From solar panels to inverters and more, a solar power system has several types of essential equipment required to make it operate. But is a charge controller one of those essential pieces of the system, or is it optional? Here's what you should know to determine if your system requires a charge controller:
- Does it have batteries? The first thing to take a good look at is whether or not your system has batteries. If you have an off-grid system or hybrid system with a battery bank, then you will likely need a charge controller.
- What about grid-tied solar? Grid-tied systems don't need charge controllers. Excess power is stored in the city grid, which functions as its own charge controller.
- Does your inverter have one? Check your inverter to see if it already has one or if you need a separate one. It's worth noting that many modern solar inverters (an essential piece of equipment for every solar system) have charge controllers built into them.
- What type of charge controller? You'll also need to determine the right type of charge controller: PWM or MPPT. PWM charge controllers are usually best for very small systems, but for most residential systems, you'll want MPPT.
- Do you need additional charge controllers? If you have a large battery bank, you may need more than one charge controller. Consult with a solar expert to determine if your batteries can be charged from a single charge controller.
To find the charge controllers and other equipment you need, or to learn more about building a solar power system, contact The PowerStore, Inc. today.