PowerPoint® PresentationPowerPoint® Presentation

Chapter 7Chapter 7Charge ControllersCharge Controllers

Charge Controller Features • Charge Controller Types • Charge Controller

Setpoints • Charge Controller Installation

Charge Controller Features • Charge Controller Types • Charge Controller

Setpoints • Charge Controller Installation

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Charge controllers manage interactions and energy flows between a PV array, battery bank, and electrical load.

Charge controllers manage interactions and energy flows between a PV array, battery bank, and electrical load.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Single-stage battery charging is simpler, but multistage battery charging brings batteries to a higher state of charge more efficiently.

Single-stage battery charging is simpler, but multistage battery charging brings batteries to a higher state of charge more efficiently.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Charge controllers protect batteries from overcharge by terminating or limiting charging current as they approach a full state of charge.

Charge controllers protect batteries from overcharge by terminating or limiting charging current as they approach a full state of charge.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Charge controllers protect batteries from overdischarge by disconnecting loads at low battery voltage, which indicates a low state of charge.

Charge controllers protect batteries from overdischarge by disconnecting loads at low battery voltage, which indicates a low state of charge.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Many charge controllers include displays or LEDs to indicate battery voltage, charging current, state of charge, and/or present operating mode.

Many charge controllers include displays or LEDs to indicate battery voltage, charging current, state of charge, and/or present operating mode.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Shunt charge controllers regulate charging current by short-circuiting the array.Shunt charge controllers regulate charging current by short-circuiting the array.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Series charge controllers regulate charging current by opening the circuit from the array.

Series charge controllers regulate charging current by opening the circuit from the array.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) simulates a lower average current level by pulsing a higher current level ON and OFF for short intervals.

Pulse-width modulation (PWM) simulates a lower average current level by pulsing a higher current level ON and OFF for short intervals.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Maximum power point tracking manipulates the load or output voltage of an array in order to maintain operation at or near the maximum power point under changing temperature and irradiance conditions.

Maximum power point tracking manipulates the load or output voltage of an array in order to maintain operation at or near the maximum power point under changing temperature and irradiance conditions.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Diversionary charge controllers regulate charging current by diverting excess power to an auxiliary load when batteries are fully charged.

Diversionary charge controllers regulate charging current by diverting excess power to an auxiliary load when batteries are fully charged.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Controllers designed for hybrid PV systems must manage multiple current sources simultaneously.

Controllers designed for hybrid PV systems must manage multiple current sources simultaneously.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Ampere-hour charge controllers track the cumulative number of ampere-hours applied to a battery bank and discontinue charging at a preset total.

Ampere-hour charge controllers track the cumulative number of ampere-hours applied to a battery bank and discontinue charging at a preset total.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Charge regulation setpoints are the voltage levels at which the charge controller interrupts or reconnects the charging current from the array to the battery bank.

Charge regulation setpoints are the voltage levels at which the charge controller interrupts or reconnects the charging current from the array to the battery bank.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

The optimal voltage regulation setpoint depends on the types of battery and charge controller.The optimal voltage regulation setpoint depends on the types of battery and charge controller.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Load control setpoints are the voltage levels at which the charge controller disconnects or reconnects the discharging current from the battery bank to the loads.

Load control setpoints are the voltage levels at which the charge controller disconnects or reconnects the discharging current from the battery bank to the loads.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

The equalization setpoint brings the battery voltage to a level that is higher than the normal charge regulation voltage.

The equalization setpoint brings the battery voltage to a level that is higher than the normal charge regulation voltage.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Setpoints are adjusted with potentiometers or switches inside the charge controller.

Setpoints are adjusted with potentiometers or switches inside the charge controller.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Temperature probes are placed between batteries and connect to a charge controller to compensate the charge regulation setpoint.

Temperature probes are placed between batteries and connect to a charge controller to compensate the charge regulation setpoint.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Many criteria should be considered when selecting charge controllers for PV systems.

Many criteria should be considered when selecting charge controllers for PV systems.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Long conductors between a charge controller and a battery bank have resistance that causes voltage drops. Voltage drops affect the voltage measured at the charge controller, which triggers overcharge and overdischarge protections too early.

Long conductors between a charge controller and a battery bank have resistance that causes voltage drops. Voltage drops affect the voltage measured at the charge controller, which triggers overcharge and overdischarge protections too early.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Some charge controllers use additional battery voltage sense conductors to avoid the effect of voltage drop on setpoints.

Some charge controllers use additional battery voltage sense conductors to avoid the effect of voltage drop on setpoints.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Larger PV systems often use independent charge controllers for each array source circuit.

Larger PV systems often use independent charge controllers for each array source circuit.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Separate charge controllers are usually recommended for charging independent battery banks from a single array.

Separate charge controllers are usually recommended for charging independent battery banks from a single array.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

In some cases, a single charge controller may be used to charge independent battery banks.In some cases, a single charge controller may be used to charge independent battery banks.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

To balance the charge to and from the battery in a self-regulating PV system, the load must be well defined, the battery must be oversized, and the array current must be self-limiting.

To balance the charge to and from the battery in a self-regulating PV system, the load must be well defined, the battery must be oversized, and the array current must be self-limiting.

Chapter 7 — Charge ControllersChapter 7 — Charge Controllers

Low-voltage modules control current into a battery bank without a charge controller because their current automatically falls as the battery reaches full charge.

Low-voltage modules control current into a battery bank without a charge controller because their current automatically falls as the battery reaches full charge.