About Maximum Power Point Tracking
Genasun's line of solar charge controllers employ Maximum Power Point Tracking to give you 10-30% more energy from your solar panels. These controllers are connected between your solar panel and batteries like any charge controller, but sophisticated electronics allow the controller to operate the solar panel at its most efficient voltage, resulting in significant gains in power.
When 50 Watts isn't 50 Watts
As an example, consider a 50-Watt panel, a common size for sailboats. The
panel will typically be rated for full output power only at a particular
voltage, say 17V, at which it will produce a little less than 3 amps.
When you connect this panel to your batteries with a conventional charger, the panel will operate at the battery voltage, say 12.6V. At this voltage, the panel won't generate significantly more current than at 17V, and the total output will be less than 40 Watts!
Get the Power you Paid For
Genasun's MPPT controller will let your solar panel run at its most efficient voltage, extract the most power possible, and charge your batteries at their voltage, with almost no loss. This way, you can get 50 Watts from your 50 Watt panel, a 25% gain over the conventional controller in the example above!
Genasun's controller extracts the most power possible from your panel in nearly any condition: hot or cold temperatures, different light levels, partially shaded panels; it even takes wiring losses into account. The actual power gain will vary with conditions, and may be anywhere from 0-40%, with 10-30% being typical. Highest power gains come with discharged batteries, cold temperatures, and lots of light.
Tracking Efficiency and the Numbers Game
At least one manufacturer of charge controllers advertises 99.5%
efficiency, which might leave you wondering how Genasun's controllers
can deliver gains of 10-30%. The advertised efficiency, which might
better be called electrical efficiency, is only half the picture.
When looking at a solar charging system, it is important to consider the efficiency of the system as a whole, including tracking efficiency. Tracking efficiency is the ratio of the power extracted from a panel relative to the maximum possible. While Genasun's controllers have a "modest" electrical efficiency of about 95%, they typically extract 99% of the power available from a solar panel, for an overall efficiency of about 94%. That 99.5% efficient controller, however, may only have a tracking efficiency of 80%, for a total efficiency of about 80%.
An Inexpensive and Easy Upgrade
If your existing solar power installation falls short of your energy needs, consider upgrading to Genasun. Replacing your conventional charge controller with Genasun's is easier, smaller, lighter, and often cheaper than adding more solar panel area. The controller is packaged in a surface-mountable box with screw terminals for simple mounting and installation. Replacing your controller could take as little as 5 minutes.
Is it Right for Me?
Models are available to suit a variety of installations. The GV-4 is optimized for small panels in the 5-50W range. The GV-10 will provide up to 10.5A of charging current, and is ideal for panels up to 140W. Matched panels may be connected in parallel, using blocking diodes, up to the maximum rated wattage.
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