In a world with an increased awareness of the catastrophic impact of greenhouse emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels for energy generation, governments and people are making the switch towards more sustainable sources of energy every day. Furthermore, one of the cheapest and most cost-effective renewable sources of energy is solar power, and its easy accessibility to almost everyone on the planet has made it the best option for generating electricity.
Plus, solar power has also helped in significantly reducing the overall damage caused by traditional sources of energy. However, India, in particular, is one of the countries with an increased emphasis on the switch to solar energy. In addition, the government is investing in solar power big-time and is also actively encouraging the citizens to make the switch by offering attractive subsidies and schemes on investing in renewable sources of power.
However, what we don’t know is that one of the most important components of a solar system is the solar controller, as it is responsible for controlling the flow of charge that your battery receives from the solar panels. So, in this guide, we are going to take a look at solar controllers and the active role it plays in a solar system. Plus, we will also briefly discuss how a solar controller system is different from a retrofit to help you make the right decision. So, keep reading to know more.
What is a Solar Controller?
A solar controller helps in modulating the variations in power produced by a solar panel and then controls the flow of energy to the batteries for optimal charging. It’s also responsible for preventing any overheating and overcharging of the batteries, as it could result in a fire.
Types of Solar Controllers
There are generally two types of controllers effectively in use:
1. PWM or Pulse Width Modulation:
A PWM controller is a type of solar controller that acts as an electrical switch, which assists in providing the desired voltage to charge batteries, in which the charge current decreases slowly as the batteries get charged.
2. MPPT or Maximum Power Point Tracker:
An MPPT charge controller works in real-time by matching the voltage of the solar panels with the battery to increase charging efficiency and is better compared to a PWM-based charge controller.
However, for anyone trying to go solar for the first time, you might have heard about charge controllers and retrofits. But for a layperson, it can get quite confusing as to which one is better. Well, they both have their purposes, but here’s how a retrofit differs from a charge controller.
How Is a Retrofit Different from a Charge Controller?
Unlike a charge controller, a retrofit is essentially a conversion kit that can be used with your existing unit and allows you to convert your existing inverter and battery into a solar unit without disturbing any of the existing wirings.
So, if you are thinking of getting a solar controller for your solar system or thinking of upgrading your existing backup system to solar, Luminous has an impressive range of solar charge controllers and retrofit available across a range of budget options.
Better yet, all of their products come with Luminous’ stellar track record of building some of the best solar systems in the industry, using only the best of components and exceptional service lives and value for money. So, if you had been holding back on making the jump to solar, don’t hold back anymore and make the switch today for a greener planet and for incredible savings on your electricity bills.
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