AERL Solar Charge Controllers and Off-Grid Cathodic Protection

Australian Energy Research Laboratories (AERL) designs, manufactures and distributes highly reliable and efficient specialised power electronic controllers for use in solar, micro hydro, micro wind and cathodic protection applications.

High-performance power electronic controllers

Founded in 1985 to pioneer the development and commercialisation of the world’s first maximum power point tracker (MPPT) solar charge controller for use in photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems, AERL has now developed more than 40 different models of high-performance power electronic controllers for use in multiple renewable energy power applications.

In 25 years of trading, AERL has supplied literally thousands of controllers to satisfied customers all around the world. In fact, AERL’s MPPT solar charge controllers alone have now totalled an astonishing 750 million field operating hours supplying an incredible 12MW of power (installed capacity) to customers worldwide. This amount of renewable energy power offsets a staggering 35,000t of CO2 per year, making AERL not only a major driving force in the clean tech industry, but also a significant contributor to the global cause for environmental preservation.

Exclusively designed and manufactured in Australia, AERL’s current product range benefits from over 25 years and several million dollars of R&D investment. Two of AERL’s product lines are detailed below. Please visit our website for more information and for our full product range.

MPPT solar charge controllers

AERL’s COOLMAX MAXIMIZER™ MPPT solar charge controllers harvest up to 35% more power from solar panels than standard non-MPPT PV regulators resulting in 100% utilisation of the available power from your solar panels. Using an AERL COOLMAX MPPT therefore ultimately reduces the number of solar modules required in your system and subsequently your panel costs by up to 25%. AERL’s COOLMAX MPPT solar charge controller’s robust, compact and lightweight design, combined with 99% peak power efficiencies make it the most reliable, compact and efficient MPPT solar charge controller on the market.

Product features include:

• Yields up to 35% more power from solar panels than standard regulators
• Highest peak power efficiencies on the market at 99%
• Robust thermal design with no cooling fans or bulky heat sinks
• Most compact and lightweight design on the market
• Can operate in harsh conditions with temperature extremes from -20°C to +50°C
• Smart multi-stage battery charging profile
• Active temperature compensation
• Onboard digital meter display
• Low battery alarm
• Fully adjustable output voltage
• Load control option
• Many voltage options
• Compatible with all types of batteries and solar arrays

Cathodic protection controllers

AERL’s COOLPRO CATHODIC CONVERTER™ is an impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) controller for off-grid cathodic protection applications. This high-current DC-DC converter is a highly specialised electronic controller designed to protect ferrous metal structures like oil, gas and water pipelines from rust and corrosion. The COOLPRO CP controller successfully reduces the corrosion rate of these metal structures by electronically shifting the corrosion potential of the electrode towards reduced oxidising potential. AERL’s COOLPRO’s lightweight, ultra-low loss, highly efficient and robust design, with peak power efficiencies now up to 98%, makes it easily the most compact, reliable and efficient off-grid cathodic protection controller on the market.

Product features include:

• Highest peak power efficiencies on the market at 98%
• Robust thermal design with no cooling fans or bulky heat sinks
• Most compact and lightweight design on the market
• Rugged and reliable design including a durable weatherproof enclosure
• Can operate in harsh conditions with temperatures extremes from -20°C to +50°C
• High-speed ON/OFF control eliminates the need for expensive external current interrupters for measurement of instantaneous off potential
• Low standby current consumption
• Onboard surge protection with optional supplementary ‘surge buster’ for lightning-prone locations
• Option to drive in parallel to any desired level of anti-corrosion protection (except for structure potential control mode)
• Low battery reset function
• Output voltage limit function
• Constant output current function
• Input reverse polarity protection
• Optional onboard digital meter display
• Optional reference cell

About AERL

Based in Sydney, Australia, AERL is comprised of a committed team of highly innovative engineers, technical designers, manufacturing specialists and industry professionals who continue to uphold and maintain AERL’s long established reputation as a world leader in delivering highly efficient and reliable products to the global renewable energy market.