Solar Charge Controller - RenewSolar Forum

Solar Charge controller post (nov 24)

Rory — Sun, 10 Nov 2024 12:44:35 +0000

If you have been following along with the posts and charge controllers, there are many way that this can be achieved and I have outlined some basic things that can be used for cheap solutions.

This post refers to this post : Solar without a charge controller.

The difference here is a simple system with charge controller with battery monitoring. The idea here is better control over battery voltages and allowing a Mains Charger. But going beyond the more simple systems voltage limits.

We are super busy at the moment and therefore this is a outline. We will make the kit available over the next few weeks as well as a "off the shelf".

Simple charge controller for small projects.

Rory — Thu, 30 May 2024 08:17:36 +0000

Solar should costs as little as possible and it comes to the point where the prices jump and people get stuck in the "one for all" status quo.

Charge controllers; This can add cost, for example a victron unit can be around £70 and you can get those cheap PWM ebay specials, but they often wont work with the panels.

What do they actually do?
There are two operations, one is the conversion of DC voltage to another voltage. The second is to keep the battery between the safe voltages.

in more lay terms thats charge at the right voltage while protecting the battery, its is actually a very simple process. regardless of any "special powers" they claim to have.

If you go to the shop - https://www.renewsolar.co.uk/shop/ and type in "charge controller" into the product search you will find controller and kits to make your own. its not like our MPPT charge controller its just two items for wiring together and to the battery. we may add another bit so that you can mains charge if there is not enough solar. This tends to be the full and only functions that people need.

if you want to monitor your solar (get data and stats) Then you should head to the shop and type "solar monitor"

You should follow our youtube for videos on how to make and connect these :)

Getting started

Rory — Sat, 16 Mar 2024 21:46:51 +0000

Hello So you want to make a charge controller right?
I had this project a few years ago where I was not going to pay £720 for a high power charge controller when I could make one.

A charge controller is a simple device it chops up the power and you get what you want or need from it.
The power limits are voltages and amps (V and I) and the component parts. the "shift" is the inductor and there are a few ways in which you can make them.

Some times is quicker to buy a ready made circuit that they time it take to make one. this is nice, sometimes, and not others.

but you get the idea the more you build things like this.

the china spec of my mppt charge controller was 150,000 watt charge controller. for 650V and 150Amps of current. ( something like that its been a while)
like china specs, and reality the cooling would not allow that much power. but it gave me a lot of flexibility comfortable 450v and 55 amps (24.7kw)

The most important thing about the project is working safely so I will have to write that section first.