Solar Power Charge Controllers

by Gloria Philips Expert Blogger

There are many components to some solar powered home that lots of people are not aware of. Many people think that you simply buy some solar power panels and wire them in to the houses electrical wires. It's not too fairly simple.

Allow me to first describe the ingredients needed in a solar powered home.

1) Solar Power Panels

2) Charge Controller

3) House Batteries

4) Power Inverter

5) Electrical Box

6) Stop Switches

7) Fuses

8) Wire

The objective of this post is to talk about charge controllers. I've covered power inverters inside a previous article and I'll cover another components in the future articles.

A charge controller is a vital component within the system. With no adequate charge controller, the home batters might be permanently damaged. This product plays various rolls. As power is generated from the solar power panels, it flows in to the charge controller. The charge controller constantly monitors the health of the batteries. Additionally, it regulates the charging process. When the batteries were connected straight to the solar power panels without using a controller, they might be easily overcharged.

Whenever we first bought our little home it experienced a few solar power panels plus some deep cycle batteries installed. Our home is within the mountains as well as the previous owner tried it being a cabin. He only visited it around the weekends. The issue using this approach was the batteries were constantly being overcharged and damaged. Without having a charge controller, there wasn't anyway to discontinue the charging process once the batteries were fully charged. The prior owner believed that the solar power panels were no longer working correctly. He didn't have idea they were working very well they were overcharging the home batteries.

Whenever we bought the house, we recycled the existing battery bank, bought and installed a charge controller, and corrected various other installation problems. From that time on, it offers functioned perfectly.

Charge Controllers can also be necessary for homes which have wind generators. They play two roles within this application. The very first is regulating the charging process. The next is redirecting the extra power which is created once the batteries have reached their full state of charge. The standard tactic would be to have what is known as "diversion load" or perhaps a "dump load". With wind generators, you can't just turn them off once the batteries are fully charged. They still create electricity which power needs to go somewhere or it can develop as heat and destroy everything. Charge controllers will sense once the charging process is finished, and divert the electricity to something similar to heating water.

Whether you're purchasing one solar power panel to help keep your remote cabin's house batteries charged or perhaps you are installing an enormous variety of panels on your own primary home, don't ignore the charge controller. You're batteries will thanks for it and they'll go on for a lot more charging cycles compared to what they would with out them.

For more information about solar charge controller, simply visit our website.