Charge controllers manage the flow of electricity from solar panels into the battery bank. It mitigates the highly variable voltage and amperage from the panels and outputs a regulated flow into the batteries. The battery bank requires a specific voltage to charge, for example around 14 volts for a 12 volt battery bank. It also requires amperage to be mitigated in order to maintain battery health, such as lower amps when the battery is nearly full but higher amps for quicker charging when nearly empty. Selecting a quality charge controller is critical for maximizing how much solar power you can capture as well as increasing the longevity of the battery bank. If your charge controller is undersized for the array, your MPPT charge controller will shut down entire strings of panels to protect itself. It will also have trouble filling the batteries.
We only recommend MPPT charge controllers that support LiFePO4 batteries. Read our Choosing A Charge Controller article to learn why.
Types of Charge Controllers
Charge Controller – a basic unit that only serves as a charge controller. Has a solar (PV) input and a battery connection. Some units have a load connection that allows the controller to turn on/off a DC load usually up to 20 amps of current often with a timer or manual on/off switch. Some units may have USB connections.
Controller / Inverter – a combination of a charge controller and an inverter in a single unit. The inverter converts the DC power from the batteries into AC power. They often have direct 110V outlets on the unit itself. They often have a direct-wire connection (LNG screw connector) for “hard wiring” AC circuits on the output side of things. Some will have USB connections as well.
Controller / Inverter / Charger – like the Controller/Inverter above but adds an AC INPUT connection that goes to a grid power source. The AC input connection works like a standalone battery charger to keep the batteries “topped off”. Many have options to configure how the power is routed, such as “use solar as the priority” and only turns on the grid connection when needed or “grid priority” where is only uses the battery and solar when the grid fails, or a hybrid mix of the two. Useful for applications where grid power is available as a backup source to the solar generation, or to use solar as a backup when the grid fails.
The subcategories are the battery output maximum amp rating. 40A – 40A max current supported.
Product Data
Charge column shows:
- First line is maximum output current (A) to the battery bank.
- Last line is the charging efficiency.
PV Input column shows:
- Maximum open voltage allowed (VDC) from all solar panels – typically in series.
- Max PV open circuit voltage in amps (A) from all solar panels – typically in parallel or series-parallel configuration.
- Last lines are the battery bank voltage (V) and the total maximum power (W) allowed at that voltage.
| Type/Brand | PV Input | Rally Creek USA Notes | Features | Size/Warranty | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charge Controller | |||||
| 40A | |||||
| Renogy Rover RVR-40 | 100VDC 12V:520W 24V:1040W | Our initial charge controller for Blue Skies Cabin. Works ok in a small setup. Really needs BT-1 Bluetooth module ($) and app to see what is going on, plus preferably M1 Core ($). | 8 AWG bare 20A load output 12/24v manual setting (Li) Includes temp sensor. IP32 | 9.38 x 6.78 x 3.05 in 4.1 lbs 2Y | $150 Amazon |
| 60A | |||||
| Renogy Rover RVR-60 | 140VDC 12V: 800W 24V: 1600W 36V: 2400W 48V: 3200W | BT1 Module forReally needs BT-1 Bluetooth module ($) and app to see what is going on, plus preferably M1 Core ($). Seems to support parallel, but they don’t tell you shit about it. | 12/24/36/48V Auto 4 AWG Bare IP32 | 2Y | $310 Amazon (na) |
| 80A | |||||
| BougeRV | 150VDC 12V:1.2kWh 24V:2.4kWh 36V:3.6kWh 48V:4.8kWh | App connection. 99% efficient. Supports 9P configuration. | 8 AWG Bare IP32 | 1.5Y | $300 Amazon (na) $255 BougeRV (na) |
| 100A | |||||
| BougeRV | 150VDC 12V:1.5kWh 24V:3.0kWh 36V:4.5kWh 48V:6.0kWh | App connection. 99% efficient. Supports 2P configuration. | 8 AWG Bare IP32 | 12.3 x 10.3 x 5.6″ 6lbs 1.5Y | $400 Amazon (na) |
| Renogy Rover RVR-100 | 150VDC 12V:1.3kWh 24V:2.6kWh 36V:3.9kWh 48V:5.2kWh | Needs BT-1 or BT-2 Bluetooth module ($) and app to see what is going on, plus preferably M1 Core ($). Supports 2P configuration. | 6 AWG bare IP32 | 12.00 x 17.44 x 4.34 in 22 lbs 2Y | $550 Amazon $630 Renogy (na) |
| Victron Smart Solar 150 | 100 Tr | 150VDC 70A 12V:1.45kWh 24V:2.9kWh 36V:4.35kWh 48V:5.8kWh | Includes Bluetooth. Does not have load output. Supports 10P via bluetooth, 25P via VE.Can. 95% efficient. Look for the MC4 vs. Tr model for direct MC4 solar connections. | 2 AWG Bare 2 AWG Bare for Solar Bluetooth included Ve.Can included IP43 / IP22 | 216 x 295 x 103mm 4.5kG 5Y | $520 Amazon (na) |
| Victron Smart Solar 250 100 Tr | 250VDC 70A 12V:1.45kWh 24V:2.9kWh 36V:4.35kWh 48V:5.8kWh | Includes Bluetooth. Does not have load output. Supports 10P via bluetooth, 25P via VE.Can. 95% efficient. Look for the MC4 vs. Tr model for direct MC4 solar connections. | 2 AWG Bare 2 AWG Bare for Solar Bluetooth included Ve.Can included IP43 / IP22 | 216 x 295 x 103mm 4.5kG 5Y | $550 Amazon |
| Victron Smart Solar 250 100 MC4 | 250VDC 30A per MC4 12V:1.45kWh 24V:2.9kWh 36V:4.35kWh 48V:5.8kWh | MC4 Solar Connectors (x3) Includes Bluetooth. Does not have load output. Supports 10P via bluetooth, 25P via VE.Can. 95% efficient. | 2 AWG Bare 3 Pair MC4 Solar Bluetooth included Ve.Can included IP43 / IP22 | 216 x 295 x 103mm 4.5kG 5Y | $625 Amazon (na) |
| Controller / Inverter / Charger | |||||
| 60A | |||||
| Ecoworthy | 100VDC 24V 48V | Hard wired AC out only. 24V and 48V models available 24V: 3kWh inverter, 48V: 5kWh inverter 48V $900 model supports parallel connections | 24V: $490 Amazon (na) 48V: $900 Amazon (na) | ||
| 80A | |||||
| Ecoworthy Split Phase | 500VDC 48V: 5.5kWh 33kWh Max | 5kWh inverter output, split phase 240vac out (or single 120v out) Supports 6P | IP20 | $900 Ecoworthy (na) | |
| Growatt Split Phase | 145VDC 80A 48V:4.5kWh 27kWh Max | Hard wired AC out only. 24V and 48V models available 3kWh Inverter Supports 6P | 48V: $845 Amazon (na) | ||
| Renogy | 145VDC 50A 48V: 4.4kWh | 40A AC Battery Charger Inverter 3.5kWh | 8AWG Bare IP20 | 16.8 x 12.7 x 4.9″ 23.8 lbs | $602 Amazon (na) |