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Subject Topic: PWM or MPPT Charge controller Post Reply Post New Topic
Personchindley
20/9/2013 at 1:31pm
 Location: Lowton Warrington
 Outfit: Chevrolet Captiva 4x4.Lunar Quasar 524 View chindley's Profile View Profile   Reply to chindley Reply   Quote chindley Quote  
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I have a 20w solar panel which I want to use through the winter to keep the battery charged, I know that I need a charge controller so ebayed it, now it seems that most people use a PWM controller but after I youtubed it, it would seem that the MPPT controller is more suited to caravans as it allows more power for a smaller panel. I dont really understand how this works but this video explains. I was just wondeing what peoples user experiences are PWM or MPPT


Personjasie
20/9/2013 at 2:12pm
 Location: Bath
 Outfit: Bailey Palermo & Kampa Brean View jasie's Profile View Profile   Reply to jasie Reply   Quote jasie Quote  
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I am using a PWM from http://www.256.co.uk/?page_id=482

its inline from my 20w panel and wired direct to the battery (avoiding the panel etc)

he seems to know what he is talking about and it works well for me and the battery is always fully charged for me.
in fact i think it gives a slightly better charge than when i am plugged on EHU, but i havent anything to back this up.


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PersonAl+Mel
20/9/2013 at 2:26pm
 Location: Hants
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270 View Al+Mel's Profile View Profile   Reply to Al+Mel Reply   Quote Al+Mel Quote  
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We've recently got a Sainsonic MPPT charge controller after using a very cheap Chinese MPPT controller for a year or so - so I can't compare them to a PWM type. The difference between the two is that the Sainsonic acts like a smart charger, giving a multi stage charge that includes a high level (over 14.4V) charge for an hour when it senses the battery needs it, before floating at 13.8V. The other one just floated at 13.6V - so the battery couldn't become 100% charged.

I think a good MPPT controller is needed for winter use in the UK as days are short, sunlight is scarce and you need all the juice you can get under these conditions. If, like us your panel is mounted flat on the top of your 'van things are even worse. The sun is low in the sky and the panel won't get a good look at it. On days with heavy, dark cloud last winter we hardly got anything out of our roof mounted 100W panel. I'm hoping the Sainsonic thingy will improve matters.


Personbirder99
20/9/2013 at 5:06pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Tin tent diddy tent BIG tent View birder99's Profile View Profile   Reply to birder99 Reply   Quote birder99 Quote  
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I started with a pwm controller about 3 years ago but this year I changed it to a mppt controller and yes it does make quite a bit of difference especially if the battery level has dropped a bit in poor weather conditions or high use. My panels are portable so they are normally in an optimal position and I can't comment about efficiency when used with roof mounted panels. At home I have a 30W panel I now use to keep the battery topped up and to power alarm. This panel is also free standing and does the job I use it for.



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PersonOnewheelonmywagon
21/9/2013 at 12:36am
 Location: W Midlands
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 560-4 & Discovery 4 View Onewheelonmywagon's Profile View Profile   Reply to Onewheelonmywagon Reply   Quote Onewheelonmywagon Quote  
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If all you are doing is keeping the battery topped up due to current drain from alarm and/or tracker then a PWM controller will be fine. If you were relying on solar to run your lights/TV/water pump/heating fan etc. then an MPPT controller would be worthwhile.
I use an EPHC-10 controller (yeah it's Chinese) and it does a fine job. It has some smart charging features so will fully charge the battery (when the sun shines) as well as maintain a float charge. Specs are Here

You can get one from eBay or Amazon.


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Personchindley
21/9/2013 at 10:04am
 Location: Lowton Warrington
 Outfit: Chevrolet Captiva 4x4.Lunar Quasar 524 View chindley's Profile View Profile   Reply to chindley Reply   Quote chindley Quote  
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Thanks for the info I have ordered  this one  Just one question, do you have the LOAD terminal connected and if so where do these connect to? I initially thought to the battery wires but obviously this would be the same as the battery connection from the MPPT17


PersonAl+Mel
21/9/2013 at 10:23am
 Location: Hants
 Outfit: Fleetwood Heritage 640 EB & ML270 View Al+Mel's Profile View Profile   Reply to Al+Mel Reply   Quote Al+Mel Quote  
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The load terminals are not needed as the loads are already connected to your leisure battery. Good choice, You should get a better output in cold overcast conditions than with a PWM controller and that's when you need it most.


Personboff
21/9/2013 at 7:53pm
 Location: N Wales
 Outfit: Hymer Nova 590GL View boff's Profile View Profile   Reply to boff Reply   Quote boff Quote  
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The load terminals should disconnect if the voltage drops below a certain voltage so can be used as protection from flattening the battery. Not sure it is used very often in practise



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