POWLAND 100A MPPT Solar Charge Controller,12V/24V/36V/48V Auto,Max Input 150V LCD Display Regulator Intelligent Regulator Charge Controller

Why I chose the Powland MPPT 100A

I put the Powland MPPT 100A into service to replace a flaky “MPPT” unit that never quite hit panel voltage, especially in cold, bright conditions. My use case spans a small off-grid cabin and a tow-behind RV, with a mix of panel strings and both lead-acid and LiFePO4 banks. The promise here is straightforward: a controller that can auto-detect 12/24/36/48V systems, safely accept up to 150V on the PV side, and actually track the panels’ maximum power point while moving up to 100A into the batteries. After several months of daily cycling, it’s proven to be a genuinely capable high-current controller with a few quirks worth noting.

Build and interface

The enclosure is robust enough for a utility space or RV cabinet, with decent strain relief and terminals that accept substantial conductors for both battery and PV. The four-button LCD interface isn’t glamorous, but it’s clear and responsive. You get real-time readouts for PV voltage, battery voltage, charge current, and computed watts, plus a simple battery percentage indicator. The menu system lets you select battery type presets (flooded, AGM/GEL, lithium), tweak charge limits and timing, and enable/disable equalization. For lithium users, you can disable equalize, set an appropriate absorption limit, and reduce or eliminate float—exactly what you want for LiFePO4.

One design choice I appreciate: equalization is available for lead-acid but doesn’t get in your way if you’re running lithium. If you keep mixed chemistries around, switching profiles is quick.

If you like remote monitoring, the RS485/Modbus port is there. With a basic USB–RS485 adapter I was able to pull live data and logs and make configuration changes from a laptop. It’s not plug-and-play like a built-in Bluetooth module, but it’s reliable and flexible once you set it up.

Installation and setup

Setup was painless. Battery first, then PV, as always. The controller immediately recognized the system voltage in both my 24V and 48V benches and came up with sane defaults for the selected battery type. A few practical notes from the install:

• Keep your PV open-circuit voltage well under the 150V limit, with a winter margin. Three 44V Voc modules in series (≈132V at 25°C) is fine; four would be over the limit in cold weather.
• At 100A output, cabling and overcurrent protection matter. Use appropriately sized conductors and install breakers or fuses on both battery and array sides.
• The unit prefers clean, cool airflow. Don’t box it in with insulation or soundproofing foam; the fan will run harder and louder if starved for air.

I also paired it with a second MPPT on a separate subarray for testing; they coexisted without hunting or oscillation on a shared battery bank, which was a good sign.

Performance and efficiency

This is where the Powland holds its own. MPPT tracking is responsive; on partly cloudy days the sweep reacts quickly to “cloud edges” and doesn’t get stuck near a false knee of the IV curve. In side-by-side tests with panels of known STC output:

• On a 24V LiFePO4 bank with a 1.6–1.8 kW array (Voc 120V, Vmp ~95V), I routinely saw 60–70A into the battery around midday, with peak conversion efficiency in the high 90s. Measured DC output power versus PV input indicated 97–98% conversion at moderate to high loads.
• On a 48V bank with a ~2.4 kW array, it reached the current limit before panel limit on bright days. The controller respected its 100A cap cleanly without chatter or thermal derating when well ventilated.
• Compared with a PWM controller on a similar wattage array, charge times shortened significantly and harvest during cool, bright mornings improved by a large margin, as you’d expect from true MPPT.

The four-stage algorithm (bulk, absorption/boost, float, equalize) behaves as it should. Absorption holds steady at the setpoint and tapers current appropriately. For LiFePO4, leaving float low or off avoided unnecessary top balancing cycles. For flooded lead-acid, the equalization routine is conservative and easy to schedule.

One caveat: the fan strategy is aggressive. Above roughly 30–40A, the fan tends to run continuously and is audible in a quiet RV. In a utility room it’s a non-issue; in a living space, you’ll notice it.

Battery compatibility and charge control

With lead-acid, the presets are sensible out of the box, and you can fine-tune voltages and absorption time to match manufacturer specs. With lithium, the controller supports a lithium profile and accepts user-defined limits; I set bulk/absorb to 14.2–14.4V (per 12V equivalent) and float low. It respects those limits and doesn’t sneak in an equalize cycle when lithium is selected.

State-of-charge on the display is only an estimate; it’s based on voltage and charge state rather than true coulomb counting. Treat it as a quick glance, not a BMS replacement. The actual measured current and watts are the values to watch for accuracy.

Monitoring and data

The LCD gives you what you need day-to-day, and the RS485/Modbus port opens the door to more serious monitoring. I used a simple script to log PV volts/amps, battery volts/amps, and charge stage every minute and saw smooth curves without oscillation. There’s no built-in USB or Wi‑Fi, so you’ll need a dongle and a bit of tinkering if you want remote graphs or alerts.

The printed manual is better than average. Wiring diagrams are clear, and the parameter tables match what you see on-screen. If you’re stepping up from budget controllers with sparse documentation, this is a welcome change.

Thermal behavior and noise

Thermal management is active and competent. The heatsink gets warm under sustained high current, and the fan ramps up predictably. In a ventilated install, I didn’t hit thermal derating even at high charge rates in summer. The tradeoff is noise; at higher loads the fan is clearly audible. For RV installs, consider placement away from sleeping areas or add ducting to isolate sound.

Reliability and support

Across several months of use—including summer heat and a couple of deep discharge/recharge cycles—the controller has been stable. Parameters persist across power cycles, and cold starts with panels already live didn’t faze it. I can’t speak to multi-year longevity yet. Documentation is solid; official support channels are less clear, and there’s no companion app or portal. If strong vendor support is a priority for you, factor that into your decision.

Who it suits best

• RV and van builds that need a bona fide MPPT at high current without boutique pricing
• Off-grid cabins or sheds running 24V or 48V banks up to roughly 2.4–4.8 kW of charge power
• Mixed-chemistry users who switch between lead-acid and lithium and want easy profile changes
• DIYers comfortable with RS485 for remote monitoring

If you need silent operation in a living space, or plug-and-play connectivity (USB/Wi‑Fi) out of the box, you’ll want to plan some workarounds.

Pros

• True, responsive MPPT with high conversion efficiency under load
• Handles 12/24/36/48V systems with automatic detection
• Sensible presets with user-adjustable limits, including lithium-friendly settings
• Clear LCD with real-time amps, watts, and charge stage
• RS485/Modbus for robust remote monitoring and control
• Good manual and straightforward setup

Cons

• Cooling fan is audible and often runs continuously at moderate/high current
• No built-in USB/Bluetooth/Wi‑Fi; RS485 requires extra hardware
• Support channels aren’t as polished as premium brands
• Terminal spacing is tight for very large-gauge cable and ring lugs

Recommendation

I recommend the Powland MPPT 100A for anyone building or upgrading a high-current solar charging system who values real MPPT performance, flexible battery support, and honest efficiency without paying premium-brand prices. It has handled everything I’ve thrown at it—24V and 48V banks, varying arrays, and daily cycling—while delivering reliable, predictable charging. The tradeoffs are mostly about creature comforts and acoustics: the fan is not shy, and you’ll need RS485 gear if you want remote data. If those are acceptable, this controller offers excellent functionality and performance for the money.