Solar Charge Controller question

babock wrote:

pianotuna wrote:
babock,

It would be good to provide a link to back up statements.

I do prefer MPPT myself.

Back up statements? You mean the output of a PWM vs MPPT?

Which part do you not understand?

babock,

You have offered an opinion.

Folks want to see studies that prove MPPT works better than PWM.

An ideal study would compare the payback time for the difference in cost.

For example, in 2005 my system panels cost was $5.50 per watt. Going to MPPT saved on the cost of the system, making a zero price difference between MPPT and PWM, at $1700.00. In 1990 I had a 30 watt system--which cost about $1700.00

Since then the price of panels has dropped precipitously but charge controllers not so much. The lowest price was, before artificial tariffs were introduced $0.36 cents per watt, retail.

That makes it cheaper to add another panel rather than switching to an MPPT controller, provided there is room on the roof.

So, today, my system would have a fully featured PWM controller rather than MPPT, if cost were the only criterion. But cost is not the only factor, and the price of a large capacity controller is a one time cost.

If the roof has no more room left, then MPPT to gather every erg of power may make sense.

My dream system would have remote actuators for tilt, and an MPPT controller with a system input voltage of at least 70 volts, and 2000 watts of panels.

So I suggested you to present a study that proves your opinion.