Charge controller

A charge controller regulates the electric current that is passed from the solar panels to the battery. Without the regulation of these devices, the batteries may be damaged from overcharging. Some charge controllers may simply disable the flow, while others may direct the electric current to an auxiliary load.

Many people desire a charge controller with their solar panel system because the panel design often calls for it. The majority of 12 volt panels actually put out 16 to 20 volts. This is because ideal sunlight conditions are not always present. Solar panels were created with this issue in mind.

You may find yourself wondering if you really need a charge controller. The answer to that question varies. If the panel puts out only a small percentage of the rated battery capacity, you can skip out on getting one. A way to estimate this is if 2 watts or less is put out by the panel for every 50 battery amp-hours.