Solar charge controllers are required by most solar power systems that involve the use of batteries. They work to regulate the power as it moves from the solar panels to the batteries. A proper charge controller will keep the batteries from being overcharged.
The simplest kind of charge controller functions to monitor the battery voltage and opens the circuit to stop the charging process when voltage reaches a certain level. In early controllers, this was accomplished with the use of a mechanical relay.
Eventually, pulse width modulation (PWM) became the standard for the charge controlling mechanism. This is a technique by which the amount of power transferred to a battery lowers gradually as the battery gets closer to maximum charge. PWM extends battery life even more, as it decreases stress on the battery. It's also possible to use a PWM controller to keep batteries "floating," or in a fully charged state, for as long as you like. PWM chargers are more complicated, but they tend to be more durable, as they don't rely on any breakable mechanical connections.
The latest advancement in solar charge controllers is maximum power point tracking, or MPPT. The central advantage of MPPT controllers is their ability to convert extra voltage into amperage. This feature has a couple of major benefits.
The majority of solar power systems make use of 12 volt batteries, similar to the ones used in cars, but these benefits hold regardless of voltage. Most solar panels produce more voltage than is needed by the batteries. When the extra voltage is converted into amps, the charge voltage stays at an optimal level, while the time it takes to fully charge the batteries is reduced. This way, the solar power system as a whole maintains the highest possible level of efficiency.
An MPPT charge controller will also largely eliminate the amount of power loss that a solar power system experiences. As low-voltage electricity moves along wires, it can experience high levels of loss, reducing the efficiency of the system. The power used by a PWM controller in a system with 12v batteries is in most cases around 18v. With an MPPT controller, the voltage will be significantly higher. This means that MPPT controllers see less loss..
MPPT controllers cost a little more, but they represent a significant improvement. They're highly recommended because of this.
Preventing reverse-current flow is another ability which certain modern charge controllers possess. Solar panels will stop generating electricity when the sun isn't out, and the batteries can actually start sending electricity back to them at these times. This power loss can definitely be irritating. At these times, a charge controller will open the circuit, preventing any reverse-current flow back to the solar panels.
When you are leasing Solar Panels, There are both advantages and disadvantages of leasing solar panels; a person who is considering leasing should weight these and make a well informed decision. Solar power is gaining in popularity and its use is becoming more common. More and more people are turning to solar power as the source of energy for their homes and even places of business. This is good, as it is environmentally friendly and using it can in fact save a person a lot of money every year.
Since many people cannot afford the upfront costs of solar paneling, many companies offer to lease the panels out. Those who lease solar panels have found that their electricity bill has gone down by as much as 15%. Those who are concerned about the environment will also gain the knowledge that they are doing their part to help save the planet. While buying solar panels is expensive, it does not cost much to lease. The company will not only install them, but also handle all the repair work and maintenance work.
On the other hand, there are disadvantages and pitfalls to leasing solar paneling. First of all, it is very hard to sell a house that has a solar panel lease. Most lease agreements last at least a decade; this means that the buyer would need to assume the lease for the remainder of the lease agreement. As most buyers do not want to take on such an agreement, a homeowner would either have to break the agreement and pay a hefty price for doing so or lower the selling price of the house in order to attract a buyer.
If you buy the solar panels outright, you stand to gain some benefits that would not be available to you if you leased. If you own them, you may qualify for a significant rebate from your state utility company. If you buy them, you can also get a generous tax rebate from the government. Furthermore, one can earn renewable energy credits (also known as RECs) which can then be sold. However, you will not get any of these benefits if you lease. If you lease instead of buy, then the company that owns the panels gains all of the above mentioned benefits, not you.
While solar panels have been available for sale for many years now, the concept of leasing instead of buying is relatively new. It is an attractive prospect, as many homeowners would like to have solar panels but cannot afford to purchase the panels, install them and keep them properly maintained. There are both advantages and disadvantages of leasing and it is important to be aware of the pitfalls of leasing them from a company. Anyone who is considering selling his or her home in the future will want to avoid leasing. For many people, however, the benefits to the environment are worth the cost and leasing can be a way to make it more affordable. Just be sure you know what you are getting into before you make the leap.