Solar Boost 3048 is a 24/48 volt photovoltaic (PV) charge controller capable of delivering up to 30 amps of output current. The 3048 is capable of operating a 48 volt array and stepping down to charge a 24 volt battery. Patented Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) technology allows Solar Boost 3048 to increase charge current up to 30% or more compared to conventional charge controllers. Don't waste money by throwing PV power away! Get the power you paid for with Solar Boost 3048. Solar Boost controllers also provide an advanced fully automatic three stage charge control system to ensure the battery is properly and fully charged, resulting in enhanced battery performance with less battery maintenance. An equalize function is also included to periodically condition liquid electrolyte lead-acid batteries. An optional user friendly digital display is available to monitor PV charge performance. The display shows battery voltage, solar panel current, output charge current, charge mode and state of charge. It can be provided in the controller as pictured above, as a remote panel installed up to 300 feet away, or both. Optional temperature compensation of charge voltage is also available for both lead-acid and NiCd batteries to further improve charge control and battery performance. How Does Solar Boost 3048 Increase Charge Current? Solar Boost controllers increase charge current by operating the PV module in a manner that allows the module to produce all the power it is capable of. A conventional charge controller simply connects the module to the battery when the battery is discharged. When the 75W module in this example is connected directly to a battery charging at 12 volts its power production is artificially limited to about 53 watts. This wastes a whopping 22 watts or nearly 30% of the available power! Patented MPPT technology used in Solar Boost controllers operates in a very different fashion. The Solar Boost controller continually calculates the module's maximum power voltage, in this case 17 volts. It then operates the mdoule at its maximum power voltage to extract maximum power. The higher power extracted from the module is then provided to the battery in the form of increased charge current. In conditions where extra PV power is not available, Solar Boost controllers will operate as a conventional controller with very low voltage drop. The actual charge current increase you will see varies primarily with module temperature and battery voltage. In comfortable temperatures, current increase typically varies between 10 to 25%, with 30% or more easily achieved with a discharged battery and cooler temperatures. What you can be sure of is that Solar Boost charge controller will deliver the highest charge current possible for a given set of operating conditions. Features and Benefits Patented MPPT Technology Increases Charge Current Up To 30% or More! 30A/48V Ratings Support Large Solar Module Arrays Three Stage Charge Control Optimizes Charge Parameters to Battery Size & Type MPPT Power Converter Can Charge Lower Voltage Battery from Higher Voltage Array Electronic Current Limit Prevents Overload or Nusiance Fuse Blow Available Digital Display Monitors PV Charge Performance Durable Powder Coat Finish & Conformal Coated Electronics Resist Corrosion Fully Protected Against Excess Current, Temperature, Transient Voltage & Polarity Full 36 Month Limited Warranty, Optional Extended Coverage Available ETL Listed to UL STD. 1741 Certified to CAN/CSA STD. E335-1/2E, CE Labeled