Charge Controllers

Most stand-alone solar power systems will need a charge controller. The purpose of this is to ensure that the battery is never overcharged, by diverting power away from it once it is fully charged. Only if a very small solar panel such as a battery saver is used to charge a large battery is it possible to do without a controller. Most charge controllers also incorporate a low-voltage disconnect function, which prevents the battery from being damaged by being completely discharged. It does this by switching off any DC appliances when the battery voltage falls dangerously low.

Controller Types

Solar charge controllers are specified by the system voltage they are designed to operate on and the maximum current they can handle. The system voltage is usually 12 or 24 Volts, or occasionally 48 Volts. The maximum current is determined by the number and size of solar panels used.

A single panel would need a controller of between 4 and 6 Amps rating, while larger arrays may need controllers of 40 Amps or more. Different settings are needed if sealed batteries are used to prevent the loss of electrolyte through gassing. The example controller shown is available with ratings of 8, 12, 20 and 30 Amps, and automatically selects between 12 and 24 Volts.

How it Works

The principle behind a solar charge controller is simple. There is a circuit to measure the battery voltage, which operates a switch to divert power away from the battery when it is fully charged. Because solar cells are not damged by being short or open-circuits, either of these methods can be used to stop power reaching the battery.

A controller which short-circuits the panel is known as a shunt regulator, and that which opens the circuit as a series regulator. Optionally there may also be a switch which automatically disconnects the power from the appliances or loads when the battery voltage falls dangerously low. This is known as a low-voltage disconnect function.

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