Renogy Wanderer -- 30A Advanced PWM Negative-Ground Solar Charge Controller

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Product Specifications

The Wanderer is a negative ground controller. This ensure compatibility with any negative ground system, which is the standard and most conventional way of grounding. Any negative connection on the solar module, battery and load can be safely earth grounded as required
4 Stage PWM charging (Bulk, Boost, Float, and Equalization) prevents batteries from over-charging and over-discharging. Protection against: overcharging, overload, short-circuit, and reverse polarity
Compensates for temperature, automatically corrects charging and discharging parameters, and improves battery longevity.
LED Indicators that inform you about the charge controller’s status
Compatible with Sealed, Gel, and Flooded batteries

Product Description

Size:Wanderer The Renogy Wanderer is a 30A PWM charge controller. This advanced negative-ground controller is designed for off-grid solar applications and can be used with a 12V battery or battery bank. Integrating highly efficient PWM charging, the Wanderer increases battery life and improves system performance. The controller comes equipped with fully comprehensive self-diagnostics and electronic protection functions to prevent damage from installation mistakes or system faults. Negative grounding controller ensures the broader off grid applications and safety, especially to be used on a vehicle which has battery negative on the chassis. A little extra investment on the right charge controller will generate a much higher return and prevent system failure.

Product Reviews

Works fine, poor documentation

Works well as an off-the-grid battery charger (I’m using it with the Renogy 50W Mono Panel). The display uses LED’s to indicate charging status, plus a very poorly implemented digital display that only serves to indicate the status of a load timer–nothing at all to do with charging a battery. As best I can tell one can use a pair of terminals on the controller to power an external load (say night lighting for example) and the controller offers numerous options that determine when the load is powered. I think. Anyway, none of those options have anything at all to do with battery charging and the manual is almost inscrutable. A phone call to Renogy confirmed this: if you’re simply using this to charge a battery just plug it in and ignore the “settings” instructions.

Worked for a few months then I don’t know…

It just stopped working and my inverter shut off yesterday (as of this post).My first thought was the inverter was bad, but I tested all signals and it turns out the charge controller randomly decided to spit out 5~6 volts.I think I got a defective one. Everything worked great and I only use my LCD TV off 4 batteries at night.I tried to reset it myself. the manual on their website is not there anymore so I tried setting WORK MODE to almost all the options but it started spitting out 24 volts to the batteries. So I immediately unplugged the whole system and I guess I’ll have to buy from another manufacturer.Sad, I bought the panels from Renogy too.

Great product

Set up the 100W solar panel over a year ago and the Renogy charge controller has efficiently regulated the suns rays ever since.Truly amazing is seeing it holding back from overcharging on a cloudy day. I recommend this to beginner DIY solar power projects highly

Works well as UPS for small electronics

One sentence summary: this charge controller is cheap, simple and works well in my use case (which has nothing to do with solar).My use case for this controller is a bit atypical. I wanted a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for some small electronics (Raspberry Pi, automatic cat feeder, modem/router, etc), but I didn’t want to pay hundreds for the typical APC style UPS that came with an unknown inverter and unknown, potentially irreplaceable battery type. I wasn’t sure if this device could be used as a UPS (that is, the battery would take up the load quick enough in the event of a power outage), so I just wanted to get something cheap to try it out. Turns out it does work, well.I paired this device with a 120W 12VDC AC/DC power supply. This power supply acts as the solar panel (I may actually use solar panels in the future, but for now I have an AC/DC power supply so that’s what I’m using). I hooked up an old motorcycle battery that I had laying around as the battery bank. I hope to upgrade this to an actual AGM battery bank soon, but since my loads are so low this will last for all of the basic few second power outages that would reset my RPi or modem/router. Then to the load side I attached some DC voltage regulators to output the various voltages that I need (5VDC for the RPi, 4.5VDC for the cat feeder, various voltages for the router/modem).Overall this device functions well. I tested it with a 65w load and when the AC/DC power supply cuts out, the battery takes up operation in a quick enough time frame that my electronics don’t shut off. There are lots of modes of operation, but I just use the manual one (6 I think?) because my devices need power ²⁴⁄₇. I can’t say how well the battery charge functions because the motorcycle battery is pretty old and takes forever to charge, but the controller does charge it and maintain the charge well.So, all in all, this is a good little device. My use is a bit atypical (UPS), but I’m surprised and happy to learn that this little thing functions just fine for my use.EDIT: After having the system in use for a few days, I noticed the battery voltage was a bit low although the controller indicated it was “within range” (single green light). I did some research and learned that charge controllers will NOT step up a low input voltage to a higher voltage to charge the battery. The power supply I have caps out at about 12.99VDC so it looks like my battery will never attain full charge with this supply. I’m doing more research to determine a proper voltage for input supply.

Flush mount design is great for RV.

I love the flush mount fit for in my RV. I would have gave it 5 stars if it was back-lit. I dont know if any others are but I bought Renogy panels and connectors so I wanted to keep it all matched. And to repeat the flush mount is PERFECT for an RV.

12 Months and It’s Not Working Correctly

Bought exactly a year ago and out on a long RV trip now with the PV light stuck in “fast blink” for 2 weeks – have no idea what is going on. Went to the Renogy Forum to inquire about the blinking and it appears others are having same issue. As soon as I return home will replace with another controller. Certainly expected something I paid over $50 for to last more than 12 months. Tried to add video but it would not attach.

Flush look is very clean

The flush mount controller looks very clean. It is working great with the 3, Renogy 100 watt panels, I installed on the roof of my small RV. I’m mainly using the system to run a 12 volt, Cooltron cooler, while going on all day hikes. I don’t have to run the motor at the end of the day to partially recharge my coach batteries.

The unit does the job and has a few different …

The unit does the job and has a few different modes of operation… except for one very important one - always on. I couldn’t find a way to get this to be always on, regardless if there’s a light or not.

Five Stars

great

Great controller

This controller was easy to install. Once installed there is nothing more to do, all automatic. Only thing I wish it had is a volt meter to monitor battery voltage.

Four Stars

Very good unit for the price. Not fancy but does the job.

Great entry level controller

I know the reviews of this entry level controller are a mixed bag but I received the Renogy Wanderer as part of a solar panel kit.

Works well. Good price

Works well. Good price. Renogy generality gas good stuff.

def not as described

Very low quality not suitable for our projects, poor terminals and no CSA or UL certification cannot be used legally in domestic applications for solar systems