Any reason NOT to mount solar controller horizontally?

[Martinjmpr]

My solar kit came with a 20a MPPT controller. Instructions say to mount the controller "vertically" in a protected area.
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However, since my kit needs to be able to work in either the truck or the trailer, I don't want to mount it permanently anywhere. My intention is to have either a wooden box or possibly some kind of waterproof metal box (maybe a converted ammo box?) to carry the controller in.
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Question for the group, then: Is there any particular reason it would need to be mounted vertically vs. horizontally? I can't think of any reason why the electronic circuits inside the controller would "care" which way they were mounted. As long as there is sufficient space for air to circulate and/or to keep the controller cool in hot weather, it shouldn't make a difference, right?

 

[Herbie]

Probably optimal for convection and cooling that it mounts vertically, but if it's that "close" that laying the thing down makes it overheat, I'd be concerned that it's marginal anyhow.

 

[teotwaki]

picture of the controller or a link to some?

 

[Martinjmpr]

picture of the controller or a link to some?

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https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-MPPT-Solar-Charge-Controller/dp/B00G3XTWTS

 

[dwh]

If it looks like this:

Then yea...has to be level or the magic smoke will escape.

Otherwise...doesn't matter.

 

[teotwaki]

I vote for mounting it vertically based on their pictures of the back

 

[Herbie]

Yeah, with those pictures, I'd say go vertical. Otherwise the hot air just rises up into the heat sink and sits there. With a vertical mount, the hot air will flow out and pull cooler air plus up past the sink.

 

[4x4junkie]

My SunSaver MPPT controller barely gets 5°F above ambient, even when it is working not far from full capacity in Bulk mode. Though I don't recall mine stipulating any mounting orientation requirements, I cannot see that any MPPT controller would be so inefficient that it would generate enough heat to be an issue in any orientation. I too would say don't even worry about it (just don't seal it up inside a little tiny box that has no airflow).

 

[dwh]

Judging from the RJ45 jack, even the larger heat sink looks pretty small.

No worries.

 

[pugslyyy]

Those heatsinks are pretty good sized, I would assume that they are there for a reason. My Blue Sky (which also likes to be mounted vertically) has a bunch as well. I think the safest thing to do is assume that the designers did the math and follow the directions. I'd also be a bit wary of locking it up in a small metal box, unless you put a computer case fan in it or something.

 

[dwh]

20a. Worst case, 15v. 300w. Claims 97% efficiency. So...9w dissipated as heat? Worst case?

I'd be more worried about tricking the temp compensation. And not worried much about that.

 

[rayra]

passive cooling in the vertical orientation. Mounted to a surface it turns those vane areas into little chimneys, with convection aiding in the cooling. Depending on how sensitive the circuitry might be, it might matter a lot. Depending how hot those vanes get in a vertical config, it might really matter a great deal.

 

[teotwaki]

My solar kit came with a 20a MPPT controller. Instructions say to mount the controller "vertically" in a protected area.
.
However, since my kit needs to be able to work in either the truck or the trailer, I don't want to mount it permanently anywhere. My intention is to have either a wooden box or possibly some kind of waterproof metal box (maybe a converted ammo box?) to carry the controller in.
.
Question for the group, then: Is there any particular reason it would need to be mounted vertically vs. horizontally? I can't think of any reason why the electronic circuits inside the controller would "care" which way they were mounted. As long as there is sufficient space for air to circulate and/or to keep the controller cool in hot weather, it shouldn't make a difference, right?

How small will your box be?

 

[Sharbian]

This is the power-box I've built. Seems to be working fine! Consider that I'm only running 480 watts to it from 3 PV's. Not sure if that make a huge difference.

 

[SoCal_80]

My controller has been mounted horizontally in the engine bay for several years now. No issues. That said I have the same controller mounted vertically in the trailer with no issues either.


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