Charge controllers regulate the electrical charge entering and leaving a battery to prevent overcharging and regulate power. They come in two styles, integrated or separate, and can have specialized functions like pulse width modulation to improve performance and extend battery life.
A charge controller regulates the electrical charge entering and leaving a battery. These devices are used to keep a battery going longer and also to help prevent overcharging. A huge number of different types of controllers are available, from small integrated circuits to complete add-ons with readout displays. The common charge controller simply provides current in and out when required, but some systems are capable of providing more specialized input and output.
In most batteries, a charge controller performs two functions: preventing overcharging and regulating the power into and out of the system. Preventing overcharging is more of a side effect of the charge controller’s work. Because it prevents too much energy from flowing in and out of the battery, it prevents overcharging damage to the battery or the device it is powering.
Power regulation is essential to extend the life of a battery. If a battery continues to charge when it is fully powered, it can cause overcharging and damage the system. On the other hand, if the battery becomes so discharged that it cannot be recharged, a deep discharge occurs. Power regulation also applies to the device. Some devices require more power as activity increases, while others require a constant flow; the charge controller determines how much energy the device can have at any given time.
A charge controller comes in two basic styles, integrated or separate. An integrated controller is integrated directly into the battery or power system. This circuit will directly regulate power as it enters or exits the system without further human assistance. While often found directly in the battery, some systems that only accept a certain type of battery, such as cell phones, have them as part of the device’s internal systems.
There is a separate charge controller outside the battery. These systems monitor power as you move, not just at the battery level. An external system typically has a specialized function, such as one that works specifically on a high-end model airplane or solar panel system. Some of these systems work on their own, as an integrated system, while others have a user interface for entering settings and power levels.
Most charge controllers are quite simple. A standard controller charges a battery when it needs to and stops when it doesn’t, all while sending power to a system whenever it needs it. All of this is done with a constant flow of power.
A high-end charge controller may have a different function such as pulse width modulation. These controllers constantly deliver a small charge into or out of the battery that waxes and wanes depending on the situation. This improves system performance and extends battery life.
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