Solar Charge Controller Calculator

As an Amazon Affiliate, EXPLORIST.life earns from qualifying purchases.

Want more than just a charge controller?

Our Solar Charging Wiring Kits include everything you need:

✔️ Victron charge controller (pre-selected)
✔️ Matching solar panels
✔️ Properly sized wiring, fuses, and connectors
✔️ Step-by-step installation guidance

No guesswork. No mismatched parts. Just everything you need in one kit.

Browse Complete Solar Kits

Charge Controller Calculator - Offline/in progress 7/31/22

SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER CALCULATOR

BY: EXPLORIST.life

This calculator will help you choose the proper solar charge controller based on the panels you have chosen. This is a beta version calculator. If you get an unexpected result; please click here to fill out a support ticket.

Panel Voltage (Voc)

Panel Short Circuit Current (Isc)

Solar Panel Wattage (W)

Max Series Fuse Rating

Battery Bank Voltage

Panels in Series / Panels in Each Series String

Panels in Parallel / Series Strings in Parallel

Number of Panels

Easy Mode

Exact Mode

Array Voltage (Pre-Temperature Compensation) (Hidden)

Temperature Coefficient

Temperature (F)

-40

Temperature (C)

Array Voltage (Temperature Compensated) (Exact Mode) (Hidden)

Array Voltage (Temperature Compensated) (Easy Mode) (Hidden)

Array Voltage

Solar Array Wattage

Battery Bank Charging Voltage

Output Amperage

Smaller Than 75|15 (Helper-hidden)

Smaller Than 100|50 (Helper-hidden)

Battery Bank Charging Voltage +5V

Array Short Circuit Current

RESULTS

x w Solar Panels wired in a sp configuration will result in those Watts being delivered to the charge controller at V when the temperature drops to the low temperature as previously defined.

Once the Charge Controller Converts those V from the solar array down to the ~V necessary to charge a V battery bank, the charge controller will be putting out A to charge the battery bank.

Important Numbers:

Solar Array Wattage: W
Temperature Compensated Array Voltage: V
Controller Output Amperage: A
Array Short Circuit Amperage: A
Max Series Fuse Rating: A

*If the Array Short Circuit Amperage is greater than the Max Series Fuse Rating, each series string must be protected by x A PV Fuses connected to the positive wires on the 'panel side' of the MC4 Combiner.

RECOMMENDED CHARGE CONTROLLER

Note: If there are multiple charge controllers listed below; all are suitable, but the one at the top of the list is the best for this array and the most cost-effective choice.

🔒 Why Buy from EXPLORIST.life?

✅ Every part is tested and backed by tutorials
✅ Designed and supported by real installers
✅ 800+ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews
✅ Support that Amazon can’t offer

🧠 Not sure what you need? Use our free system planner and we’ll walk you through it →

🔧

Done-for-You Solar Kits

Why stop at just a charge controller? Our complete solar kits include this controller plus the wiring, solar panels, fuses, and everything it connects to — pre-selected and guaranteed to work together.

🔍 See Kits with This Controller →

WARNING! SOLAR ARRAY VOLTAGE LESS THAN 5V HIGHER THAN BATTERY BANK VOLTAGE. Solar array voltage MUST be at least 5V higher than battery bank voltage for the charge controller to operate. Fix It by doing any/all of the following:

Increase the number of panels in each series string
Use higher voltage panels
Decrease the battery bank voltage

None of the following charge controllers are recommended until this problem is resolved.

WARNING! Solar Array Voltage higher than max charge controller voltage (250V). Wire panels in a series-parallel configuration with fewer panels in each series string to lower array voltage.

For additional guidance, submit a support ticket with the specific panels being used, the number of panels used, and the battery bank voltage: https://shop.explorist.life/support/

WARNING! Charge Controller Output Amperage higher than max charge controller amperage (100A). Split the array into multiple arrays or use a higher voltage battery bank to decrease the output amperage of the charge controller while keeping the same solar wattage.

For additional guidance, submit a support ticket with the specific panels being used, the number of panels used, and the battery bank voltage: https://shop.explorist.life/support/

WARNING! Solar Array Amperage Exceeds 30A, which is generally too high for most arrays under 5000w and means that MC4 combiners cannot be used and wire larger than 10AWG should be used. Consider re-wiring the array with more panels in series and fewer panels/series-strings in parallel so that the array current is lower than 30A. If amperage exceeds 30A, caution also must be taken to make sure that the array short circuit current does not exceed the max array current for the charge controller.

For additional guidance, submit a support ticket with the specific panels being used, the number of panels used, and the battery bank voltage: https://shop.explorist.life/support/

Solar Charge Controller Calculator

Want more than just a charge controller?

SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER CALCULATOR

RESULTS

RECOMMENDED CHARGE CONTROLLER

🔒 Why Buy from EXPLORIST.life?

Done-for-You Solar Kits

🔒 Why Buy from EXPLORIST.life?

Nate Yarbrough

sign up for our weekly newsletter

Sign up for our weekly newsletter

Sign up for our
weekly newsletter