A device that regulates power from the different solar panels to the batteries is known as solar charge controller. The device is essential for systems that have usage of batteries. The battery life can be reduced if it is overcharged. The battery can also be damaged for the same reason. A solar charge controller prevents any such thing. The voltage on the battery in use is monitored by the solar charge controller and they open the circuits so that the charging can be stopped when the voltage is there at a certain level.
Versions
Mechanical relay is used by the older versions of the device. In this process, the circuit is manipulated to stop or start power from taking an entry to the battery. However, the modern versions use PMW or Pulse Width Modulation technique so that the power which gets into the batteries when those are fully recharged can be reduced slowly. This is obviously a better solution as the battery is less stressed in this type and therefore the battery life gets an extension. Whether the battery is fully charged or not also is monitored by this device.
There are other options like MPPT or Maximum Power Point Tracking as well. Here, the solar charge controller can convert any amount of excess voltage to amperage. With this, the charge voltage is always there at an optimum level and this ensures that the battery takes less time to get recharged. The power which is always lost between the wires is usually huge but with MPPT, that wastage can be reduced. MPPT is obviously costlier when compared to its counterparts, however if you look at the advantages, then it is a good choice for sure.
Reserve-current Flow
For prevention of reserve-current flow, a solar charge controller can also be used. In night, generally solar panels are sometimes not required to generate a power and those times power can flow back from the batteries in use and therefore can drain the same. This ultimately leads to wastage of power and ultimately loss of money, whereas a solar charge controller can prevent this. At first, the solar charge controller inspects that if there is any generation of power by the solar panels in use and then it automatically disconnects the batteries by opening the circuit and thus stops reserve current flow.
Safety
At times, you can see that solar energy is unreliable as it is generated from the sun and there is no such method that can be used to regulate the amount of electricity that you can receive from it in a day. However under the most ideal situations, the solar systems are designed so that the most possible advantages can be taken. Thus it is possible to have higher voltage whenever you want it.
At the same time, a solar charge controller ensures that your device is not damaged because of excess voltage. It calculates the voltage of a solar panel at certain times and then brings it down to a safety level. Thus solar charge controller helps you to rely on the solar systems more and at the same time ensures that no harm is caused to the same.
Well, there are expenses associated with a solar charge controller and that’s the only disadvantage this device has. If you are using solar energy for your business or household, this is almost a necessity for you now.