MPPT Controllers vs. PWM Controllers:
Who is the king?

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The MPPT controllers, or PWM controllers, are the most important part of the system and the main thing that makes it different from regular lighting systems. A solar street light system works depending on how well the drive is designed. Next, we will introduce their various details.

What is MPPT solar charge controller？

The MPPT controller is one of the most important parts of a solar lighting system, and the voltage of MPPT is a key factor in how battery-powered lights are designed. Let’s start by talking about what MPPT is. An MPPT solar controller is a better version of a standard solar charge and discharge controller. Its full name is the “Maximum Power Point Tracking” controller.

The MPPT solar charge controller can find the PV panel’s real-time generation voltage and keep track of the highest voltage and current value (VI). This lets the system charge the battery at its fullest power output.

MPPT controllers help the solar panel and battery work together. It’s the brain of the solar lighting system. The maximum power point tracking system is an electrical system that changes how current works so that solar panels can produce more electricity.

Operating Principle of MPPT

Different things, like sunshine and the surroundings, can change how much power solar panels produce. MPPT is used to get the most power out of solar cells and run them at maximum efficiency. In other words, when there is constant sunlight, the output power with MPPT controllers will be better than without MPPT. This is what MPPT is designed to do.

In the event that the solar charge controllers MPPT have not yet begun tracking, the battery-operated lamp’s output power is 12V. The MPPT starts tracking, and then it changes the internal circuit to change the output voltage of the solar lamp. It also changes the output current until it reaches its highest output power (assuming that that is 24V), and then it keeps tracking. This means that if there is steady sunlight, the solar lamp will put out more power at 24V than at 12V. This is what the MPPT is for.

Pros and Cons of MPPT

Pros:

Through the use of MPPT controllers, charging can be 30% more efficient. This means that the same solar panel can produce 1.3 times as much charging power, which lets the battery charge faster.

In theory, a renewable energy system with an MPPT can be 50% more efficient than traditional controllers. But based on our tests, it can be 20–30% more efficient, even if many outside things affect it.

Cons:

1. Expensive: Solar charge controller MPPT generally costs more than traditional PWM controllers, which makes the original investment cost higher. However, their good performance may make up for this price difference in the long run.

2. MPPT controllers are more complicated: because they have more features and settings that need to be set up and adjusted properly. This means that professional engineers need to test it well before leaving the factory.

3. Problem with efficiency loss: solar controller MPPT can make the system more efficient, but in some cases, like when the battery is almost fully charged, it might not be able to store all the power from the solar panels, which means a small amount of power is lost.

What is PWM charge controller？

PWM solar charge controller, called Pulse Width Modulation, the structure of PWM controllers is pretty easy. It is made up of a main switch, a capacitor, a driver, and a safety circuit. The voltage of the solar light components will be reduced until it is close to the voltage of the battery pack. It works like a switch, connecting the components to the battery.

Working Principle of PWM

When a PWM is in use, it quickly and carefully turns the power supply on and off. This switching makes energy pulses with different lengths of time that the power is on (the pulse width).

By changing the pulse frequency, PWM controllers can control how much power is sent to the load on average. More power is sent when the pulse width is raised, and less power is sent when it is dropped.

This way, PWM controllers can effectively manage the power flow, which is why they are widely used in situations like solar street lights, where exact control of power is needed for the best performance.

Pros and Cons of PWM

Pros:

PWM solar controllers are better than other types of solar controllers in the following ways:

1. Low price: The PWM solar charge controller design is pretty simple, and it doesn’t cost much to make, so the price is pretty low.

2. High efficiency: Controller PWM can better manage the power that solar panels output, which makes charging more efficient.

3. Longer battery life: PWM controllers can keep batteries from overcharging and discharging, which makes them last longer.

4. Wide range of uses: PWM controls can be used with different types of solar panels and batteries.

Cons:

When compared to MPPT solar power controllers, the biggest problem with PWM is that it is less efficient. PWM charging controls can’t use all of the power that PV panels can make for charging, and they usually only work 65 to 85% of the time. MPPT controls, on the other hand, make sure that the solar panel is always working at its best. MPPT will be 30% more efficient than a PWM solar controller. When it is cold outside.

Comparison of differences between them

The PWM is easy to use and has a small input voltage range, making it good for low-power solar garden lights, lawn lights, and pole lights. Or little units that don’t connect to the power grid for homes and small businesses. At the same time, PWM controllers are not very efficient and can’t produce the most power.

MPPT is costly, but it can handle a wide range of input voltages and produce the most power without affecting battery life too much. Furthermore, MPPT controllers have the features of intelligent management, which can be checked and changed with the help of a system for intelligent management. Referring to high-power solar street lights for highways, city residential roads, big sports stadiums, power plants, and RVs.

Differences	MPPT controllers	PWM controllers
Price	It's three times the price of PWM	Cheap
Lifespan	shortlife	Longlife
Conversion rate	30% of PWM	Low
Battery pack	Not too many requirements	There is a lot of technology that lets you customize battery packs.
Compatibility	It's easier to charge when the batteries and solar cells don't have to have the same nominal power.	Only when the power of the solar panel and battery pack are the same does the charging work best.

Conclusion

You can choose either of these two tools. It looks like MPPT charge controllers are the best because they have the most features and cost the most, but that doesn’t mean they are.

For small solar lamps, using PWM is cheaper because it makes the most of the power from the panels. Using a good solar controller PWM can make the product and the experience better for the user. Applying the correct one is the most important thing,