Many people have started using attic fans to vent and cool their homes. The use of such fans also saves money and precious dwindling resources. One type of attic fan that people have chosen to use is a solar panel fan. This fan runs off its own solar panels, which are installed on the roof of the home. But in order to work more efficiently one more piece is needed. That piece is a solar power controller.
A solar controller is a piece of equipment that runs between the solar panels and the fan. The fan has its own batteries to store up energy to run at night or when cloudy. But those batteries can be overcharged and burn out on days when it is very sunny. This can cause damage to the fan as well as a risk of greater damage done to a home. The solar power controller senses that the batteries are getting fully charged and then can shut off the charging process. Because the controller is installed between the batteries and the panels no damage is done to the fan.
That isn't the only thing that a solar power controller can do. An attic fan won't draw the same amount of power at all times. Without something to regulate the amount of power that gets drawn, the fan could actually waste energy, or not work efficiently. The controller controls how much power is being sent from the batteries to the fan at any point in time. A smooth efficient use of power means that the fan is being used as efficiently as possible.
On top of regulating the system and acting as a preventative measure, a solar controller can be set up with many bells and whistles. One of those is that it can act like a thermometer keeping track of the health of a solar fan system. This can be done as simply as having LED lights that shine red or green depending on how the system is working. Or the solar power controller can have features that alert the owner to any problems as well as track the input and output of the system and reset any short circuits in the system.
Making sure that any solar power system is set up correctly and safely is the most important thing, whether the solar power array powers a whole house or just a solar power attic fan. One important part of making sure that any system is installed correctly is installing a solar power controller. Without it, the solar power system runs the risk of being damaged by overcharging. A solar controller makes it easier for the user to track how well their system is working, and helps the system to work efficiently.