Solar Panel Mounts
The MPPT Solar Charge Controller
WHAT IS A MPPT SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER?
A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from the solar array. It ensures that the deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backwards to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.
Some charge controllers are available with additional capabilities, like lighting and load control, but managing the power is its primary job.
A solar charge controller is available in two different technologies, PWM and MPPT. How they perform in a system is very different from each other.
An MPPT charge controller is more expensive than a PWM charge controller, and it is often worth it to pay the extra money.
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Rob
Mobile: 0409 125 315
Email: rob@superen.com.au
John
Mobile: 0422 177 567
Email: john@superen.com.au
MPPT SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER
An MPPT solar charge controller stands for “Maximum Power Point Tracking”. It will measure the Vmp voltage of the panel, and down-converts the PV voltage to the battery voltage. Because power into the charge controller equals power out of the charge controller, when the voltage is dropped to match the battery bank, the current is raised, so you are using more of the available power from the panel.
You can use a higher voltage solar array than battery, like the 60 cell nominal 20V grid-tie solar panels that are more readily available. With a 20V solar panel, you can charge a 12V battery bank, or two in series can charge up to a 24V battery bank, and three in series can charge up to a 48V battery bank.
This opens up a whole wide range of solar panels that now can be used for your off-grid solar system.
