Solar Charge Controllers

 Why do I need a Solar Charge Controller?

 

The principal functions of the solar charge controller is to provide the proper charge to the batteries, and to prevent battery overcharging.

Think of the solar charge controller as the logic for your solar panel or solar array. On their own, solar panels do not know and do not care when your batteries are fully charged. That task is left to the solar charge controller. Decisions as to the proper charge rate and length of charge time are all made by the solar charge controller.

The solar charge controllers we offer, all contain reverse leakage protection, which prevents the batteries from discharging back through the solar panel(s) at night.

So, the simple answer is - You need a solar charge controller to properly charge your batteries and to protect them from overcharging and subsequent damage!

 

How to choose the proper solar charge controller?

The most important job of a solar charge controller is to properly process the solar panels output, to keep your batteries properly charged & not overcharged. This keeps your lights on, cell phones charging, refrigeration running, and it absolutely helps to extend the useful service life of your batteries.

There are two types of solar charge controllers:

PWM - Pulse Width Modulation - An older technology still used for many smaller solar power systems.

MPPT - Maximum Power Point Tracking - A newer technology that extracts the maximum power possible from the solar array.

The difference between these two types of solar charge controllers comes down to the design & overall efficiency of the controller, and its price. The MPPT solar controller, while a bit more expensive, can provide up to 30% more charging power by converting your solar panel(s) excess voltage into charging current. Think of the MPPT as a boost style controller. Today’s solar panels, such as the F-Series & SolarFlexx panels, produce upwards of 20+ volts, while most AGM batteries only require 14.4 volts to charge. An MPPT solar charge controller takes advantage of your solar panel’s excess voltage, converts it to an increased current & sends that additional charge to your battery bank, where it is needed the most.