Solar Charge Controller
Looking at solar and seeing different options for controllers. What's the difference between PWM and MPPT?
Forum Discussion
There isn't an easy answer. More needs to be known about daily usage, where you will be using solar, time of year, type of panel being used, space for panels and how much you want to spend. It used to be fairly easy to do it based on cost, but MPPT controllers have come down in price and there are some inexpensive Chinese controllers that seem to perform well.
I have 505 watts of low voltage panels and a Morningstar PWM controller. My system works well, but if I were to do it again, I would probably go with high voltage panels and a MPPT controller. Both types will perform well. I average about 23 amps out in the Arizona winter with my panels mounted flat. We use our computers all day and night and have the TV on for about 15 hours per day. We have 3 group 29 batteries. We can't get 4 GC2 batteries in our tray with the starting battery, so I will be moving the starting battery and going to 4 GC2 batteries. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions.
I have 505 watts of low voltage panels and a Morningstar PWM controller. My system works well, but if I were to do it again, I would probably go with high voltage panels and a MPPT controller. Both types will perform well. I average about 23 amps out in the Arizona winter with my panels mounted flat. We use our computers all day and night and have the TV on for about 15 hours per day. We have 3 group 29 batteries. We can't get 4 GC2 batteries in our tray with the starting battery, so I will be moving the starting battery and going to 4 GC2 batteries. Feel free to PM if you have any specific questions.
