Typically, the size of the solar charge controller is calculated by taking the solar panels’ total wattage and dividing it by your battery bank’s voltage. This will give you the minimum amps your controller needs, and it’s often recommended to get a controller with a higher capacity to handle potential increases in power.
How to Size a Solar Charge Controller: Step-by-Step Guide - Solar Panel Installation, Mounting, Settings, and Repair. To size a solar charge controller, you first need to determine the amount of current your solar panels produce, measured in amps, and your battery bank’s voltage.
To fully charge a 12V battery, consider getting a panel three times the size of your battery capacity in watt-hours, considering an average of about 5 hours of sunlight.
The controller’s maximum input voltage should be higher than the solar panel’s open-circuit voltage by 10-15%. The controller’s current rating must be 125% of the total current of the solar panels. This helps move power efficiently without overloading. For PWM controllers, focus on the battery voltage and the controller’s current rating.
Without a controller between a solar panel and a battery, the panel would overcharge the battery by generating too much voltage for the battery to process, seriously damaging the battery. Overcharging a battery could result in the battery exploding! 2. MONITORING THE VOLTAGE OF YOUR BATTERY
NB: In some rare cases, a solar panel can be connected directly to a battery, without a controller. This can be achieved if the nominal voltage of the panel is lower than 17-18V, and if the solar panel is a lot smaller than the charging battery e.g.. a 10W panel charging a 100Ah battery. There are many different types of controllers on the market.
How to choose a Solar Charge Controller. A solar charge controller( or regulator, as they are sometimes known) is an essential part of every solar charging kit. The main role of a controller is to protect and automate the charging of the battery. …