I just bought a transit custom campervan and I'm currently using an Epever PWM charge controller with a flexible solar panel on the Pop top roof. I can't find any specifications for the panel, but I estimate it's around 80 Watts based on my calculations. Its max power voltage is 21.12V, max current is 3.85A, open-circuit voltage is 25.63V, and short-circuit current is 4.42A. I'm wondering if switching to a Victron MPPT Smart solar controller would provide significant benefits given my current setup, especially since my PWM controller only shows basic LED charge statuses.
3 Answers
Totally agree with SolarGuru99. If you're looking to save some cash, it might be wiser to invest in a better solar panel rather than upgrading to a new charge controller for a smaller panel. Like they mentioned, switching to that MPPT could get you about 16 more watts per hour, but for just a little more, you could grab a 100W panel and really boost your system. Plus, keep an eye out on local marketplaces; sometimes you can find great deals on used panels!
Definitely consider upgrading your solar panel instead! A cost-effective option could be to add a 100W panel, which would give you way more power than sticking with just the 80W panel. If you're thinking about getting a 150W or 200W panel in the future, you'll need to replace the PWM controller anyway since it won't handle that much load. Just keep monitoring your setup and prepare for that upgrade.
If you're not too constrained financially, switching to an MPPT could definitely optimize the output from your solar panel. PWM can only achieve 70-80% efficiency, whereas MPPT is over 90%. Right now, you might only be seeing about 56W from your panel due to that efficiency loss, but with an MPPT, you could easily bump that up to over 72W. However, given that 80W isn’t a massive amount, you might see better results overall with an investment in more panels instead.
That's a good point! I always check out local sales for used panels; you can find some solid options.