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Solar Regulators:
Q1: What is a Solar Regulator
A1: Also known as a Charge Controller, is an electronic piece of equipment that accepts DC power from the PV Panels and regulates that power in order to charge a battery bank correctly and effectively.
Q2: What is the difference between a PWM and an MPPT regulator
A2: In a nutshell, a PWM (pulse width modulation) regulator takes what it needs from the PV panels and applies a three stage charge to the battery bank, any excess power is not utilised. An MPPT (maximum power point tracking) regulator on the other hand acts like a funnel and is designed to accept a wider voltage range on it's input, which then steps the Voltage down and at the same time increases the Current to charge a battery bank. An MPPT utilises the full potential yield of a solar panel or an array of panels.
Q3: What is the best solar regulator for my system
A3: That depends upon your application, and your budget. Smaller systems such as those used in rural installations can be happy with a normal PWM regulator. Most modern system have tended to go with High Voltage MPPTs capable of handling upto 200V in later models for those with big battery Banks. Grid-Tie Inverters have built in MPPTs capable of much higher voltages – upto 1,000V these days.
Q4: What is the advantage of a high voltage MPPT over normal low voltage ones
A4: As in most things solar, the higher the voltage, the lower the amperage and thus by using higher voltage we cut down on amperage which reduces high current losses associated with the older low voltage systems of years gone by.
Q5: Are solar regulators ‘scalable’
A5: Indeed, most of the better quality MPPTs are scalable and you can thus expand your system without making your earlier purchase redundant. Because the are also ‘linked’ they work in a synchronised way to distribute incoming PV yield over all inter-connected units.
Q6: Can a poor quality MPPT damage my battery bank
A6: Yes, if the MPPT, or any solar regulator, is not of a high quality, then there can be damage to your battery bank from installing a poor quality MPPT. Overcharging and incorrect voltage settings for Bulk, Absorption and Float charging will damage a battery bank.
Q7: How close should a regulator be to the battery bank
A7: As a rule, one should try to locate the solar regulator within a couple of meters of the battery bank, if possible. Don’t forget that this is the low voltage current coming from the MPPT ,which is usually 48V or less, and is where some losses can be experienced if distance is not minimised.