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electrical:solar:charge_controller

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electrical:solar:charge_controller [2022/04/30 17:20]
frater_secessus [specs] 		electrical:solar:charge_controller [2022/05/03 11:09]
frater_secessus [how to choose] removed footnote, inlined the comment
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   * **rating (or "size")** - this is usually the maximum output the controller can produce (charging + loads).((for technical reasons with PWM this will also be the *input* current limit))   * **rating (or "size")** - this is usually the maximum output the controller can produce (charging + loads).((for technical reasons with PWM this will also be the *input* current limit))
   * **12v/24v/48v** - this refers to the nominal voltage of the battery bank it will be charging.    * **12v/24v/48v** - this refers to the nominal voltage of the battery bank it will be charging. 
-  * **Maximum input voltage** - the highest voltage the controller should //ever// see from the solar array.((it is common to leave ~20% margin))  NOTE: a 50v input max does //not// mean a PWM controller can make efficient use of a 24v panel / 12v battery combination.  See how to choose below.+  * **Maximum input voltage** - the highest voltage the controller should //ever// see from the solar array.((it is common to leave ~20% margin))  NOTE: a 50v input max does //not// mean a PWM controller can make efficient use of mismatched panel/battery voltages; that requires MPPT.  See [[#how_to_choose|how to choose]] below.
  
  
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 **MPPT is effectively required** when: **MPPT is effectively required** when:
-  * using panels with nominal voltages higher than 12v ((more precisely, when panel nominal voltage exceeds house bank nominal voltage)).   To be fair, [[http://mouse.mousetrap.net/blog/2021-07-09-solar-back-online-.html#pwm-spare-saved-my-bacon|one really can use higher-voltage panels with PWM and 12v banks]] -- they just end up running at about half power.    +  * using panels with nominal voltages higher than the battery bank voltage, like 24v panels with a 12v bank.   To be fair, [[http://mouse.mousetrap.net/blog/2021-07-09-solar-back-online-.html#pwm-spare-saved-my-bacon|one really can use higher-voltage panels with PWM and 12v banks]] -- they just end up running at about half power.    
   * space available for panels is limited, as on a sailboat or small vehicle   * space available for panels is limited, as on a sailboat or small vehicle
   * daytime loads are hampered by [[electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking|PWM Vbatt hobbling]]   * daytime loads are hampered by [[electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking|PWM Vbatt hobbling]]
electrical/solar/charge_controller.txt ยท Last modified: 2024/04/16 20:28 by frater_secessus

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