Mppt

[tanner0441]

Hi

I have aquired several PV panels capable of about 25W total. I have a 6A charge controler but reading on here the way to go is MPPT I can see how it works but for a small panel like I am building commercial is too expensive. I wondered if there are any circuits about.

My design experience with electronics is from TTL and 4000 series MOS.  By now there is probably a single LSI device that does it all.  Transformers could be the one drawback but hopefully not insumountable.

Brian

[s4w2099]

A well built MPPT will cost you some money even if you build it yourself. For this power level I don't think its worth bothering with MPPT. It comes out cheaper and more productive just to get another panel IMO.

MPPT starts to get interesting after 80 Watts or in overcast cool conditions. Also great to run longer distances with small wire like I am doing now.

[GlutealCleft]

Here is a start.

Or, if you are a digital sort of dude, then you can use a microcontroller to vary the duty cycle into a switching regulator, and watch the power you get out.

[scottsAI]

tanner0441,

For the brave:

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2008/8/26/223841/588

Considering building and selling a small MPPT boosting controller board. (output is higher than panel).

Prototype volumes are expensive, not situated to speculate how many could sell to get a good price.

Have fun,

Scott.