A solar charge controller regulates the electrical current to prevent the battery from electrical surges that can damage it and reduce its lifespan. A solar charge controller is essential if your PV solar array feeds a battery bank. If you are on a grid-tied system, you probably don’t need a solar charge controller.
A 17-amp charge controller is required for a 200-watt, 12-volt solar array. Simply divide the solar panel’s power by the voltage to get the necessary size. A charge controller’s optimal size for a 200-watt solar panel is 20 amps to provide a safety factor in case of variations.
A Solar charge controller is a major component of a solar power system. It regulates the voltage and current coming from a solar panel making sure it is within safe limit to charge the battery without overcharging or damaging it.
You do not need to buy a charge controller if you have a solar inverter, because they come built-in. Solar Charge Controller price in Nigeria starts at around 5,000 Naira.
The Importance of Solar Charge Controller
Because the intensity of sunlight fluctuates throughout the day, the output voltage of a solar panel fluctuates as-well. In addition, because of this fluctuation, a solar panel is padded with more cells to compensate for times when the intensity of sunlight is low.
For example, A solar panel rated 12V may actually be constructed with solar cells that will deliver 20V. This ensures that when there is low sunlight, the output of the solar panel will still be above its rated 12V.
Since the primary job of a solar panel is to charge the battery, it creates a need for regulation of the voltage to make sure it does not get too high to damage the battery.
This is essentially the job of a solar charge controller. The Solar charge controller takes in the fluctuating input from the solar panel and stabilize it to safely charge the inverter battery.
Note that a solar inverter will come with a charge controller built-in. However, if you are using a regular inverter, you will have to buy the solar charge controller separately if you want to upgrade for solar power.
Best Features of a Solar Charge Controller
So far I have told you that a solar charge controller regulates the charging of the inverter battery. However, depending on the quality it may offer a lot more. It protects your battery from high voltage and high current from the solar panel. It also offers short circuit protection.
Some solar charge controllers will automatically detect the voltage of your battery (e.g. 12v or 24v) and will automatically regulate the voltage and current to suit the battery. It will also monitor battery temperature to prevent overheating.
The device can also prevent reverse current. At night when there is no sunlight the voltage from the battery will higher than that of the solar panel this will cause current to flow back from the battery to the solar panel. A good solar charge controller will prevent this from happening.
If your installation does not require AC voltage. A charge controller can supply DC voltage. In this very unique case, you will not need a power inverter. A power inverter is required when you need AC voltage.
Best Solar Charge Controller Types
There are two types of solar charge controllers, the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) solar charge controller and the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) solar charge controller.
PWM charge controllers are simple and more affordable, but are less efficient. The PMW controller uses a series of pulses to charge the battery.
It regulates the voltage by varying the width of the pulse. If it wants to increase the voltage it increases the pulse width and when it wants to lower the voltage it reduces the pulse width.
The drawback of the PWM charge controllers is that they blindly regulate the voltage without compensating for the power output. For example, lets say you are using a 12V, 200W solar panel. During peak period, the Solar panel will have about 18V given the power rating of the panel the current will be around 11.11A.
The problem is that a PWM solar charge controller shaves-off excess voltage and literally throws it away. An MPPT solar charge controller solves this problem because it works to keep the power fairly constant.
Take the example I gave earlier, an MPPT controller will reduce the voltage from 18V to 12V, but will also try to keep the power stable at 200W.
To achieve this an MPPT solar charge controller will increase the current from 11.11A to 16.66A (by reducing the load resistance it presents to the solar panel). This will then give around 200W (12V x 16.66A).
So, essentially an MPPT charge controller shaves off excess voltage and converts it to current to compensate for the impact the reduction in voltage will have on power output. This is why despite being more expensive, an MPPT solar charge controller is a good investment for your solar energy system. However, if you are on a budget, a PWM charge controller will be okay.
Current Solar Charge Controller Price In Nigeria (2023)
Solar charge controller price ranges upwards to 400,000 Naira depending on the technology and the rated power. You can buy a solar charge controller from leading online stores in Nigeria or other leading retailers of power solutions in the Country.
How do I choose a solar charge controller?
This is typically given in Amps. In order to check if the charge controller works for your system, divide the total wattage of your solar array by the voltage of your battery bank. For example, a 2000W solar array ÷ 36V battery bank = 55.6A. The rating of the charge controller should be at least 55.6A.
Does a 5 watt solar panel need a charge controller?
Generally, there is no need for a charge controller with the small maintenance, or trickle charge panels, such as the 1 to 5-watt panels. A rough rule is that if the panel puts out about 2 watts or less for each 50 battery amp-hours, then you don’t need one.
How do I know what size solar controller I need?
You take the total watts of the solar array divided by the voltage of the battery bank. That will give you the output current of the charge controller. For example, a 1000W solar array ÷ 24V battery bank = 41.6A. The rating of the charge controller should be at least 40A.
How many solar panels can I connect to a charge controller?
Since most 48V solar charge controllers have a max voltage (Voc) of 150V, this generally allows a string of 3 panels to be connected in series.
How much solar can a 40 amp controller handle?
How many watts can Renogy Rover 40 amp charge controller handle? The Rover MPPT charge controller can work with standard off-grid 12/24V solar panels with high voltage or multiple panels with voltage up to 100V. And the maximum combined input solar power is 520W for a 12V battery system or 1040W for a 24V system.
Where to Buy a Solar Charge Controller In Nigeria
The heart of a solar electric system and power solution is the Solar Panel itself. There are various types of Solar panels to generate electricity from the sun.
Where to Buy Solar Panel In Nigeria
These Panels refers to a panel designed to absorb the sun’s rays as a source of energy for generating electricity or heating. A photovoltaic (in a short PV) module is a packaged, connected assembly of typically 6×10 Solar cells. It lasts up to 25 years of usage.
Authorized Distributor
Contact : +2347053977576
Electricity cannot be obtained from solar panels alone, you will need inverters to convert the acquired energy from solar panels from DC to AC, and lastly, large batteries to store the AC current for use.
Can you connect two solar controllers to one battery?
Yes, you can connect two different arrays and charge controllers to the same battery bank. The Array 1 and Array 2 voltages could be different. And you can connect more than two arrays and charge controllers- all in parallel.
How long do solar charge controllers last?
about 15 years
Similar to inverters, charge controllers have a lifespan of about 15 years. A charge controller costs between $500 and $1,000.
What are the two types of solar controllers?
MPPT vs PWM | The two major types of solar charge controllers are: Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) controllers. Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controllers.
How far can a solar charge controller be from the battery?
It is highly recommended that the charge controller be within one meter (approximately 3.25ft) of the battery bank and in the same room or enclosure. Be sure all rooms and enclosures are well ventilated.
Note : The solar panels can come with different output voltage. Hence a 200W solar panel may offer 12V, 24V, etc. You can connect several solar panels in series to get your required voltage output. The efficiency of a module determines the area of a module given the same rated output – an 8% efficient 230-watt module will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230-watt module.
Also the choice of solar panels depends largely on your energy requirements, space availability, budget, and the specific conditions in your location. Consider the warranty, reliability, and reputation of the manufacturer when making your decision. Solar energy is an excellent way to reduce your carbon footprint and save on energy costs.