Collection: MPPT Charge Controllers

• They allow PV to operate at its maximum power point voltage
• Controller drops this down to battery voltage
• Current is boosted by doing this
• So panels deliver full power to battery

They allow a PV array to deliver up to 30% more power to a battery than it would if it were connected directly to the battery.
The current from PV modules varies with sunlight levels but is fairly constant over a wide range of voltages. This means they can operate at higher voltages than the voltage of the battery bank which they are charging.

Advantages

• Panel voltage doesn’t need to match battery voltage
• Can use high voltage string configurations
• Smaller cable can be used
• PV can be sited further from battery
• Better for larger systems (>200Wp)
• 60 cell panels are better value than 36 cell 12V panels so the extra power delivered can justify extra cost of the controller even for 12V systems