MPPT vs PWM Solar charger performance - Part 1

MPPT vs PWM Solar charger performance / MPPT Operation / How does MPPT work / What is MPPT
There is a follow-up to this video that covers some questions raised about the amps. MPPT vs PWM Solar Charger - Follow-up
In this video I switch between an MPPT and PWM solar charger to show how much power (Watts) can be "lost". This is due to the voltage being pulled down to the battery voltage by the PWM charger. The MPPT controller uses / tracks the best voltage output the solar panel can provide to ensure maximum power output.
In this case I have two 50 watt panels connected in parallel that can be switched between the MPPT and PWM charger. Together they are producing about 3 amps at 19.49 volts; about 58 watts (MPPT controller). When I switch to the PWM controller the voltage drops to the battery voltage being charged, 12.2 volts at 3.3 amps; about 40 watts. A loss of 18 Watts!! That means a 31% gain in power using an MPPT controller. The MPPT still provides the battery with about 12-14 volts required for charging but with more amps.
The gains will not always be that big; as the battery charge voltage gets higher, the gains are less. The MPPT will continually track the optimum voltage; as light and temperature change at the solar panel, so will the Maximum Power Point.
Here is an excellent link to a DIY project and further MPPT explanation: http://www.timnolan.com/index.php?page=arduino-ppt-solar-charger

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• solar
• panel
• PV
• review
• performance
• comparison
• MPPT
• PWM
• charger
• crystalline
• amorphous
• CIGS
• Copper
• Indium
• Gallium
• (di)Selenide
• thin
• film
• power

[WarblesOnALot]

@magna59

@mjlorton Hi Bob, thanks for sending me here. The Alphanumeric Soup failed, but the Title got me to the Movie... Um, my PMs have frozen again. Sent too many yesterday ! MJ, very interesting. I'll go & watch Pt 2. Meantime, if you search 'SunFoil Science', thereat you'll find my own little contribution to the State Of The Art... Not as erudite nor as well equipped as yours, but it shaved 35% off my 4WD's Fuelburn.

[mjlorton]

@WarblesOnALot I've seen it...great work...thanks for sharing it with us!

[flavomarginatus]

I can provide you with a data log after I download the data. I really love the ability of the Rogue to log data for 30 days.

[mjlorton]

@flavomarginatus That would be great, when you have the time please send it to martin@silentenergysolutions.c­o.za. If you pop me your rough location I'll look up the weather conditions etc for the period. Cheers, Martin.

[LOPEZdJUNGLIST]

yeah mate

[WarblesOnALot]

@mjlorton Cool. Sorry for repeating. Um, I came up with a Hillbilly Headcam. Try ' SunFoil Mk-3 On The Highway, To Town, In The Rain.' It shows, via Voltmeter, the 2 Regulator's squabbling for Control Of the Battery ! Also, the extra Torque, at Low RPM, Uphill, in Top Gear.

Ciao !

[hebay2]

@flavomarginatus thanks my friend but its a 12 volt system and i cant afford a new controller..ive just turned it into 2 12v panels by shining a bright torch through it and working out where to tap into the tabs..was really easy..one snip in the middle at the bottom..wire soldered onto each side then taken up to the box and whip one diode out...sorted.

[flavomarginatus]

@hebay2 Maybe you could take your 12 volt panels and wire them in series to create a 24 panel, then add the 24 volt panel to the system.

[mjlorton]

@flavomarginatus Thanks for your comments and for watching. Do you have an idea / log of the amount of Watt hours you are getting now. What are your local temps? Cheers,

Martin.

[flavomarginatus]

@mjlorton

Thank you. Excellent example. Your organization and labeling is first class. I recently installed a Rogue MPT-3024 on my trailer. I have 4- 80 watt polycrystalline panels in Tucson, Arizona, USA. Being that it is winter solstice, the power production is very low.