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Forum Index : Electronics : General Question on Charge Controller

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Pukwudji
Newbie

Joined: 10/07/2009
Location: United States
Posts: 20
Posted: 01:53pm 12 May 2010
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I've been reading online about various charge/diversion controllers and am a bit confused. Many of them state that you can EITHER use the device as a charge controller or a diversion controller. Aren't they the same thing? A charge controller monitors batter charge and disconnects from battery to prevent overcharge. Isn't that exactly what the diversion controller is doing, but instead of simply disconnecting (or shunting) the diversion controller reroutes power to another destination (dummy)?
I'm not talking about the advanced controllers that surge the power to improve charge rate or the MPPT types. Just the regular Charge Controllers.



Thanks,
Brian
-Brian V
Hillsboro, OR (USA)
KF7DUZ
 
Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333
Posted: 02:20pm 12 May 2010
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Depends if you are talking solar or windmill.

But yes you are correct.

Pete.
Sometimes it just works
 
Gizmo

Admin Group

Joined: 05/06/2004
Location: Australia
Posts: 5116
Posted: 10:19pm 12 May 2010
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Pete's right, it depends on what you are using to charge the batteries.

If you are using solar panels, then its ok to disconnect the solar panels when the battery is charged up. Its OK to leave a solar panel out in the sun with no load on it.

Wind turbines are different. You cant simply dissconnect a wind turbine on a windy day, it will speed up out of control, make lots of noise and possibly break. So we need to make sure the windmill remains loaded when the battery is fully charged, eith by dumping excess power out of the battery, or switching the windmill to a diversion load.

Glenn
The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now.
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