, amps, amp hours generated, and temperature (of the charge controller).

My Review – How’s It Working?

The Good

We have been using the BougeRV MPPT charge controller for several weeks now, and it has been doing a great job at keeping our AGM battery charged up.

The biggest difference we’re seeing when comparing it to our older PWM charge controller is that it’s able to use more of what the solar panel generates in bad conditions.

We used to have to turn on the converter/charger in our RV after a cloudy day or two, but that’s not something we have had to do lately since this keeps our batteries charged.

Check Price at BougeRV.com

Use the coupon code CAMNERD12 to get 12% off your purchase.

On sunny days, it’s still 20-40% more efficient than the PWM charge controller, even though we only have one solar panel.

So is it worth the cost? If you rely on your solar array to power your RV or shed, then I would say yes. If you think you need one for the one week of camping you do in the summer, then probably not.

If you have expensive batteries, like lithium or large AGM batteries, I would see it as more beneficial or even necessary.

The display is nice to have since it lets you monitor a lot of what’s happening with your solar panels and batteries. The cable is long so you can mount it where it’s easy to access.

It stays relatively cool with the big heatsink on the back, and performs great as long as it doesn’t reach temperatures over 85°F. Then you might see the amperage drop a bit unless you cool it down with a fan.

The Bad

The display is unfortunately hard to read since it’s not backlit. My solution to this is to shine my phone’s flashlight on it, which makes it very easy to read.

You’re not going to be able to read the display from far away, or even very close if you’re looking at it from the wrong angle.

Have any questions or comments? Leave them down below.

by Jesse
Jesse has always had an interest in camping, technology, and the outdoors. Who knew that growing up in a small town in Sweden with endless forests and lakes would do that to you?

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