Solar panels are getting more popular these days due to the threats that other alternatives of electricity pose to the environment. So, people are going for natural means to reduce the risk of exploitation. A solar power charge controller charges the battery to control the current/voltage of the battery from the solar panels. Without regulators the batteries will get overcharged and damaged. They are needed at the places with very high voltages. They are reliable and do not need high maintenance.
Types of Controllers – There are three types of solar controllers – Pulse Width Modulated (PWM), Simple 1 or 2 stage controls and Maximum PowerPoint Tracking (MPPT). The first one PWM have become industry standard now; but they are available in the market on discounted prices. The second one, simple 1 or 2 stage control consists of shunt transistors which control the current in 1 or 2 stages. They act as a timer for the batteries; when the voltage reaches a certain limit, they disconnect the solar panels. The MPPT are the latest charge controllers. They are the most effective ones as they identify the exact amount of power needed for the batteries and provide 10-30% more capacity.
Function of solar charge controller – A charge controller controls the rate at which electric battery passes the current to solar panels. It protects the batteries from overcharging or draining out the entire voltage from them. This may affect the performance and life span of the batteries. Also, the irregularities in the batteries may be a threat to safety. Solar panels are capable of transferring more energy than is required, so a solar charge controller regulates the amount of power conveyed by the solar panel. They even regulate the reverse current flow. The controllers can recognize if the panels are working or not and stop the reverse flow of current by exposing the circuit between solar panels and the batteries.
