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SHENZHEN HILIGHT TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD

Difference from PWM controller and MPPT controller

Home Difference from PWM controller and MPPT controller

Difference from PWM controller and MPPT controller

A PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) controller and an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller are both used in solar powered systems, such as solar led street light or solar led flood light to regulate the charge going from solar panels to batteries. However, they operate in fundamentally different ways and offer different advantages. 


Here are the key differences:

PWM Controller

Operation:

  • PWM controllers work by switching the connection between the solar panels and the battery on and off at a high frequency.
  • They regulate the voltage by varying the width of the pulses, effectively reducing the current and voltage to match the battery's needs.

Efficiency:

  • Typically, PWM controllers are less efficient than MPPT controllers.
  • They are more suitable for smaller systems where the difference in efficiency is less critical.Such as we always use PWM controller for led street lights less than 30 watts.

Cost:

  • PWM controllers are generally cheaper than MPPT controllers.

Suitability:

  • Best for smaller power, less expensive systems.
  • More effective in conditions where the difference between the panel voltage and the battery voltage is small.
  • Not as efficient in extracting the maximum power from the solar panels, especially under varying weather conditions.

MPPT Controller

Operation:

  • MPPT controllers continuously monitor the voltage and current output of the solar panels and dynamically adjust the electrical load to ensure the panels operate at their maximum power point.
  • They convert excess voltage into additional current, maximizing the power output from the solar panels.

Efficiency:

  • MPPT controllers are significantly more efficient than PWM controllers, often improving efficiency by 20-30% or more, especially in colder climates and under varying light conditions.We usually use MPPT controllers for solar led lamps with more than 30 watts.

Cost:

  • MPPT controllers are more expensive than PWM controllers.

Suitability:

  • Ideal for larger watts systems where maximizing efficiency is critical.
  • More effective in conditions with significant variations in sunlight and temperature.
  • Beneficial in systems where the solar panel voltage is substantially higher than the battery voltage.

Summary

  • PWM Controllers: Lower cost, less efficient, better for smaller systems with minimal voltage differences.
  • MPPT Controllers: Higher cost, more efficient, better for larger systems with significant voltage differences and varying environmental conditions.