12v MPPT and 24v MPPT vs 24v PWM Test

BFL13 wrote:

Naio wrote:
My main power use is some 24 v equipment. I also have a 12v house battery.

This discussion has got me wondering: Could I / should I, if doing a 300w solar install, charge the two systems separately, swapping stuff out with Anderson connectors?

This would mean I'd have to get an MPPT controller instead of PWM as I otherwise would, IIUC. Would it be worth the cost? Would it be a pain to switch the controller between 12 and 24 every day?

My camping is generally at about 60-80 degrees F daytime temps, year-round. Now that I know that matters :).

Yipes! That sounds complicated.

Ok the first thing is you don't need MPPT if you have a 24v battery bank, you can run that with your ordinary PWM controller that will do either 24v or 12v.

Being as this is on my minivan, I was figuring I would have EITHER a 24v panel or two 12v (not all 3). And PWM has to have panel/s and batteries be the same, 24v OR 12v, right? So that means a MPPT controller. Either that or I am confused ;).

You can run a split bank with one 24v and the other 12v. There are at least a million (not to exaggerate!) ways of doing all that.

Well, yeah, that is what I have. (Sometimes I charge the 24v bank with a 24v wall charger, other times I hook the 12v one to one battery at a time.)

Perhaps if you described your situation/set-up more, we could narrow it down a little. :)

Not much to say. Minivan. House loads are pretty much all run thru an inverter -- light, heated mattress pad, etc. I do have computer and phone chargers. I don't use heater or fridge or hotplate when on battery (so far).

I literally have zero phantom loads. Folks here have scoffed, but I have had a killawatt on the last couple days. Took a pic if needed ;).

BTW, as the OP I got my hoped for responses, so now it is ok by me to talk about anything else.

Thanks :). This thread has been extremely enlightening for me! I sure appreciate you running the tests and posting. I didn't think I was so OT but maybe I am...