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MPPT vs PWM: Which Charge Controller is better to use?
A solar charge controller is needed in all solar power systems to utilize batteries. The job of the solar charge controller is to control the charge current flowing from the solar panel to batteris. which can prevent batteries overcharing or discharging and make batteries life span longer.
Here we get the MPPT solar controller and PWM solar charge controllers into comparison. And their differences are as below points:
What is PWM Solar Charge Controllers?
PWM is short for Pulse Width Modulation. The PWM controller is in essence a switch that connects a solar array to a battery. It technically modulate the width of pulse under certain rules, thus change the voltage and frequency of output energy from the solar panel to charge the battery. The result is that the voltage of the array will be pulled down to near that of the battery.
What is MPPT Solar Charge Controllers?
MPPT is short for Maximum Power Point Tracking .
The MPPT solar controller always detects the solar panel output voltage and current in real-time and continuously track the maximum power (P=U*I), regulates the output voltage correspondingly so that the system can maximize the power to charge the battery.
MPPT vs PWM: Charge Difference
PWM solar controller charges the battery with constant 3 stage Charging (bulk, float and absorb), while the MPPT controller is Maximum power point tracking and can be thought of as multi Stage charging. Thus, the conversion efficiency of MPPT controller is relatively 30% higher than that of PWM.
3 Stages of PWM Solar Controller Charging:
PWM solar controller charges the battery with constant 3 stage Charging (bulk, float and absorb), while the MPPT controller is Maximum power point tracking and can be thought of as multi Stage charging. Thus, the conversion efficiency of MPPT controller is relatively 30% higher than that of PWM.
4 Stages of MPPT Solar Controller Charging:
Compared to PWM Solar Controller's 3 stage charging, MPPT solar charge controller has 4 stages.
CONS & ProS compared to PWM and MPPT solar controllers
PROS
PWM Type Solar Controllers
1. They have been used for years in Solar systems, and are well established
MPPT Type Solar Controllers
1.MPPT charging efficiency is up to 30% higher than PWM solar controller.
PWM Type Solar Controllers
2. Its price is inexpensive and best for small solar system where the efficiency is not as critical.
MPPT Type Solar Controllers
2. Best for larger systems where the additional energy production is valuable; Ideal for situations where the solar array voltage is higher than the battery voltage
PWM Type Solar Controllers
3. Longer life span and best for warm sunny whether. and performs best when the battery is almost full charge.
MPPT Type Solar Controllers
3. Performs best when the battery is in a low state of charge and better in the colder enviroment.
CONS
PWM Type Solar Controllers
1. Less efficient than MPPT solar charge controllers
MPPT Type Solar Controllers
1. Price is much more expensive than PWM solar controllers
PWM Type Solar Controllers
2. Because solar panels and batteries have to have matching voltages with these controllers, they are not ideal for larger, complex systems
MPPT Type Solar Controllers
2.life span is shorter because more components used in the circuit.
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