Solar-Panel to Controller Loss
Much has been made of the lower losses on the panel to controller path with MPPT because the amps are less. So once you have your loss measured, how valuable is it to improve on that if you don't lik...
Forum Discussion
Salvo wrote:
You're going to have to find the schematic link.
From memory, this mppt controller had a series pass MOSFET which is controlled by pin 9. One side of the MOSFET connects to the panel, the other side to an inductor. The other side of the inductor goes to the battery. If the MOSFET is always on (no pwm action), the panel is connected directly to the battery.
The controller is always in PWM but only does tracking for MPP in Bulk. In Absorption and Float, amps taper anyway, so there is no reason to do MPPT. It is the same with all MPPT controller brands from what people have said here in past discussions on this.
ISTR in Float, the controller finds a voltage (farther down the knee from Vmp) that will provide an output that matches the "demand" in amps. If you add a load while in float, the voltage is then chosen farther back up the knee on the IV curve that will make for more amps output, but this does not trigger MPPT. The battery voltage needs to drop below 13.2v (12v ) to cause the controller to start MPPT /Bulk again.
