Will an MPPT controller overcharge a battery? (2024)

The fact that it is an MPPT controller isn't relevant to whether or not it will/can overcharge your batteries. MPPT only means that it will draw the most favourable amount of current from the panels and deliver this to the battery with as little losses as possible. But that doesn't mean it is "always" delivering max, it will only do that during the phases where it is safe to do so. But generally speaking I'd say that MPPT controllers are less likely to overcharge the batteries than other charge controllers, because they have more accurate and sophisticated electronics/control circuitry than cheaper PWM/linear controllers.

As with any battery charger or charge controller, it depends on the accuracy of the unit. With chinese ebay stuff you never know what you get. But if you have a decent MPPT controller from a reputable manufacturer it will handle it fine, and will normally have different charging profiles or manual settings that you can play around with. Either by selecting a specific chemistry, or by specifying all the parameters yourself.

I have a Victron SmartSolar MPPT controller, and it lets me set the overall max current that it will never exceed. For example if you have a small battery and your PV exceeds the current limit of the battery. It also slows the charge current depending on the state of the battery, or more specifically, depending on the charge phase it is in.

In my case I am using it with AGM batteries. a 48V battery bank (but for simplicity I'll divide by 4 for a 12V battery). Charging goes as follows:

1. The charge controller will first push as much current as it can into the battery, as long as the voltage is less than 14.40V (Bulk phase). This is where you benefit the most from the MPPT circuitry.
2. Once 14.40V is reached, it will reduce the current gradually, to maintain the battery at a constant/no more than 14.40V (Absorption phase). It's no longer tracking the peak point of the panel, rather it is keeping a constant voltage on the battery.
3. Once the current gets so low that the battery is no longer absorbing a charge while maintained at 14.40V, it drops the voltage to 13.80V and maintains that voltage to trickle charge the battery (float charge). If a load is attached to the battery, it will try to deliver the current needed to stay at 13.80V.

Every once in a while, it re-enters the absorption phase by ramping the voltage back up to 14.40V for a slight moment to see if the battery will accept more current, and top up any missing charge, then enter float state again.

This is for AGM batteries. Lithium batteries will have a different pattern, or different durations for each charging phase.

Will an MPPT controller overcharge a battery? (2024)

FAQs

Will an MPPT controller overcharge a battery? ›

There are two main types of charge controllers: Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) and Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM). Both prevent overcharging and undercharging, but they have distinct technologies with size implications that must be considered to avoid oversizing.

Does MPPT stop charging when the battery is full? ›

When the battery state reaches 14.5V-15V, the MPPT controller will stop charging. Of course, it is charging. During the process, the current will become smaller and smaller until it is zero and the battery is fully charged.

Why is my solar charge controller overcharging my battery? ›

Yes, a solar charge controller can overcharge a battery if it is not functioning properly or if it is not set up correctly for the type of battery being used. Overcharging occurs when the charging voltage and current are too high, which can cause the battery to overheat and potentially even explode.

What are the disadvantages of MPPT solar charge controller? ›

The main drawback of MPPT charge controllers is that they are more expensive and complex than PWM charge controllers, as they require more components and circuitry to perform the DC-DC conversion and the power tracking.

How to keep a solar panel from overcharging a battery? ›

The easiest way to control over charging of the batteries is to control the output voltage of the solar panel. A hybrid inverter can do this. The role of the charge controller is to limit the charging voltage of the battery to ensure over charging does not occur.

What happens to charge controller when battery is full? ›

The charge controller protects batteries and solar panels by managing the energy flow. Battery charge controllers stop electricity flow when they signal that batteries are full. Many solar power systems incorporate inverters and charge controllers to ensure trickle charging and redistribute excess charges.

Is it OK to leave controller charging? ›

Yes! The charging stand and station double as a display for your controllers. The charging stand or station will stop charging once the batteries have reached full charge and will display a green glow at the base of the stand/station to indicated a full charge.

What happens to solar power when batteries are full? ›

When the battery is full, the excess power is directed back into the solar panels, resulting in a temporary increase in voltage. This method effectively reduces the overall efficiency of the system because the excess energy is essentially lost.

How far should solar charge controller be from battery? ›

It is highly recommended that the charge controller be within one meter (approximately 3.25ft) of the battery bank and in the same room or enclosure. Be sure all rooms and enclosures are well ventilated.

Can a small solar panel overcharge a battery? ›

Yes, you can overcharge a battery using a solar panel. Most photovoltaic panels that are 12v will produce around 16 to 20 volts, and most deep cycle batteries will only need about 14 to 15 volts to be fully charged. As we touched on above, a solar charge controller is used to ensure a battery does not get overcharged.

How long will it take A 200W solar panel to charge A 100Ah battery? ›

It should ideally take around 10 to 20 hours (during the daytime) to charge a 100 Ah battery with a 200W solar panel.

Do I really need an MPPT charge controller? ›

System components — some batteries, such as lithium models, work best with MPPT controllers that can provide the appropriate charging profile. Type of installation — if your system is grid-tied, you must use MPPT controllers since PWMs are best used in 12 V or 24 V off-grid installations.

How long do MPPT charge controllers last? ›

PWM charge controllers are less expensive but they can extend the battery bank's lifecycle at the expense of solar panels performing lower than in case of MPPT controller. Similar to inverters, charge controllers have a lifespan of about 15 years.

Can you leave a solar controller connected to the battery? ›

So, can you leave a solar controller connected to the battery? The answer is yes, it's safe to do so. In fact, it's recommended that the solar controller remain connected to the battery at all times, even when the solar panels are not generating electricity.

Does a charge controller prevent overcharging? ›

A wind-electric charge controller's primary function is to protect your battery bank from overcharging. It does this by monitoring the battery bank—when the bank is fully charged, the controller sends energy from the battery bank to a dump (diversion) load.

What destroys solar batteries? ›

About 80% of failures are caused by sulfation, a process where sulfur crystals form on the battery's lead plates and prevent chemical reactions from happening. Sulfation occurs when the battery has a low charge or electrolyte level.

What is MPPT charge controller in full? ›

MPPT stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking, a technique to regulate the charge of your battery bank. The function of an MPPT charge controller is analogous to the transmission in a car. When the transmission is in the wrong gear, the wheels do not receive maximum power.

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