Charge Controllers
The Cliff Notes
Look For:
- Max current input and output (Amps)
- Max input voltage (Volts)
- Is it MPPT (hopefully yes)?
- Does it support your type of battery?
CHARGE CONTROLLER BASICS
Note: I am going to use the term solar panel to mean solar panel or solar panels
You’ve got the bad boy 280aH LiFePo4 Battery and you’ve got a 370W cool guy solar panel and you’re ready to be invited into the van lifers hall of fame!
Hold on just a second… that power needs to get from your solar panel or from your vehicle’s alternator into your battery.
Your battery will want to be charged within a certain voltage range depending on the battery type (see Batteries 101). It is WILDLY likely that your solar panel(s) or your vehicle’s alternator will be putting out an improper battery charging voltage.
The battery will charge at an improper voltage which can do anything wear it out fast to destroy it depending on the voltage.
Use a charge controller. A charge controller will take the voltage off your solar panel or alternator and regulate it to the proper level.
- Rated Voltage Input: Number of volts the charge controller can handle from the solar panel/alternator
- Rated Current Input. Amount of current the charge controller can handle as input
- Remember, with our analogy current is how much energy is flowing to the battery. Voltage is the size of the pipe.
- Current Output. It can be set to deliver the charging voltage your battery needs to charge properly
However many volts your solar panel set-up is.
Divide your rated solar wattage by 12V to get your max current
390W/12V= 32.5 A Max
We almost forgot! An MPPT controller is much more efficient. If you purchase our fully warrantied 390W solar panel, your max voltage from the panel will be 36V. The battery, however is at 12V.
If you have an MPPT charge controller, no worries, the charge controller will regulate the voltage down to 12V and you will get the current with a miniscule loss 390W/12V= 30.8A. FURTHER NOTES HERE FOR STICKLERS AND HECKLERS
If you don’t have an MPPT charge controller, your controller probably uses PWM. With PWM the charge controller can only pull the current from the solar panel at the battery’s voltage. If the battery is at 12V then you can pull
Why Buy VanLE Charge Controllers?
MPPT
Our charge controllers are equipped with MPPT to ensure maximum efficiency in converting solar voltage to battery charge voltage.
150V Solar Input
Rated for 150V, no need to worry about exceeding the voltage rating.
Battery Support
Don’t worry, our charge controllers properly charge a variety of battery chemistries: Lead Acid, AGM, Lithium, LiFePo4
OnBoard Display
With our onboard display you can set your battery chemistry, see the battery voltage, and charge info.
