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Your cart is empty.The Schumacher SPC-7A Charge Controller defends against overcharge/discharge damage in solar panels and 12V acid-lead batteries and can handle up to 7 Amps of solar array current and up to 100 watts of solar power. Featuring an easy-to-use design, the unit features helpful LED indicator lights to identify high voltage, low voltage, and charging. Includes controller with mounting holes, and user manual. Recommended for use with Schumacher solar products.
S. Pickett
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2025
Hooked this up to a small solar panel to keep the battery charged on a seldom used car that's parked on the street in front of my house. Connected to the car via the utility (cigarette lighter) port on the car. I get no lights on the charge controller indicating that it is doing anything, and indeed it does not appear to be passing power through to the battery as the battery was basically dead both times that I checked it. Had to jump start the car with a small jump starter box (which does work magically well). The solar panel tested functional, so it is definitely a problem with the charge controller. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this until just past the 30 return window, so I'm out the little bit of cash I spent on it.
Yves
Reviewed in Canada on June 19, 2023
V.R. , pour charger la batterie.
Kauper
Reviewed in Canada on May 10, 2023
Ok I'm not sure I'm going to write this properly cause I'm not to knowledgeable in solar anything. All l know without this part there is no control on the fluctuating temperature. Yes it works in the shade but the temperature is no where near stable without this piece. YOU NEED THIS FOR SOLAR BATTERY CHARGER!!!!!!
M. Ruscher
Reviewed in Canada on April 8, 2021
I purchased this solar charger controller for a compatible product from the same company. It worked for 2 months then failed to operate and caused my car battery to totally discharge at the time in the middle of WINTER leaving me without a vehicle for a period. I subsequently returned the product to Amazon for a replacement which came in a few weeks. This time the controller did not appear to work properly and demonstrated similar characteristics i.e., the LEDs did not light and there was no current being provided to my car battery although the solar panel emitted over 15v when not connected and almost 13v when connected. No voltage was measured at the battery connections and when connected to the battery, no increase in the battery voltage observed after a significant amount of time. I was warned by other purchasers and I did't heed the warnings. Due to personal health issues and the Covid situation I failed to do anything about this until I could check it out agin in warmer Spring weather. Now Amazon will not allow me to return it for a GOOD replacement after sending me a defective item! My fault for not dealing with it at the time but extenuation circumstances.
Jaime Escandón
Reviewed in Mexico on March 4, 2019
Muy bueno
Spyder
Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2017
Many people complaint reverse polarity of the cables on the charge regulator but in fact it does NOT matter. The real culprit is the cable polarity of the solar panel. Cable is the combination of several wires. To explain, first we need to clarify: red wire does not mean that it must be positive, rather if it connects negative on the circuit it can be negative. On my unit all red wires connect to + on the charge regulator. Second same idea applies to the SAE connector, I call them black (black plastic) and silver (silver metal, the naked end) -- either one can be positive or negative depending on where it connects.That said, since the solar panel is energy giving, its cable polarity will determine the polarity of all the cables downstream. As many of us buying third party solar panels, we need to first use a multi meter to determine the cable polarity of the panel. Picture 1 shows positive voltage and picture 2 indicates negative voltage (minus sign under DC) when I reverse the leads. Picture 3 shows wires are properly labeled as positive vs negative. Second be sure when solar panel's SAE connects to the SAE of the charge regular, positive wire must attach to the positive in the regulator circuit. The SAE on my panel needs to flipflop so picture 3 also shows the new connections with blue wire connectors.To confirm if there is current going from the panel thru the regulator to the battery, a positive voltage should show on the multi meter when its leads are attached to "battery" SAE on the regulator. In this way the 12V battery will be properly charged.
Charles Gill
Reviewed in Canada on December 9, 2015
I bought this because it was very easy to be compatible with the sun-force panel for charging my truck and a cigarette lighter. I didnt want to do wiring so i bought this. It seems to work fine. Would recommend it
The Key Master
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2014
Original Review - June 2014I used the Schumacher charge controller after having a disappointing experience with a competing model from battery tender. The battery tender model gave me a fast flashing yellow light that indicated that the charge controller was defective. Amazon gave me a full refund.I purchased two of the Shumacher controllers. The first one went to use right away and is excellent. Notice that it includes the connectors on the charger, the connectors are clearly labeled, and the charge allows for a Battery connection, solar panel connection, and a load connection. It also provides LED status lights to aid you in your diagnostics and panel placement (it tells you when you have a low and high power orientation to the sun).I have also purchased solar chargers from sun force (that I like, but not as much as this one). The sun force 7a model lasted two years, and then needed to be replaced.Updated Review June 24, 2014The second charge controller was used with a 50w panel (the charge controller is rated to 100W). I plugged it into the panel with full sun and none of the lights on the charge controller were lit. Keeping it plugged in, I checked the wiring. The charge controller started to smoke, the smoke was coming from the opening where the wires exit the unit. I picked up the controller and it burned my hand. I unplugged all wires and amazon agreed to exchange it. Because I like the design, I am going to give it another try.
RD
Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2013
I bicycle to and from work most days, but must have access to a vehicle should I need to go meet with customers across town, or to avoid the road dangers on my route from inclement weather. Accordingly, I park my 2000 Odyssey at work. Unfortunately, the battery will slowly discharge if the car is not driven, and on several occasions, I have needed a jump start.I thought I was so smart when I bought a small, Shumacher solar panel to trickle charge my battery (via the 12V power outlet. However, I failed to do enough research. It turns out that at night, this particular solar panel would allow current from the battery to run in reverse, thereby draining the battery. Your voltage off the solar panel varies significantly, depending on the intensity of light to which it exposed. Apparently, the voltage from the solar panel can run from around 3V to around 19V or 21V. At the low end, you get reverse current through the solar panel if the car battery is charged reasonably well; at the high end, your voltatge across the battery is not all that healthy for recharging/trickle-charging the battery. (You want your charging source to be running at 13-14 Vdc.)Bottom line - if your solar panel does not have a voltage regulator/charge controller, you need one.The Schumacher SPC-7A provides that capability at a reasonable price. It will handle up to 7 amperes coming off a solar array, and it will give you an indication of whether you are generating a charge, and it will warn you if you have a low voltage (below 12 V) coming off the solar panel. It has standard, 12V line plugs to connect to the solar panel output, to connect to your charging line for a 12V battery (either battery clamps or a 12Vdc power plug). there is a third ouput cable for an alternate load device.I have found that the low voltage indicator (an LED) is useful for ensuring that the solar panel is positioned properly. I just orient the solar panel so that the low voltage light goes off, and then I know that I am getting a useful trickle charge.My fault for chosing a trickle charger without a charge controller. But this modestly priced device got me back on track.
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