Charge Controllers The charge controller regulates the flow of electricity from the PV modules to the battery and the load. The controller keeps the battery fully charged without overcharging it. When the load is drawing power, the controller allows charge to flow from the modules into the battery, the load, or both. When the controller senses that the battery is fully charged, it stops the flow of charge from the modules. Many controllers will also sense when loads have taken too much electricity from batteries and will stop the flow until sufficient charge is restored to the batteries. This last feature can greatly extend the battery's lifetime. The solar charge regulator main task is to charge the battery and to protect it from deep discharging. Deep discharging could damage the battery. Regulator electronics is most sensitive and crucial to assuring stable photovoltaic system operation. Charge regulator malfunctioning result in high maintenance cost including battery replacement. An important parameter to consider is charge regulator efficiency percentage. For small photovoltaic systems charge regulators from 5 A to 30 A are available. Some of them could be used in both 12 V and 24 V DC systems.    ©   2006 - 2010   UAB "Contentus"     All rights reserved