Solar Panel Battery Charger Controller
A solar panel battery charger controller is also known as a charge regulator and it is used as a current or voltage regulator in batteries. Basically, this device keeps batteries from overcharging by controlling the current that comes from solar panels which are attached to it. Most panels that give a charge of 12 volts usually give out at least 16 volts and even 20 volts when they are charged completely. If this excess energy is not controlled, it can short circuit the battery and damage it due to overcharging. At most, your solar panels will need 14 volts of energy to remain fully charged.
How the solar panel battery charger controller monitors charge
The controller detects when the voltage in the battery is getting low and when the charge drops to a certain level, it disconnects the load that that the battery is experiencing. This it does so that the battery does not get damaged from the energy drain.
This step is also important because a battery that does not have even a speck of energy or one which is drained completely will lose some or all of its energy capacity. However, even if the load is connected, the low voltage can also end up damaging the battery which can lead to costly repair.
Generally, you do not need a solar panel battery charger controller with the small maintenance or the trickle charge panels which are about 1 watt to 5 watts. A rule of thumb is to see whether the panels generate 2 watts or less than that for each 50 battery amp/hour. If that is the case then you do not need to invest in a controller at all.
However, before making a decision it would be best to consult with your solar panel provider. Each solar system is different and even if yours can generate the aforementioned amount of energy, it might still need a controller to regulate it. These can also stop current from backtracking into the solar panels at night and prevent damage to the solar kit so buying a solar panel battery charger controller might be a good investment in the long run.
Charge controllers are necessary for most solar systems since solar panels are made to generate excess energy. So why aren’t solar panels made to just generate safe 12 volts of electricity? The reason is quite simple. The panels provide power only once they cool down and generate maximum energy under perfect cloudless conditions. However, this is not something that can be counted.
If a location does not get much sun or the sun is low in the sky at any point in time, you will get some output. A fully charged solar battery can give almost 12 volts of energy when it is at rest or cooling down so the panel has to give at least that much in any condition.
If there is no controller between the panels and the battery, the panel might end up overcharging by generating more energy than the battery can hold and end up damaging it. In worse case scenarios, the battery can actually end up exploding taking your expensive panels and probably a large chunk of your roof with them.
A panel that is rated as being 100 watts at room temperature should be able to generate about 80 watts or more at 100 degrees. In other words, the cooler the panel, the more energy it can generate to light up offices, homes and even entire buildings. A solar panel battery charger controller can ensure that energy is regulated.