MPPT, or maximum power point tracking, are the very best charge controllers you can buy. They are the most efficient controllers and can provide the most energy to the batteries. What they do simply is take the higher voltages coming in from your magnetic power generator and step it down to the correct voltage needed for your battery bank. It does this automatically regardless how much the incoming voltage varies. The MPPT looks at the voltage needed to charge the batteries, the amount of voltage coming in from the generator, and then converts this into the maximum amps to the battery. It does this very efficiently and safely and is the best choice for your zero point energy magnetic generator.
Free Homemade Energy – Do I Need a MPPT Charge Controller on My Solar PV System?
Traditionally, the charge controller did very little in a solar power system. Mainly it solved the problem of stopping the batteries from discharging into the solar array when the sun wasn’t available. It was a very simple device and is sometimes still used in this fashion.
However, as electronic devices got more intelligent, it made sense to optimize the process of charging the battery. Basically there’s a problem with just sticking the batteries on the leads from the solar panels. The voltages in the system don’t match up. The battery’s voltage changes slightly depending on the charge level. The solar array voltage changes slightly based on season and light levels. When you attach the solar panel to the battery it pulls down the array voltage to the battery’s level. That means that the array is run at lower voltage that is less efficient. The problem is that neither side gets the proper voltage to function at the most efficient level.
This is where the Multiple Power Point Tracking (MPPT) system in the charge controller comes in. It allows both the solar panel and battery sides to work at the proper voltages. For maximum efficiency the solar panel needs to run at the highest voltage it can. The battery needs a little over its output voltage at high amperage to charge most efficiently. Depending on the battery status this voltage changes. The MPPT system takes the higher voltage from the solar panel and converts it to whatever the battery needs to charge at the time.
The advantage here is that the solar panels are allowed to run at a higher voltage. A higher voltage allows for smaller wires carrying the same amount of power. Converting this higher voltage to a lower one gives higher amperage for that voltage. By giving the battery the correct voltage at a higher amperage the batteries are charged more efficiently. This gives a fifteen percent boost in getting power into the batteries over not using this system. This is a free boost in power that does not require buying and installing additional solar panels.
Whenever you are specifying a type of charge controller for your solar power generating system, you need to include the MPPT option for this device. Any extra costs will be covered by the improved operation of the total solar generating system.
Lower Solar Energy Prices than Ever
In recent years, solar energy prices have become dramatically lower, while the technology has become significantly more efficient. Essentially, any solar panels that you buy cost less and generate more electricity, a trend that is likely to continue in the years to come as we see more and more advances made in alternative energy sources. You might be surprised at how much (or conversely, how ultimately little) this technology costs and how available it is to you at this time.
Formerly Commercial
Years ago, the only entities that could afford solar energy for buildings were larger companies. These were seen as novelty items if anything, a sign of eco-friendliness. However, solar energy prices have dropped enough that it’s affordable for almost all homeowners to purchase for their homes. Unfortunately, those who rent apartments are left out in the cold with this technology, and it really wouldn’t be a viable source of energy if placed upon skyscrapers. However, it is efficient enough to work on individual houses, and residential solar energy costs have been low enough that these power systems have been selling like mad in recent years.
Solar energy prices involve the individual panels, which can generate anywhere from 50-500 watts a piece (300 watts a panel seems to be the most common) and a generator for transforming that solar energy into electricity usable by anyone. A $2,000 300 watt panel provides enough power to power a dozen 25 watt fluorescent light bulbs. 300 watts can seem small compared to the energy needs of air conditioners however, as a single window air conditioner can consume 1200 watts of power at peak draw rates. However, solar energy prices won’t have you paying for four panels if you need four times the power at times. That’s where a storage system comes into play, and you’ll be able to store a wealth of electricity for whenever you need to access it.
The best way to optimize solar energy prices are to also practice energy efficient routines around the home. Instead of leaving the AC on at 68 degrees around the clock during the summer, consider turning it up to 70 degrees and leaving it on power saver so that it idles when not needed. Simple tips like that can save you from needing a lot of electricity. For example, replacing all your incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent light bulbs will use about one quarter of the electricity. By practicing energy efficiency and storing excess energy, solar energy prices won’t break the bank, and in fact they’ll save you money in the long run.
