Thor Forums

[jpmihalk]

The MPPT controllers generally do have more flexibility in their ability to manage charging in different circumstances. MPPT controllers can take excess voltage and convert it into amps for charging. They tend to be more efficient with less loss. PWM controllers tend to be ONLY for 12V systems (even 2 6V batteries are seen as individual 12V units) where MPPT controllers can handle 24V and 36V systems. PWM controllers are currently limited to no more than 60 amps, MPPT can go higher.

PWM controllers are much simpler where MPPT controllers are complex in terms of configuration and need to be told what kind of batteries and how many volts, etc. PWM can be configured for a type of battery at most (SLA, AGM, etc.) to set the cycle voltages for each step of the charging cycle.

PWM controllers are usually less than half of the cost of MPPT controllers, but once you get over a certain number of panels/volts an MPPT controller is your only choice.