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Xantrex Solar Power Controller 12V DC 10 Amp (SL1210B)
General Information:
A photovoltaic charge controller or regulator is a device that prevents solar panels from over charging your batteries by regulating the current flowing from your solar panels to the battery bank. When your batteries are fully charged, the controller stops the flow of current or slows it to a slow trickle. Connecting your solar array to your batteries without a controller seriously risks damaging your batteries and potentially causing safety problems. Charge controllers are rated and sized according to the systems they protect and to the amount of current flowing from your solar array. Most common are 12, 24 and 48-volt controllers. Amperage ratings range from 1 amp to over 100 amps. For safety reasons it is best to oversize your controller by at least 25%. For example, if your 12-volt system has four solar panels rated at 4.0 amps each, total output would be 16 amps. Adding 25%, you would need at least a 20- amp controller.
There is no problem going with a larger controller other than additional cost and it’s something you may want to consider if you think you may be adding more solar panels in the future.
Other than protecting your batteries from over charging, there are several other features that should be included in your controller.
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