What is a solar charge controller?
So what is a solar charge controller in simplest terms. Solar charge controllers, also called regulators, are effectively an intelligent battery charger.
Key functions of solar regulators
- Stabilises the charging current and voltage to the batteries.
- Preventing over charge of your batteries.
Key benefits
- Longer battery life.
- Prevents battery damage by over charging.
- Some show the status of the solar system.
- Some provide data logging helpful for troubleshooting.
Other functions
- Preventing reverse current from the battery to the solar panels when they are not generating power. Although most modern solar panels do this anyway using blocking diodes.
- For lead acid batteries, they lower the charge voltage when the battery temperature rises.
- Can have load outputs such as USB chargers or other 12V DC devices. They can manage the loads by sending power to the loads first and then to the battery. Some can even turn off the loads to prevent battery over discharge.
- Some can control lighting devices.
- Some can charge starter battery as well as service battery.