MPPT Controller: How can you tell it is in fact MPPT? (and not PWM (1 Viewer)

[Emmit]

Hi All,

The question is in the Heading.

Other than Brand, how can you tell physically if the kit in your hand is MPPT or PWM.

Is there a Techie test?

All answers gratefully received.

 

[jezport]

Usually by price, good no cheap, cheap no good

 

[DBK]

If you can see inside it look for a toroidal transformer. The other way might be to check the voltage of the solar panels when it is doing some serious charging and isn't in a float condition. If the voltage consistently stays around 18 volts then you can be fairly sure it is an MPPT.

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[Emmit]

No names, no pack drill but I'm playing a seller for a kipper.
I am waiting for their third wriggling response to my earlier questions.

 

[daveandsan]

f you can see inside it look for a toroidal transformer.

 

[Richard n Ann]

It's like a dohnut but made of lots of turns of wire, err.. and then shrunk wrapped

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[DBK]

It's like a dohnut but made of lots of turns of wire, err.. and then shrunk wrapped

And with less sugar.

 

[Emmit]

Greetings again,

I am just giving an update on this thread as I too cannot understand it when a thread is left 'Up in the Air' so to speak.

The dodgy dealer on Fleabay eventually had to admit that their Mickey Mouse Controller wasn't what it purported to be. I reported them to the auction house but, as the items are still being sold, we can assume that EBay couldn't give a monkey's.

After the excellent advice given on here I bought an Epever Tracer Controller. I was impressed by the review given on You Tube thus.:


There seems to be a wide price range but, thanks to a discount code available to me I got the controller at sub£60.

Now that it's fitted, I can finally see just how much the solar panel is giving (or otherwise) on a gloomy November day.
Roll on the fitment of another panel on the roof and some Sun to shine.

 

[canopus]

I think the narrator may well know his mosfets from his diodes but wonder if he is somewhat confused when he says 'charging my GEL AGM battery'. Surely its either a GEL or an AGM, i.e.one or t'other?

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