Solar Panel Charge Controller Types

Shunt regulator series regulator pwm regulator mppt charge controller.

Solar panel charge controller types.

The controller directly reads the battery level and once the battery is full it knows to slow down the rate of solar charge to a float keeping is from charging the batteries past 100. Solar charge controllers are often referred to as solar regulators as they help control the amount of voltage from the solar modules to the battery and to other loads depending on the type of the controller. They work by simply switching a shunt on or off to allow or block current to the battery. There are three types of solar charge controllers.

The first type shunt controllers are outdated and are not used anymore. Which types of solar charge controller are the most widely used. Often if currents over 60 amps are required two or more 40 to 80 amp units are wired in parallel. Most charge controllers are a variation of one these four basic types.

This involves varying charge stages voltages and current depending on the type of battery and other factors. They are very different from each other since they are based on different principles of operation. 4 stage charging bulk boost float and equalization and temperature compensation increase your battery life and improve your system s performance. There are three different types of solar charge controllers they are.

If you were to get a 20a pwm controller you would be able to regulate a solar panel bank of up to 320w for 12v batteries and 640w for 24v batteries the pwm controller can also be used to connect solar panels to a battery bank of 12v batteries provided that the batteries are the same size and that they are in good condition. They range from the small 4 5 amp control up to the 60 to 80 amp mppt programmable controllers with computer interface. Simple 1 or 2 stage controls pwm pulse width modulated maximum power point tracking mppt. Positive ground controller featuring innovative mppt maximum power point tracking technology with high tracking efficiency up to 99 maximizing the energy from solar panels to charge your system.

The charge process is performed in a smart or intelligent way. The common types include pwm pulse width modulator and mppt maximum power point tracking. Simple shunt controllers pwm controllers and mppt controllers. Charge controls come in all shapes sizes features and price ranges.