Sunforce 7 Amp Charge Controller

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Product Details

Product Dimensions: 4 x 2.2 x 7 inches ; 8 ounces

Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)

Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.

ASIN: B0006JO0XI

Item model number: 60012

By : Sunforce
Price : $16.97
You Save : $13.02 (43%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The Sunforce 60012 7 Amp Charge Controller prevents overcharging and discharging of 12 Volt batteries. It is intended for use with 12 Volt solar panels and maintains 12 Volt batteries in a fully charged state. It can handle up to 7 amps of array current and up to 105 watts of solar power. The controller is easy to use with a yellow charging light that indicates that your battery is charging, and a green light that indicates a fully charged battery.
Key Component of a Solar System Over 15 Watts
A charge controller is a very important feature of a solar system and must be used on all systems over 15 Watts. A charge controller protects your batteries from overcharge and discharge. Charge controllers are the maintenance free protection of your solar panel and batteries.
A charge controller monitors the battery’s state-of-charge to insure that when the battery needs change-current, it gets it, and also insures the battery isn’t overcharged. Connecting a solar panel to a battery without a regulator seriously risks damaging the battery and potentially causing a safety concern.
Charge controllers are rated based on the amount of amperage they can process from a solar array.
The Sunforce 60012 7 Amp Charge Controller prevents overcharging and discharging of 12 Volt batteries. It is intended for use with 12 Volt solar panels and maintains 12 Volt batteries in a fully charged state. It can handle up to 7 amps of array current and up to 105 watts of solar power. The controller is easy to use with a yellow charging light that indicates that your battery is charging, and a green light that indicates a fully charged battery.

Product Features

Protects battery from overcharge and discharge

For use with 12 Volt solar panels and batteries only

Handles up to 7 amps of array current and up to 105 watts of solar power

Maintains 12V batteries in a fully charged state

Operation: Yellow charging light indicates battery charging and green light indicates fully charged battery

Sunforce 7 Amp Charge Controller

Customer Reviews

Bad:
Really cheap quality. Included instructions don't provide enough information. Website is just as un-informative. Cheap connector wires (low current), and is not equipped with screw-on terminal junctions.
Good: Product works as advertised. Amazinlgly "regulates" the voltage to the required amount so as not to overcharge the battery. Beware though, in order to test the actual output voltage, you must apply a load on the battery end of the controller BEFORE. Failing this, the output can register volts as high as 20 volts ! Apparently applying an actual load causes the controller to output the correct voltage range - lucky me, cause I bought 4 units ! The LEDS alternately flickers (fast for good voltage input and slow for low to no voltage on solar panel). The manual did NOT state the order of LED flashes.
(1) Fast LED flashes - good voltage/current
(2) Slow LED flashes - low/no voltage/current
(3) steady Green - fully charged
(4) steady amber - possible no load OR really low voltage/current
I recommend you go out and buy 'em. The are a really good deal and does the job at the best price ! I use them in Jamaica, to provide my appliances with power during power outages (very frequent here). Used with solar panels and DC to AC inverter, of course. Considered using a generator, but too many accidents here with generators, too noisy, too bulky, and during hurricane aftermath, fuel is a problem. Solar is freely available, so it was the BEST option all round.
Hope this helps all readers !

I have this unit connect to two automotive 12V batteries with three 15W panels connect to it. So far the charger works as advertised by preventing battery drain when the sun goes down and charging while the panels are producing at least 13 volts. It is pretty much an install and forget item. Additionally I have those same two batteries tied into one of my trucks 12V power points so that the batteries charge when the vehicle is running by way of the alternator. Even with this double charging set up, the charge controller appears unphased and shows a charge light in the daytime and has on two occasions indicated a fully charged green light.