How to Select Solar Charge Controller

How to Select Solar Charge Controller

You must have seen solar systems in people’s homes, and if not at your own home, then you’ve probably seen them installed under solar panels on top of inverters at someone’s nearby house.

But, friends, do you know what the work is between these solar panels and inverters and how they operate? If you don’t know about this solar charge controller, then in this post, we will provide you with complete information about what a solar charge controller is, how it works, and how many types it comes in. So, let’s get started.

What is a Solar charge controller

A solar charge controller is an electronic device that connects solar panels to your existing inverter battery and helps protect them from overcharging during the day and discharging at night.

Solar panel charge controllers are commonly used to connect solar panels with regular inverter batteries. In a complete solar setup, they are not needed. So, if you plan to install solar panels, make sure to include a high-quality charge controller with them.

Why solar charge controller is Important

Now, you may have learned what a solar charge controller is. If not, let me explain it in simple terms. Imagine you have a double battery inverter in your home, which you have been using for several days, and you have a problem with the lights in your house.

This means that you get very little light at home, or the light voltage is very low. You want to install a 1-kilowatt solar system directly on top of your old inverter so that the inverter doesn’t shut down, and your load keeps running.

In this case, if you directly connect the solar panels’ wires to your old inverter, you won’t know when your inverter’s battery is fully charged, and it will also discharge at night. You won’t get any protection.

If you connect it directly, your inverter might get damaged, or your solar panels might even get damaged. Keeping this in mind, the solar charge controller was developed.

If you install a solar charge controller on top of your old inverter, it will connect the electricity generated by the solar panels to your inverter’s battery.

When your inverter’s battery is fully charged, it will automatically disconnect it. If your battery discharges, it will automatically start supplying power, ensuring your battery is fully charged.

Inverter Built in Solar charge controler

Today’s solar inverters come with built-in solar charge controllers. This means that solar inverters handle both the solar charge controller and inverter’s work together. You just need to connect the wires from the solar panels and the battery to the inverter.

You have to connect the inverter’s wire to the main supply. This is how a solar inverter works. Suppose, for example, the main supply is also available in your home, and your solar panels are generating electricity properly, and your inverter battery is down. Then, the inverter will automatically charge your battery with the solar panels’ electricity.

Microtek 1kw Solar System Price In India

Types of Solar Charge Controller

Solar battery charge controllers come in two different types: MPPT Charge Controllers and PWM Charge Controllers. Both charge controllers serve the same purpose, which is to control the current passing into the battery and load, but they do it in different ways. Let’s understand how they work and the differences between the two.

1. MPPT Solar Charge Controller

The full name of MPPT is Maximum Power Point Tracking. It charges the battery more quickly. With the help of MPPT Charge Controller, we can directly run DC appliances, and speaking of their efficiency, MPPT Charge Controller has an efficiency of 96%. These charge controllers can increase their charging efficiency by up to 30%. And with all these benefits, their price is also higher.

2.PWM Solar Charge Controller

Speaking of PWM Charge Controllers, PWM stands for Pulse Width Modulation. Compared to MPPT Controllers, PWM controllers charge the battery slowly, and you cannot directly run DC appliances on PWM Charge Controllers. When it comes to the efficiency of PWM Charge Controllers, it is up to 70%. However, these charge controllers are usually priced lower.

Solar Charge Controller Price

Speaking of the price of a solar charge controller, a 6 Amps and 12V solar charge controller typically starts at around 500 rupees. The price depends on the amperage, voltage, and the brand of the solar charge controller you are purchasing.

MPPT solar power charge controller price 2023

Luminous solar power charge controller price 2023

Microtek solar power charge controller price 2023

Which solar charge controller is best in India?

The power conversion efficiency of an MPPT charge controller is 96%, whereas a PWM controller only converts power up to 70%. That’s why an MPPT solar charge controller is better than a PWM controller because it provides us with better output. The MPPT solar charge controller charges the battery rapidly. Compared to MPPT, PWM is less effective.

A PWM solar charge controller charges our battery at a slower pace. Both chargers have their pros and cons, but in our opinion, the MPPT solar charge controller is the best. It charges your battery effectively and reduces wastage.

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