Solar Controllers Knowledge
Charge Controllers - Standard and MPPT, DC-DC Converters
Written by Raina Xiao Friday, 05 March 2010 10:40
A charge controller, or solar controller, regulates the voltage and current coming from your solar panels to your batteries.
Depending on the type and brand, solar panels put out 16 to 50+ DC volts, so if there is no regulation the batteries may be damaged from overcharging. Generally, there is no need for a charge controller with the small 1 to 5 watt trickle charge panels. A rough rule is that if the panel puts out 1/60th or less per day of the rated battery amp-hour capacity, you don't need one.
Testing charge controllers: Nearly all charge controller REQUIRE that they be hooked up to a battery in order to operate. You cannot hook up a solar panel to the input and use the LOAD or OUTPUT with no battery connected. Also, if you try to measure the volts or amps on those terminals with no battery, you will not get a valid reading.
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