RV-CS PWM

What is a PWM solar charge controller?

PWM stands for Pulse Width Modulation. PWM solar charge controllers draw the charge out of your solar panels at a rate just above the battery voltage. Basically, a PWM controller will switch on for bulk charging your battery, then move to a pulsing on and off mode to hold it at the absorption voltage.

How does a PWM controller work?

Basically, a PWM controller will switch on for bulk charging your battery, then move to a pulsing on and off mode to hold it at the absorption voltage. Once your battery is at the flat stage, it switches off, then pulses back on and off to hold it at the float voltage. MPPT stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking.

Are MPPT solar charge controllers better than PWM?

MPPT solar charge controllers can be up to 99% efficient, increasing the performance of your solar panels by over 20% compared to PWM controllers. On the whole, MPPT solar charge controllers are generally favored by RVers. However, they do cost quite a lot more, although you can harvest more power from fewer panels than with a PWM.

How do RV solar charge controllers work?

You can use the power/electricity in your RV (taken from your battery bank) while the sun continues to send more energy to your solar panels, and your panels (through the solar charge controller!) continue to charge your battery bank. There are a number of features to look for when choosing an RV solar charge controller.

What amp rating should an RV solar charge controller have?

The general rule of thumb used in determining the appropriate amp rating for an RV solar charge controller is to select a solar charge controller with an amp rating that is 25% higher than the total peak power amperage of your solar array.

What is the difference between PWM & MPPT controllers?

In situations where the solar panel and battery voltages don’t match, an MPPT controller can convert the excess voltage into amperage, thereby getting more power from the same amount of sunlight, while a PWM controller cannot.