When we talk about the job description of any solar controller, the first item (and in some cases the only function) is to prevent the battery bank from being over charged. The controller does this by simply disconnecting the solar panels from the battery. So at a really basic level, the controller is just a switch.
A solar controller is a small box consisting of solid state circuitry which is placed between a solar panel and a battery. Its function is to regulate the amount of charge coming from the panel that flows into the deep cycle battery bank in order to avoid the batteries being overcharged. A regulator can also provide a direct connection to appliances, while continuing to recharge the battery; i.e. you can run appliances directly from it, bypassing the battery bank; but the batteries will continue to be charged.
It is however a switch with a brain. Clearly we want the controller to disconnect the solar panels only when the batteries are fully charged. To do this it must employ some intelligence and have some understanding of battery technology. The dumbest of controllers simply watch the battery voltage until it reaches the regulation point (battery maximum voltage) it then switches the panels off.
A solar controller is a small box consisting of solid state circuitry which is placed between a solar panel and a battery. Its function is to regulate the amount of charge coming from the panel that flows into the deep cycle battery bank in order to avoid the batteries being overcharged. A regulator can also provide a direct connection to appliances, while continuing to recharge the battery; i.e. you can run appliances directly from it, bypassing the battery bank; but the batteries will continue to be charged.
Most solar controllers have a bit more smarts than this. With some understanding of how batteries like to be charged, it is more reasonable to allow the battery voltage to rise to the regulation point, then carefully regulate the charge from the panels to hold the voltage at this point for a time (normally 1 – 2 hours). This is referred to as the absorption phase. This absorption phase typically takes the batteries from 92% up to fully charged.
After this absorption phase is complete, a smart controller will drop down into float mode. In this float mode the controller is letting just enough charge from the panels through to the batteries to keep the battery voltage up at its float point.
So this is the three stages that we hear about when the sales people are trying to convince us to pay for a smart or “three stage” solar controller (or battery charger).
Bulk – push as much power into the batteries as possible.
Absorption – control the charge to hold the battery voltage at a point for an hour or two.
Float – maintain the battery at close to full charge by controlling the charge and holding the battery voltage at a preset point.
Most controllers present some kind of information display. At the most basic level this is simply a couple of colored lights that give you some idea of the stage that the controller is currently in. Wellsee WS-C 20A-60A series have LCD displays that provide a huge array of information about what is happening and what has happened.
LCD could store DC generated by solar panels into battery, which could effectively provide living and industrial using electricity in some remote areas and tourism destination areas where have no electric power facilities and electricity network, and have no negative effect on environment.
Functions:
1. CPU control, LCD display
2. Automatic recognition of input voltage
3. Applying with various types of durable batteries
4. Micro processing controller Pulse Modulation Wide-frequency PWM charge
5. Setting the voltage of low voltage cut-off/resuming connection of the DC output of the load port
6. Temperature sensor for charging a battery in compensation
7. Protective circuit of PV from reverse-charging.
8. Overload protection
9. Overcharge protection
10. Short circuit protection
11. The temperature compensate
12. Reverse polarity connection protection
13. Converse discharge protection
14. Thunder protection
15. Low voltage protection
Modern solar controllers are very efficient and will outperform about three stage, WS-SC2430 wellsee three-stage solar controller (also called wellsee photovoltaic controller /solar charge and discharge controller ), applies in solar photovoltaic system which coordinates the working of solar panels, batteries and loads. This controller is different from other solar controllers which has advanced three -stage charging function that can make battery fully charge battery and also increase the comprehensive protective functions so that the entire system can operate efficiently and safely.
Wellsee three -stage solar controller is totally different from other controllers with three stage charging mode:it charges by battery charging characteristic curve and adopts to intelligent three steps charging mode “constant current- constant voltage and limited current-Purling floating”,It make the battery full of power and it has advanced human-machine interactive function that user can adjust charging voltage.
Three-stage charging mode (take 12V system as an example.)
1.Constant current fully charge stage: directly charging battery by using constant current output characteristic until the voltage of battery is up to 13.7V(can be set)
2. Constant voltage charge stage: controlled by PWM, the battery voltage is kept at 13.7V, till charge current is less than Purling current floating charge voltage;
3. Purling current floating charge stage: continue to control by PWM and keep the charge current keep in floating status until battery voltage is up to 14.2V, charging is over.
If the started voltage of battery is higher than the lowest protection voltage, the system will go to the Purling current floating charge stage automatically to prevent frequent overcharging; if started charge voltage is lower than the lowest protection voltage, the system will go to three-stage charge mode.
Three-stage charge mode uses constant current charging at the beginning and the end, and uses constant voltage charging in the intermediate stage. When the current is decayed to the set value, it switches from the second stage to the third stage. This mode can make the outlet minimum to protect the battery better and really charge the battery fully.
WS--SC2430 Wellsee three-Stage solar controller applies to all types of solar panel and lead-acid batteries(other types of batteries can be set charging curve according to customer’s requirement), MCU (Micro processing controller) has PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) program. It can provide fast and best charging voltage and current from the PV panel according to different types of batteries and power supply of panels .
Functions:
Intelligent three stage charging mode: constant current charge→ constant voltage and limited current charge→ purling current floating charge .
1.CPU control, LCD display
2.Automatic recognition of input voltage • Applicable to various types of durable batteries
3.Micro processing controller Pulse Modulation Wide-frequency (PWM) charge
4.low voltage cut-off can be set /resuming connection of the DC output of the load port
5.Temperature sensor for charging a battery in compensation
6.Protective circuit of PV from reverse-charging.
7.Overload protection
8.Overcharge protection
9.Short circuit protection
10.reverse discharge protection
11.Reverse polarity connection protection
12.Thunder protection
13.Low voltage protection
14.LCD display parameters in turn
I think the important thing is to know what your solar controller should be doing! Wellsee solar controller, your best choice for PV!