Size A Charge Controller To Solar Panel

Enter the distance in feet from your solar panels to your battery bank charge controller.

Size a charge controller to solar panel.

Charge controllers regulate the power coming from the solar panels to the batteries. If you wish to get straight to sizing your charge controller skip to calculation. The average 12 volt solar panel produces between 12 and 21 volts a level that would overcharge and damage a battery if transferred directly to it. They are a key part of any off grid system and prevent batteries from over charging.

Calculating controller array current. We will discuss two kinds of charge controllers. Each time you charge deep cycle batteries with solar panels it s necessary to use a charge controller in the circuit in order to protect the battery from overcharging or from over discharging. The most common pv charge controllers come in 12 24 and 48 volts.

Solar charge controllers also known as solar regulators are an integral part of any stand alone solar system. Charge controllers are sized depending on your solar array s current and the solar system s voltage. Usually 12 24 or 48 volts. Therefore solar charge controller sizing basically involves getting a charge controller big enough to handle the amount of power and current produced by your solar energy system.

The solar panels are connected in two sets in parallels and six in series. Enter the total amps that your solar panels will produce all together. A solar charge controller is designed to receive power from a solar panel or array of panels and use it to charge a battery or bank of batteries. The schuco 220 w solar panel has a short circuit current of 8 12 amp.

The charge process is performed in a smart or intelligent way. Module short circuit current x modules in parallel x safety factor array short circuit current. This involves varying charge stages voltages and current depending on the type of battery and other factors. 2000 watt solar panel what size charge controller 2000 watt solar panel needs at least an 80 amp charge controlleris system is 24v 60 amp charge controllerfor a 48v system.

To charge with 300w solar panel if the system is 12v then you need a 30 amp solar controller if the system is 24 volt then a 15 amp charge controller is at least. 8 12 amp x 2 x 1 25 20 3 amp minimum controller input current. Click on calculate to see the size wire required in awg american wire gauge. There is a practical limit though if the solar array is too large then the power is just wasted since the charge controller is always limiting the output.

You typically want to make sure you have a charge controller that is large enough to handle the amount of power and current produced by your panels. Amperage ratings can be between 1 60 amps and voltage ratings from 6 60 volts. Beginner s guide to solar charge controllers. A typical recommendation is to limit the solar array to 110 125 of the maximum controller rating.