Product-Related Questions

Why can’t I put the Charge Controller in a Battery Box?

This particular Charge Controller is not weather or water-proof/resistant, though, some are. This model cannot handle moisture and is not designed to be used outdoors unless shielded in a dry environment, such as indoors or within a junction box.

For those who place this Controller in a battery box, it is only a matter of time before parts of it begin to corrode and moisture destroying the unit.

More importantly, because the back of the controller is metal, it poses the danger of creating a connection between the positive and negative terminals of a battery. What's more, if you attempt to service a solar controller and it sparks in the same location as a battery releasing Hydrogen...that...wouldn't be good.

What is Equalization?

Equalization prevents battery stratification, or separating a lead acid battery's acid from the other components where it settles on the bottom and becomes "dormant."

When you don't drive a car for a long time, it's what happens to a battery and a "jump" or large electrical pulse is supplied to a battery to "excite" it to make it work.

When a solar controller with equalization functionality enters this state, it supplies higher-than-normal voltage to ensure the battery isn't sulfating (corroding plates in the battery), or, discharging. This solar controller equalizes for 60 minutes.

What type of solar panels can be used with this?

Amorphous, Monocrystalline, and Polycrystalline designed for 12 or 24 Volt systems. Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline are preferred as Amorphous is the least efficient of the three.

Service-Related Questions

For an additional fee, your warranty covers accidental and elemental damage in addition to manufacturer's defects? How?

It's necessary to allow customers to make mistakes in order to properly promote photovoltaics to allow people to learn its true nature. We created a warranty for our name brand that offers protection in the event the unexpected happens, whether it's a solar-related product or not.

By default, all of our branded products have this. For certain manufacturers and brands whose products perform consistently well over time in accordance with our research and development and quality control standards, it's an optional purchase at the time of order placement.