Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?  (Read 458 times)

WB0CJB

  • Member
  • Posts: 274
Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« on: May 19, 2022, 06:20:44 AM »

Has anyone had any experience using Harbor Freight's Thunderbolt brand charge controllers? Mainly in a solar panel setup for Field Day. Are they noisy? i had a friend tell me he tried a few years ago and the CC was noisy with hash.

WB0CJB
Logged

SWMAN

  • Posts: 2117
    • HomeURL
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2022, 06:30:37 AM »

 I’ll bet they are real noisy, look at the price of them ! You get what you pay for.
Logged

K5LXP

  • Member
  • Posts: 6823
    • homeURL
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2022, 06:56:07 AM »

You don't need a charge controller for Field Day.  No controller = no noise.  You can be the charge controller.  If you've got so much excess solar input that you can run all the equipment and the batteries are full, just unplug or shade some panels.  You'll be in deficit for most of the operation, so a controller is superfluous.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
Logged

K1KIM

  • Member
  • Posts: 1556
    • HomeURL
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2022, 07:09:28 AM »

I always thought it comical that HF included an extra set of brushes and springs in their power tools.

It's as if they actually expect you to believe the drill, saw, grinder etc were going to last long enough to need to change the carbon brushes.

The only exception was I bought 2 of the same reciprocating saw for a project 20 years ago figuring the first one would die before the job was done.

I still have that saw and the 2nd is still NIB. All for $19.95 each !!!

Sometimes, just sometimes......... you get MORE than you pay for.

Other than that, I don't look at HF products other than disposable.
Logged
So Many Toys.......So Little Time!

W9RAC

  • Member
  • Posts: 63
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2022, 07:34:13 AM »

I bought two of their trickle chargers, thinking I was way ahead instead of battery tenders, 6$ vs 75$. I live rural, back in a forested area with a normal zero HF noise level. After I put them on it was s7. Unplugged them, zero. I gave them a new home at GoodWill. 73 Rich
Logged

AK5B

  • Member
  • Posts: 137
    • homeURL
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2022, 11:22:38 AM »

FWIW, Genasun MPPT charge controllers are 100% RF quiet and not expensive ($100~).

The only way to fly with solar!

73,

Jeff, AK5B
Logged

N8AUC

  • Member
  • Posts: 1007
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2022, 05:05:00 PM »

Surprisingly, they are RF quiet.
A few years ago I bought the Harbor Freight 100 w solar power kit for use at Field Day. After I bought it, I learned that some charge controllers produce RF noise.
So before Field Day I hooked everything up in the backyard as a test.
Frankly, given it was harbor freight I expected the worst.
But I could not detect any RF noise from it.

Now, the supplied controller is a PWM controller, so it isn't very efficient.
But it DOES work.

73 de N8AUC
Eric

Logged

KC6RWI

  • Member
  • Posts: 901
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2022, 05:57:35 PM »

DId you ever notice that brand name products are rare in HF, they love the mark up of no name chinese products.
Logged

K1KIM

  • Member
  • Posts: 1556
    • HomeURL
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2022, 07:08:31 PM »

DId you ever notice that brand name products are rare in HF, they love the mark up of no name chinese products.

Every product is a trademarked brand of Harbor Freight. Chicago Electric, etc.
Logged
So Many Toys.......So Little Time!

WU0F

  • Member
  • Posts: 4
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2022, 07:13:00 PM »

I have a Thunderbolt solar system on my travel trailer.  I have not experienced any noise coming from the controller.  I have even added to additional panels to bring my system up to 150 watts. 
Logged

K0UA

  • Member
  • Posts: 9589
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #10 on: June 14, 2022, 04:37:57 PM »

I bought two of their trickle chargers, thinking I was way ahead instead of battery tenders, 6$ vs 75$. I live rural, back in a forested area with a normal zero HF noise level. After I put them on it was s7. Unplugged them, zero. I gave them a new home at GoodWill. 73 Rich

You should have beaten them to a homogenous mass. That way they will not plague mankind by raising the noise floor. ALL noise producing objects should be destroyed in such a manner. By giving them to the goodwill, someone will use them next door to a ham and be the bane of his life evermore. Always remember, the hammer is your best answer.
Logged
73  James K0UA

SWMAN

  • Posts: 2117
    • HomeURL
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #11 on: June 14, 2022, 07:26:30 PM »

 I second the Big Hammer remedy.
That will cure all the RFI problems.
Logged

AI5BC

  • Posts: 456
    • HomeURL
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #12 on: June 18, 2022, 08:32:58 AM »

Mainly in a solar panel setup for Field Day. Are they noisy? i had a friend tell me he tried a few years ago and the CC was noisy with hash.

WB0CJB

Of course it is noisy, you got what you paid for. Genasun is the only controller certified for NAV/COM operations. They are made for the Marine industry. 

There is absolutely no reason for solar in field day operations. If your battery is the proper size, does not require any charger in the field. Now what we have done to appease tree huggers, boy scouts, and democrats, is make it look like we are green. We put up the solar panel with some wire, blinking lights, disappearing under a table goring nowhere. 
Logged

WB0CJB

  • Member
  • Posts: 274
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #13 on: June 27, 2022, 03:16:15 AM »

An update to my question: NO NOISE!

I ran the solar panel/controller/battery this weekend at Field Day. The entire system ran great and without any noise. In fact three other people asked about where I got the panel.

IMHO it was money well spent!

Paul WB0CJB
Logged

N7EKU

  • Member
  • Posts: 1471
Re: Harbor Freight Thunderbolt charge controllers noisy?
« Reply #14 on: June 27, 2022, 06:32:38 AM »

What controller,

You said you gave it to GoodWill?

73
Logged
Mark -- N7EKU/VE3
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up