Charge Controller for Solar Panel

Considering the panel is only 5 amps it could be used to supplement charging your batteries during the day light hours. A 5 amp supply really isn't all that much.

NT, we would need to know how your batteries are setup to provide a solution. What is the DC voltage of your battery bank? Many small scale setups like this would use 24 or 48V DC setup for the battery bank. Let us know how your batteries are configured.

Tom

Thank you for your response

My battery(Single) is 12V, 120 AHr, tubular type

NT

Dear Mr.Nair

You don't need any additional charger, for the kind of application you have. Just connect the PV modules to the battery terminals directly or through a switch if you wish to isolate the module. The inverter ( I presume you are using a home inverter ) has built in under voltage & overvoltage cut out and therefore nothing additional is needed. The energy generated from solar PV will get delivered into the battery. To that extent your electricity consumption from AC mains MIGHT go down.

I am saying MIGHT because, e.g. if you load the inverter during evening for some time. then energy removed from battery will get replenished from AC mains, before the sun rises!!! Hence energy available during the day from sun cannot be utilised as the battery is ALREADY fully charged. Give a thought.

Thanks and regards

Ashok Toshniwal, Bangalore, India

A Morningstar SunGuard or Morningstar Sun Keeper are charge controllers for 4.5, 6, or 12 amp @ 12 VDC applications. It is never recommended that a PV is connected directly to your batteries. Always use the appropriate fuse or breakers for safety. Also a 12 volt pv will output 17.6 volts dc and can boil your batteries electrolytes without a charge controller. The above mentioned charge controllers range from $30 (US) to $90 (US). If you plan on adding panels to your system in the future you might want a larger charge controller like the Morningstar Tristar (45-60amps) or Outback FlexMax 80 (80amps). I don't know what kind of loads you're trying to run but a 60 watt panel will amount to a nominal input for a household system.

Dear Lightamass

I agree that PV modules should not be connected without a charge controller, question is of investment. To the best of my knowledge, in India, it is not available at the price you mentioned. Morningstar is a US company and the prices here are lot higher. So is it worth the investment for the kind of application? though technically I agree with you.

Thanks and regards

Ashok Toshniwal, Bangalore, India

I'd have to agree with LIGHTHASMASS on this one. With a 60W panel, I don't think it's a good idea to connect it directly to the battery(ies). In a solar setup, your major costs are the PV panel and the batteries, so you don't want to cook your investment. Here's a simple circuit I found doing a search;

As you can see, you don't need that many parts. With a 60W panel, I would guess you will probably need a pretty good size heatsink. To give credit where it's due, here's the URL to the page I pulled this schematic from;

LINK

I sketched in a resistor to help dissipate some of the power, to keep some of the power dissipation out of the transistor.

I would imagine that you would be able to find parts that would work in your local area. Let me know if you have any questions about the circuit.

Tom

Friends Thank you all for the useful tips given so far by each one of you. I am looking forward to receive more comments in the coming days. Good day to you all N T Nair

Dear Mr.Nair,

Have you got solution?. If yes please let me know how you achived it, because i am also trying the same.

I procured from the local market and it works well for the past 2 years. Presently I am scouting for another one for my new 100W panel. There are many vendors now offering charge controller. Google for details.

Best wishes