Yet Another PWM vs MPPT Comparison Test
I was able to run a couple tests with blue sky at same time of year and location as my test from two years ago (flat, tilted, tracking results one) that : A. compares PWM with MPPT, and B. compares ...
Forum Discussion
The above comments are mis-reading the results shown.
The MPPT "advantage" is all at the lower battery voltages.
This means the RVer who is just using his solar to recharge his battery bank gets essentially no advantage. His bank will be in the 13s right away in the morning and go up from there.
The MPPT advantage would go to those who run loads with their solar, where battery voltage remains in the 12s all day. This way, you get the advantage in higher amps from MPPT to run the loads.
You can run loads after your batteries are full with either PWM or MPPT too, using "spare solar" but now the batts are full and floating.
You could lower your solar float to 13.2v and get some (but only a little) MPPT advantage at that voltage instead of at 13.8 or whatever.
"Depends" whether that would be worth the bother most days.
Other considerations may still prevail, where 24v panels cost less than 12s, or you want to use thinner wire, or you want more watts per square foot of panel with your limited RV roof space.
But just going with 12s PWM vs 12s or 24s MPPT and what happens with the amps in each case for the same wattage, what you see in the OP is how it is. You do not "lose" anything with PWM when both get you the same amps!!!! Forget the watts.
The MPPT "advantage" is all at the lower battery voltages.
This means the RVer who is just using his solar to recharge his battery bank gets essentially no advantage. His bank will be in the 13s right away in the morning and go up from there.
The MPPT advantage would go to those who run loads with their solar, where battery voltage remains in the 12s all day. This way, you get the advantage in higher amps from MPPT to run the loads.
You can run loads after your batteries are full with either PWM or MPPT too, using "spare solar" but now the batts are full and floating.
You could lower your solar float to 13.2v and get some (but only a little) MPPT advantage at that voltage instead of at 13.8 or whatever.
"Depends" whether that would be worth the bother most days.
Other considerations may still prevail, where 24v panels cost less than 12s, or you want to use thinner wire, or you want more watts per square foot of panel with your limited RV roof space.
But just going with 12s PWM vs 12s or 24s MPPT and what happens with the amps in each case for the same wattage, what you see in the OP is how it is. You do not "lose" anything with PWM when both get you the same amps!!!! Forget the watts.
