A lot of folks view the MPPT vs PWM debate from a simplistic cost perspective. Although this is a significant consideration, it isn’t the most important one. The big picture viewpoint is far more complex and contributes more to solar efficiency than pure dollar and cents considerations. Utilizing solar power properly results from creating a fine ba...

PWM (Pulse Width Modulation)charge controllers are essentially simple switching interfaces between the solar panels and the batteries. They work by switching the power generated by the solar panels on and off in a regular, square wave pulse pattern, as illustrated below. To control the amount of power they pass through to the battery, a pulse width...

Before we expand on the operation of MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking)charge controllers, let’s explain some important characteristics of solar panels.