Xantrex C-Series 60-Amp Solar Charge Controller

The Xantrex C-Series C60 is a 60A solid-state controller configurable for solar charging, DC load control or diversion control.

Three modes from one controller is unusual, and diversion control is the one worth understanding. In diversion mode it dumps excess charging current into a resistive load rather than stopping charging, which is how a wind or hydro generator is regulated. Those sources cannot simply be disconnected when the bank is full.

Load control mode instead switches DC loads on battery voltage, working as a low-voltage disconnect. One controller therefore covers three roles that would otherwise need separate devices, though only one at a time.

Charging mode uses pulse-width-modulated multi-stage charging with temperature compensation available through the appropriate sensor. It is field-configurable for 12V and 24V, and PWM harvests less from an array than MPPT would. Explore more solar charge controllers.

• Three modes: charging, load control, diversion
• It dumps excess current into a resistive load
• Wind and hydro cannot simply be disconnected
• One controller, three roles, one at a time