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electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking

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electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking [2018/04/18 16:52]
frater_secessus [the controller's achilles heel] 		electrical:solar:pwm_tweaking [2025/03/18 12:35] (current)
frater_secessus [PWM's achilles heel] sag
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-===== the controller's achilles heel =====+===== PWM's achilles heel =====
  
-During charging with a PWM controller **the solar panel will be running at the voltage of the battery bank**.  Unfortunately, this is almost never the voltage at which the panel makes its rated power (Vmp).  The panel will make less and less power when battery voltage is low.  +During charging with a PWM controller **the solar panel will be running at the voltage of the battery bank**.((or close enough for the purposes of this discussion.  Specifically, the panel will be Vbatt + wiring sag when the controller is pulsing ON.  Vpanel will be closer to local Voc when the pulse is OFF because the panel is Open Circuit (unloaded) at that time.))  Unfortunately, this is almost never the voltage at which the panel makes its rated power (Vmp).  The panel will make less and less power when battery voltage is low.  
  
 This affects charging in all three [[electrical:12v:charging|charging stages]] but it is devastating in [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk]].  Let's do some math to see why.((temperature derating is not considered))   This affects charging in all three [[electrical:12v:charging|charging stages]] but it is devastating in [[electrical:12v:charging#bulk_stage|Bulk]].  Let's do some math to see why.((temperature derating is not considered))  
  
-{{ http://bestsolarpanelforhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/57-79-600x600.jpg?200}}Consider the spec sheet for a random 100w panel (right).  100W is made when the panel is run at 17.8v (Vmp).  The current will be around 5.6A (Imp) when the panel is in the usual operating range.+{{ http://bestsolarpanelforhome.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/57-79-600x600.jpg?200}}Consider the spec sheet for a random 100w panel (right).  100W is made when the panel is run at 17.8v (Vmp). We will use Imp for our math, but the absolute numbers are not important, only the pattern.  Current will usually be less under normal conditions, but can spike to Isc [[https://diysolarforum.com/threads/why-is-mppt-better-than-pwm.24892/page-4#post-295861|under some conditions]]. 
  
-17.8v x 5.6A = 99.68w <-- rating under laboratory conditions \\ +17.8v x 5.6A = 100w <-- rating under laboratory conditions((the math doesn't line up perfectly because the specs are rounded)) \\ 
-17.8v x 5.6A = 94.70w <-- MPPT running at 95% efficiency \\+17.8v x 5.6A = 94.70w <-- MPPT running at 95% efficiency 
 + 
 +PWM harvest \\
 14.8v x 5.6A = 82.88w <-- power at a high Absorption voltage, as with flooded lead acid \\ 14.8v x 5.6A = 82.88w <-- power at a high Absorption voltage, as with flooded lead acid \\
 14.4v x 5.6A = 80.64w <-- power at a lower Absorption voltage \\ 14.4v x 5.6A = 80.64w <-- power at a lower Absorption voltage \\
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 12.7v x 5.6A = 70.61W <-- power at 100% state of charge (SoC) \\ 12.7v x 5.6A = 70.61W <-- power at 100% state of charge (SoC) \\
 12.4v x 5.6A = 69.44W <-- power at 75% state of charge; bulk charging \\ 12.4v x 5.6A = 69.44W <-- power at 75% state of charge; bulk charging \\
-12.1v x 5.6A = 67.76W <-- power at 50% state of charge;  bulk charging+12.1v x 5.6A = 67.76W <-- power at 50% state of charge;  bulk charging \\ 
 +10.0v x 5.6A = 56.00W <-- battery bank accidentally run flat 
  
 This last number shows how far off PWM output can fall when battery voltage (Vbatt) is at its lowest.((The last number is also the source of the "30% boost!!!" claims some MPPT makers make.  Yes, at that point MPPT at 94.69w (after 5% MPPT efficiency penalty) is 40.2% more than PWM's 67.76w but that is when the disparity is the widest.  Most of the time the MPPT charging advantage is lower, perhaps 15%.))  It's also when the battery needs the most current to get out of that deep cycle trough.   This last number shows how far off PWM output can fall when battery voltage (Vbatt) is at its lowest.((The last number is also the source of the "30% boost!!!" claims some MPPT makers make.  Yes, at that point MPPT at 94.69w (after 5% MPPT efficiency penalty) is 40.2% more than PWM's 67.76w but that is when the disparity is the widest.  Most of the time the MPPT charging advantage is lower, perhaps 15%.))  It's also when the battery needs the most current to get out of that deep cycle trough.  
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 Since the panels make more power at higher voltages((up to Vmp)) cranking up Vabs and Vfloat to higher-but-still-sane levels will result in more power being harvested.  Since the panels make more power at higher voltages((up to Vmp)) cranking up Vabs and Vfloat to higher-but-still-sane levels will result in more power being harvested. 
 +
 +Using the above panel as an example, Vabs of 14.7v will yield 3.5% more power than a Vabs of 14.1v.  Vfloat of 13.8v will yield 4.5% more power than a Vfloat of 13.2v. \\
 +Note:  consult the battery manufacturer's recommendations for the actual maximum voltages.  Controller presets often are set too low by the factory since they don't know what battery you will use it with. Better safe than sorry, say their lawyers. 
 +
 +DO invest in the $10 temperature probe option.
 ==== battery: maintain a higher state of charge ==== ==== battery: maintain a higher state of charge ====
  
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   * keeping your bank as charged as possible will let the panels produce the most power for conditions   * keeping your bank as charged as possible will let the panels produce the most power for conditions
  
-In other words, the lower your battery voltage gets the worse the system works.  There are two courses of action to take that will help reduce this effect.+In other words, the lower your battery voltage gets the worse the pwm charging works.  There are two courses of action to take that will help reduce this effect.
  
   - **Cycle less deeply** - Instead of cycling to 50% state of charge (12.2v) consider cycling to only 75% SoC (12.4v).     - **Cycle less deeply** - Instead of cycling to 50% state of charge (12.2v) consider cycling to only 75% SoC (12.4v).  
-  - [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|combine]] your solar charging with even small amounts of [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]] or [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]] charging.  Either one of these will help get the bank "out of the mud", particularly if they are added early in the morning.   +  - [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|combine]] your solar charging with even small amounts of [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]] or [[electrical:shore_power|shore power]] charging.  Either one of these will help get the bank "out of the mud", particularly if they are added early in the morning.  An isolator generally costs less than upgrading to mppt.
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electrical/solar/pwm_tweaking.1524084735.txt.gz · Last modified: 2020/10/11 19:48 (external edit)

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