RV Solar Charge Controllers

About

RV Solar Charge Controllers RV solar systems are more than just panels on the roof. Any well-designed RV solar system has a Charge Controller or Regulator as part of the system. It is the heart of the solar system. Without it, the system won't be able to properly charge batteries. Or, at the very least, shorter battery life will result. One should NEVER EVER connect a solar panel directly to a battery pack without a controller….unless the solar panel is so small it is classified as a trickle charger. Picking the right solar charge controller for your RV system is important. There are plenty of good products on the market today, including a few great ones. Solar charge controllers of average quality work well, are very reliable if installed correctly, and won't break the bank. There are a few basic differences in technology that are important to consider before buying. With this knowledge, a well informed consumer can make the right choice easily. PWM RV Charge Controllers These solar charge controllers are designed to charge batteries at different voltage levels, slowing plate sulfating and extending battery life. They are easy to identify. The features describe different charging modes, such as bulk charge, absorption charge, float charge, and equalize. These solar charge controllers are usually low-cost, come with a host of other features, and work well for most applications. They are the most commonly found solar charge controllers on the market today and cost anywhere from $50-$400, depending on the power rating and other added features. MPPT RV Solar Charge Controllers The latest Charge Controller technology to be brought to the RV industry employs MPPT or Maximum Power Point Tracking. A solar charge controller with MPPT (a technology borrowed from the commercial and residential solar industry) will charge batteries 10%-30% more efficiently from the solar panels to the RV batteries than one without this feature. This is not because MPPT makes the solar charge c