{"id":6223,"key":"Charge_controller","title":"Charge controller","latest":{"id":1206365,"timestamp":"2025-11-27T20:00:47Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[File:Charge Controller.png|thumb]]\n\nIf you have more than a single PV panel, or more than a single source of power ([[Wind power|wind]] and PV) then you need a charge controller. This piece of hardware will provide the battery (or batteries) with the optimal current to keep them charged. More expensive models may have a number of other features like:\n\n* LED charge status indicators\n* temperature compensation charging\n* overvoltage protection\n* low voltage alarm\n* high voltage disconnect\n* high temperature disconnect\n* lightning and transient surge protection\n\n----\n\nIf you only have one panel and one battery, you can leave the system in permanent circuit, with a constant trickle charge to the battery. I have had such a system sitting basically idle for five years now, doing just fine. --[[User:ericblazek|Eric]] 27 April 2006\n:This depends on the size of your panel and battery. A large panel that has an IV curve showing significant current above the 14.5V range can destroy a small battery or even a large battery with small or infrequent loads. A very simple charge controller, i.e. just a voltage regulator, is very important in any RE/battery system. --[[User:201.135.20.155|201.135.20.155]] 05:42, 1 July 2006 (PDT)\n\n== See also ==\n\n* [[Solar]]\n\n== External links ==\n\n* [[Wikipedia:Charge controller]]\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:Photovoltaics]]"}