GIARIDE 30 amp PWM Solar Charge Controller, 24V/12V, Green, SCC-30

What can I say. This is a 30 amp solar controller for the price of a typical 10 amp controller. And it is quality. I've worked in electronics for over 40 years so I think I can spot good workmanship. So it is made in China. Sometimes, quality items do come from there when the company building the item demands care in production. Just like they say in the web page, it is a well-designed circuit board with quality parts and very good to excellent circuit board construction. A ribbed bottom will help dispel heat when attached to a metallic surface. I do think the fastening screws for the IN/OUT wiring could have been of a sturdier quality (the Phillips indentation is part of the shaft of the screw) especially if you try to over-torque to tighten. It appears to be an Asian crosspoint, which is slightly different from an American Phillips, so exercise care when tightening.The cover is easy to remove, There is a slight misalignment between the holes in the cover and the heads of the screws. My picture does not do it justice because it looks like the display is partially faded. That is not the case. Just as I was getting ready to snap the picture the sun popped out from behind a cloud and the camera was not fast enough to correct so part of the display looks faded. You do realize that a display is not on all the time, right? It is multiplexed to reduce current draw. Also, because of the design of my box, I actually had to mount the controller sideways (vertical) and not horizontal. But the display makes it easy to understand what is happening.Because I have my controller at the Panels and Battery, I really do not see having any use for the USB ports, but the fact that they are there may be helpful. I could plug in a 5V cabinet fan to help with cooling the box since it contains both my controller and power inverter for my wife's garden.Pros: Bargain for the price.Quality inside and out.Easy push push buttons, no rattle (like another post). But do understand that you are pushing a spring loaded cap which will press against the switch mounted to the circuit board.Easy to read display.Will hold greater than 10 ga. wire.Ambient Temperature display available.Cons: Wire security screws could be betterI hope this evaluation will help you in making a decision as to which controller to buy for your project.

I enjoy tinkering with small form solar projects and have purchased a few solar charger controllers in the past. When time for another solar charge controller I purchased this GIARIDE 30A model as this 30A 24V/12V model with graphical interface was just a few dollars then the 10A 12V controllers I have purchased in the past.The seller's description and pictures also show what is to be better electronics in this model as compared to others. Though I like tinkering with electronics, I am going to take their word on this and not disassemble this solar charge controller.Right off the bat I noticed this charge controller has larger wire terminals than my 10A charge controllers to accommodate larger wiring. The ribbed backing on the back of the charge controller is also a good feature and should help displace some heat which is an enemy to any electronics.After hooking up the charge controller to a battery then a small solar panel the display came to life showing the voltage, a sun icon, and an arrow showing flow from the solar panel to a smiling battery. Since I had not hooked up a load yet there was an empty arrow showing to the load.I was then able to press the menu button and navigate the remaining information screens.1) Main Display Setting2) Temperature Display3) Charging Current4) Load Current5) Cumulative Charge Amperage6) Cumulative Load Amperage7) Warning DisplayThere are also other screens/options you can choose from.1) Set Solar Charging Voltage2) Set Float Charge Voltage3) Set Battery Low Voltage Protection4) Set Battery Low Voltage Reset5) Select Battery Type6) Select Temperature Trim7) Set Light/Load TimerI am just starting to use this solar charger controller but so far I am pleased with it. I like the graphical interface and clear display, temperature reading, and the cumulative charge and load information. Once I have used this solar charge controller some more I will update this review.

Still going for over a year, biggest complaint is I don't really know what the extra settings are for. I lost my manual and they don't have a digital version. Even if I had the manual it's in chinese and useless, if there was a digital manual in chinese you can have it translated but I have yet to find one. For the price it's great but I really wish I knew what the other settings, I was able to guess some but m the a1-a99 I have no clue.

So far so good. I have it set up to a 120 watt panel with 2 deep cycle batteries on my sailboat. Seems to be working just fine and holding up to the salt for now.Well, I'm changing the review 6 months in because the USB ports stopped working even after resetting the controller.

at the moment that is all I can say because the controller is still in the box waiting for the one being used to break down. i bought it as standby in case my old one breaks down.

I did like this controller, until something went wrong and I have hard time with the instruction to configure the controller.

Very nice ty

LCD flickers and graphics fade/partially appear at times. Buttons rattle, construction questionable/screw terminals squeaky. Had panels in clear sky on sunny 90 degree days but unit did not indicate that charging was occurring. (Panels are correctly wired because previous controller worked.) It also did not indicate load current as advertised. I like it’s size and heat sink, as well as the advertised options, but unfortunately mine was defective.