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2025.05.25 PolyEnergy LIFE test:




I recently got in the low power PolyEnergy controller I ordered, and wanted to test its performance with my big
LIFE 100Ah battery. This controller supports FLA, AGM, Calcium, and LIFE, but I'll only be testing the LIFE
today. The intent is to have a single (compact) controller to pack with the medium solar wallets, so it can be
used to charge any battery, regardless of type, without having to waste space in the pouch with multiple solar
controllers. I also wanted to test its function before providing feedback and a review online. This is supposed
to be an efficient MPPT controller. I can see it has efficient buck regulation but the MPPT needs verifying.

For today's test I used my five 60w Powkey 60w panels and a LIFE battery at about 70% charge. All five panels
in parallel should max out this controller, even with the sun not at an ideal angle. The controller was changed
to LIFE battery mode, and settled at about 140 watts of power being pulled from the panels, 135w of which was
making it to the battery. It fell a little short of the 150w I was expecting, but then I noticed the battery
current was pretty close to 10 amps, which is the controller's other limit. The panels settled at about 20.6
volts, which should be well-above their Vmpp, verifying the panels weren't limiting charge speed. Two of the
three red panel LEDs were lit solid, while the third was blinking, I presume this is indicating of the battery's
charge state as well as the active charging.

I then disconnected the panels and checked its Vmax voltage, and it tested at 21.3v today, with the sun shining
but at a slight angle to the panel. Lastly, I connected it back up to the controller to see how it performed
when the solar panel was the limiting factor. Vmpp quickly settled at 17.6 volts, and the controller was able
to pull 40 watts from the panel while delivering 38 watts to the battery. I think I can give this a pass.



60w Powkey (in solar wallets)


PolyEnergy 10A MPPT FLA+LIFE controller (in 1 low power controllers)

A. 300w of panels	B. 20.6v,138w from the panels	C. controller flashing	D. controller flashing	E. 133w to the battery	F. test single 60w panel
G. 21.3Voc	H. charging with single panel	I. 17.6Vmpp,40w	J. 38w to the battery

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last updated 05/25/2025 at 14:31:31 by make_www_index.command version 2025.05.20.B