How to Read a Renogy Pwm Controller

Introduction

This section will go over charge controller types and their purpose. We will expect at the benefits of each controller and why one is better in a certain situation that another. We will likewise await at sizing unlike kinds of controllers. The accuse controller is an essential component to every off-grid system. In fact, nosotros do not recommend using an off-filigree system unless you lot have a controller, and there are a lot of practiced reasons why. Charge controllers generally come in PWM and MPPT.

Accuse Controller Part

The main purpose of the controller is to foreclose the batteries from over charging. The controller direct reads the bombardment level, and once the battery is full, information technology knows to wearisome downwards the rate of solar charge to a float, keeping is from charging the batteries past 100%. This is of import as overcharging the batteries tin potentially ruin them.

Another purpose of the controller is to charge the batteries at the correct voltage level. This helps preserve the life and wellness of the batteries. Too, some controllers take special characteristics which allow you lot to wire your panels in a special way to achieve your charging goals.

PWM Charge Controller Function

PWM stands for Pulse Width Modulation, which stands for the method they use to regulate charge. PWM controllers accept the more than basic charging feature in the sense that they mainly just drib the voltage coming from the panel to charge the batteries. This drop in voltage equates to a loss in wattage, in the case of the PWM causing a 75-80% efficiency.

PWM Charge Controller Sizing

A PWM controller will have an Amp reading for it, for example 30 Amp PWM Controller. This represents how many amps the controller tin handle, in the example above, thirty amps. Generally the two things you lot want to wait at for a PWM controller is the amperage and voltage rating.

Please accept a look at the following controller electrical specifications

Model 2.5.1

Firstly we want to await at the nominal organization voltage. This will tell u.s.a. what voltage battery banks the controller is uniform with. In this case, you lot tin can apply 12V or 24V bombardment banks. Anything higher, such as a 48V battery bank, the controller will non exist able to piece of work on.

Secondly nosotros look at the rated battery current. Nosotros will use the higher up model in the nautical chart as an example, in which example it has a 30 Amp rating. Nosotros recommended a factor of safety of at to the lowest degree 1.25, meaning you lot would multiply the current from your panels by ane.25 and then compare that to the xxx amps. For example, 5 100 Watt panels in parallel would exist five.29 x five = 26.45 Amps. 26.45 Amps 10 1.25 = 33 amps and would be too much for the controller. The reason for this is the panel can feel more current than it is rated for when insolation is to a higher place 1000 Watts/thousand^ii or tilted.

Thirdly we will look at the Max. Solar Input. This tells you how many volts you can take going into the controller. This controller cannot accept more than 50 V in. Allow'due south look at having ii ten 100 Watt panels in serial for a total of 22.5V (open-circuit voltage) 10 2 = 45 volts. In this example, it will be ok to wire these two panels in series.

Fourthly we can look at the Terminals. Each controller will usually have a maximum gauge size for the terminal. In the case of the controller we are looking at, it tin handle upwards to #8 AWG. This is of import when purchasing wiring for your arrangement.

Fifthly we tin wait at Battery Type. These tells us what batteries are uniform with the charge controller. This is important to check as you don't desire to have batteries than cannot be charge by the controller unit of measurement.

MPPT Charge Controller Part

MPPT stands for Maximum Power Signal Tracking, which stands for the method these use to regulate charge. MPPT charge controllers use this method of charging, which essentially finds out at any given condition, what is the maximum operating point for the panels current and voltage. With this method, MPPT controllers are actually 94-99% efficient.

MPPT controllers have two special features about them that will exist mentioned in the MPPT Charge Controller Sizing section. One is that they tin accept a high input voltage and step this voltage downward to match your battery banking company voltage for a correct charge. 2 is that even though they lower the voltage, they are able to recover whatever potential lost power via a boost current, which increment the amperage to make up for the lost voltage.

MPPT Charge Controller Sizing

MPPT Controllers will take an Amp reading for it, for example a xl Amp MPPT Controller. They volition besides have a voltage rating, just unlike PWM the input voltage rating is much higher than the bombardment banks it volition charge. This is due to the special property of the MPPT controller being able to lower the voltage to the battery bank voltage and and then increase the electric current to make up for lost power. You do not accept to utilise the high input voltage if y'all desire to avert series connections in small systems, merely information technology is very beneficial in larger systems.

Please take a wait at the following controller electrical specifications

Model two.v.ii

Firstly we tin see, as we did before, that his controller can handle 12V or 24V battery banks.

2nd, we will be looking at the Rov-40, which is rated for forty amps of electric current.

Thirdly nosotros can look at the Max Solar Input Voltage, in this example 100 Volts. This particular MPPT Controller can have 100 Volts input. It will then take this (up to) 100 Volts and step it down to your 12V or 24V battery.

Let's take an example of a 400W arrangement in series. You have four x 100 Watt panels, each with an open up-excursion voltage of 22.5V. Those 4 in serial will be four ten 22.five V = 90 Volts, which the controller can take. Now if we ignored boost current, we would run into that string only has 5.29 amps, so and then if the controller is twoscore amps, couldn't we accept (40/5.29 = vii.5) 7 strings, bringing u.s. 2800 Watts? Why does the spec sail say 520 Due west maximum? To answer this, nosotros need the boost electric current.

Boost electric current can be calculated by taking the organization array wattage divided by the bombardment banking concern voltage. In the case of 2800 Watts we have 2800 Watts / 12 V = 233 Amps, which would destroy the controller. Realistically we find that 520 Watts / 12V = 43 Amps. We can ignore this result as 12V is a voltage yous will probably never run across. More accurately you would divide past boost voltage which is more mutual (you will learn near this in side by side section), and then 520 Watts/14.4V = 36 Amps. We can at present come across why the boost electric current is an important function of sizing the controller.

Heave Current = Solar Array Wattage/Bombardment Voltage

Charge Controller Modes

As your panels accuse your bombardment bank, your controller will suit what voltage level they are existence charged at based on the voltage level of the battery. These dissimilar voltage levels stand for different charging stages.

Model two.5.iii

Equalization charging voltage: An equalization voltage is one you will most likely never see. It occurs roughly every xx days, and it temporarily over-charges your batteries to desulfate the battery cell. This helps with the bombardment cell health and allows them to concluding longer. In this example of the controllers in Model two.5.3, the equalized voltage volition vary based on the battery type you are using. In this example, you can also prepare the equalization voltage, which is beneficial for certain batteries that crave a customer fix parameter.

Heave charging voltage: A boost charge is a majority of what you will see when your battery is being charged. This is what does the majority of the job. As you can run across it will vary from each battery type and in this specific controller the user can set their voltage level.

Float charging voltage: A float charge is used when the battery is total to forbid overcharging. A bladder charge volition all the same charge a bombardment, but reduce the voltage and current equal to the batteries natural discharge rate, which depends on the battery bank size.

Depression voltage Reconnect + Disconnect: This only applies to controllers that have a load terminal, which will be discussed in the next section. The low voltage disconnect is the battery voltage level at which the load cuts off. The low voltage reconnect is the battery voltage level where the load turns back on.

Additional Features

Outside of the things mentioned in a higher place, some controllers accept extra features that can exist utilized. I will become through each 1.

Model 2.five.4

Load concluding: The load terminal comes with some controllers and allows you to attach a DC load to the controller, rather than having to attach information technology to the battery. Information technology is usually noted with a light bulb symbol as seen in Model two.5.4.1.  A lot of time this is utilized for the timer function. You can program the load to turn on at sundown and off at sunlight. This is particular useful for lighting.

LED Indicators: The LED Indicators, as seen in Model 2.5.4.3, are used to give the user a basic idea of how their system is working. As you can run across in model, a green lite indicates the controller recognizes that the panel is hooked up and the system is performance normally.

LCD Display: An LCD brandish, as evidence in Model two.5.4.ii, can display dissimilar characteristics of your system and give you a more accurate portrayal of what is going on in your arrangement than from the LED lights. This controller in particular will take icons that evidence what is happening in your system. It also displays numerical values for the voltage and amperage that your system is producing. Go on in listen, non all controllers take an LCD brandish and this is usually included on more expensive controllers.

Remote Brandish:

Model 2.5.v

A remote display is essentially just an LCD display, merely with portability included using an RJ45 cord.

Nosotros carry a diverseness of accuse controllers each with unlike features that sets them apart from ane another. When choosing which accuse controller is right for you lot keep the post-obit in mind. If you lot similar to know what the organization is producing throughout the mean solar day nosotros recommend choosing betwixt the Adventurer, Voyager, Rover and Commander. The Adventurer is platonic if you are looking for a flush mounted controller. The Voyager is platonic for humid or rainy locations. If the controller will be mounted outside and so the Voyager is the ane for yous. The Rover and Commander offer load terminals and a PC Monitoring Software. The PC Software allows you to customize the controller charging parameters and load last. Nosotros recommend the Rover or Commander if yous like knowing every little detail nearly your solar organization. If you just want something unproblematic without all these extra features choose the Wanderer. I of the most important features when choosing a controller is making sure it can charge the type of bombardment y'all have. All our controller are capable of charging Sealed, Gel and flooded batteries merely if you will be charging a Lithium battery only the Voyager and Rover are uniform.

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Source: https://www.renogy.com/learn-charge-controller-types/

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