What? A video on friday? Long story short, I will be going on vacation tomorrow and take a small break from producing videos. So this is basically the video for sunday. But don't be scared, there will probably be another video ready for the next sunday.
@manar61877 жыл бұрын
Enjoy your holidays Scott!
@shubhamgiri58017 жыл бұрын
GreatScott! where are you gonna go.
@pulkittyagi4967 жыл бұрын
sir you are making a ordinary person a engineer
@alinbostan45697 жыл бұрын
Enjoy your vacation !!! Thanks for video, and i will see you next time !!!!
@badraa78387 жыл бұрын
GreatScott! Man your videos are awesome!!!!
@invictu44883 жыл бұрын
4 years later this information is still gold... Anyone else admiring the neatness of his handwriting? That alone makes the video more plausible and the results from the calculations, as well as his conclusions more believable. 😃
@rmsalkin Жыл бұрын
I couldn't agree more.
@Kabodanki7 жыл бұрын
for some reason I find this really satisfying seeing your face saying "Stay creative and I will see you next time"
@Jajaho27 жыл бұрын
Sapher me too, it's so weird
@shahidmohamed82107 жыл бұрын
Sapher oh, me too
@weasel2htm7 жыл бұрын
Agreed, it's great to see his face. More (for lack of a better word) "Personable" that way
@djfmitv7 жыл бұрын
Finally, a face to the voice - love your videos :)
@skychen85655 жыл бұрын
factory whatsapp+8613798209142
@proyectosledar7 жыл бұрын
Nice to see you on friday!!!!
@proyectosledar7 жыл бұрын
can you use grid tie inverter?
@manar61877 жыл бұрын
Te le adelantaste a Scott con la energía solar eh! jaja, abrazo!
@powerwall6 жыл бұрын
www.amazon.com/dp/B0778D7SP9
@id1043354097 жыл бұрын
The final calculations were shocking to me, but they confirmed how AWESOME you are to not hesitate to show real numbers even if you don't like the outcome. Keeping it real! I like that!
@nathandtanner5 жыл бұрын
Mppt really comes into its own with larger systems where the PV voltage is configured to be much higher than the battery through series connection of panels. In either case though, the energy harvested over the whole day will be significantly greater with a good mppt controller. Really enjoyed the video mate, cheers!
@MasterXXL34 жыл бұрын
Something that you didn't mention is the main function of the MPPT is to vary the voltage or current in order to maximize the power generated depending on the temperature and irradiance of the PV panels. This is specially important during days with lots of clouds in the sky since partial shading of panels can really decrease the power generation if this is not compensated by an MPPT module.
@TheKillerjohny7 жыл бұрын
Yep he is human after all. Just like everyone else. Do not panic people.
@micahmills75167 жыл бұрын
You forgot one of the most important points about MPPT vs PWM! Most PWM controllers will not work until the output voltage of the panel reaches a certain voltage, but a MPPT panel can boost low panel output during early morning and evening sunlight. This means that you get more hours of battery charging during the day from MPPT instead of PWM.
@MTMiser5 жыл бұрын
That might be important for grid-tied systems or any system that needs to maximize watts all day long, but for many people who are using solar on RVs or off-grid if they're still desperate for watts at the end of the day they've got their system sized way too small. The PWM system on my camper starts charging the moment the sun is on the horizon and my batteries are fully charged by 10 am to noon on sunny days. By the end of the day I don't care if it's getting any watts at all since it's just been throwing them away all afternoon anyway. On cloudy days when charging is minimal, yeah, maybe that would make a bit of a difference. But I prefer to have enough amp hours in the battery bank to last at least 5 days without any charging at all, to guard against running out of power in case of multiple cloudy days, etc. PWM has worked fine for me for ten years now and it saved money over going with MPPT. Everyone should do the math for their particular system. Sometimes MPPT is the only way to go, but sometimes not.
@stopPlannedObsolescence5 жыл бұрын
@@MTMiser do u know how i can use a system without batteries ? iwanna just work for my fridge in the ligthday
@MTMiser5 жыл бұрын
@@stopPlannedObsolescence You would need to know how much power your fridge pulls, especially on startup. I'm assuming it's a residential fridge? Those pull a lot of amps on startup. Then you need enough solar panel wattage to handle that and an inverter to convert the solar array's voltage to whatever voltage the fridge runs on (120, 240?). But I think you'd be better off with a battery bank. Otherwise the power would fluctuate every time a cloud passes over. I would think that could damage the fridge's motor over time.
@stopPlannedObsolescence5 жыл бұрын
@@MTMiser thank so much mate,yeah so with this point of view, i think is better a bank batteries that support the peak and the consume required for 1 hour like minimum ,or another idea is a onGrid system for reducing my kw/h just for startting in this world.ty and escuse me for my bad english heheh
@yourTuBaer5 жыл бұрын
@@stopPlannedObsolescence If you would not want to use a battery (can't recommend) you better use a peltier fridge. It does run on 12V and it will not stop running if too less power (like a 12v compressor fridge)
@seinosatoshi69717 жыл бұрын
I saw you face GreatScott at first time. Thank you very much great video every times. Especially I love your schematics drawing beauty. Thank a lot.
@dalahmah5 жыл бұрын
I think the true value of the MPPT will become apparent when there is partial shading on the solar panel or when it is cloudy.
@genuino-qo5yq7 жыл бұрын
Can't wait for a diy mppt charge controller...
@greatscottlab7 жыл бұрын
It will happen....but not soon.
@nightmareinaction6297 жыл бұрын
GreatScott! awww
@Markle2k7 жыл бұрын
It's not a complex idea. Construct a graph of your panels' voltage vs. current. You want to have the line from the origin to your panels position on the Current/Voltage diagram have its maximum length. Equivalently, find the point on the curve where the tangent's normal passes through the origin. The issue is that the curve changes shape as illumination changes (you really need a 3-D map if you wanted to do it like your car's ECU) and an iterative approach is needed. The simplest is this: change the voltage on the input by varying the duty cycle on the controller. If this increases the power, do it again and again until it doesn't. Repeat every few intervals or when a large excursion happens on the input power.
@tubamacmac7 жыл бұрын
There is even a chip that he could base a circuit off of.
@techs55646 жыл бұрын
GreatScott! i made one. not effective but working.
@geraldhenrickson74725 жыл бұрын
For many people the solar efficiency is not a monetary matter. Instead...it is their only way to obtain any energy so the extra power you can capture on any given day is priceless. Nice video!
@StreuB17 жыл бұрын
GREAT VIDEO!!! And I agree with everyone else. SO GLAD you finally came in front of the camera!!! :-D
@322doug5 жыл бұрын
Great video...thanks. Im a EE and q General class radio operator. I built a 125aH portable battery power box, for my power needs outdoors for long weekends operating radios and everything else I needed for my comfort...fan, lamps ect ect. I use a $15 no name charge controller now for about 6 years of regular use. It performs very well.
@groingo5 жыл бұрын
One thing you neglected with the first PWM controller has a variable input power setting from 13.7 (default) to 15 volts, the 15 volt setting would bring in not 3 amps but upwards of 16 amps depending and your current battery charge state.
@RandomElectronics17 жыл бұрын
Please take apart the cheap charge controllers!
@RodLucanor4 жыл бұрын
My sincere respects for this guy who take seriously efficiency analitical energy costs. You are a true hero. Cheers from Argentina!!
@kokopelli3146 жыл бұрын
I purchased some MPT7210a controllers, mostly because I use a mix of 230w, 285w, 300w panels charging a 60v LiFePO4 stack. It's fun to watch them compete with one another to push current into the batteries when the system is under load
@NavinChoubeyB7 жыл бұрын
finally got to see man behind such a great show, thanks for being inspiration for plenty of my diy projects.
@greatscottlab7 жыл бұрын
+Navin Choubey No problem :-)
@samarasaunders67947 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for making a video about this! I've been scavenging parts to build a portable solar generator for a while now. This video was VERY helpful! P.S. It depends how damp your garage is and how cold that block wall gets in the winter but keep an eye on those exposed terminals they can corrode quite quickly if condensation is present. If that happens adding a plywood backboard and/or some dielectric grease should remedy the problem. I see it alot in mains electrical panels.
@whatworkedforme2 жыл бұрын
good call @Samara Saunders - Installation is as important as compatibility and other tech stuff. I have seen expensive equipment (not speaking of solar specifically) fail due to corrosion, within a year, through damp getting into low power circuitry. Things start getting weird (unreliable) first then failing completely.
@intixshintei54295 жыл бұрын
Thought great scott was around 40. Not disappointed
@workrelatedgmailaccount43786 жыл бұрын
As I am sure you know, but did not state for the video, the MPPT really begins to shine when you hook up the panels in series. Increased panel voltage is less loss in the wires and the MPPT can convert the higher voltage.
@philippbayer7976 жыл бұрын
I also have a small solar off-grid system and I used a PWM charge controller from Steca for a long time. This charge controller is absolutely great for small solar systems and its of high quality as well. But I also bought the MPPT charge controller from Victron with a integrated bluetooth module and it works just fine. I think a PWM charge controller from a well known brand like Steca is a safe choice unless you want to build a bigger solar system.
@aiman_rzn7 жыл бұрын
Video quality just got better, keep it up scott
@ahmedrisha7 жыл бұрын
first time to see great Scott face not disappointed at all. looks awesome dude 😉
@mundo_electronica7 жыл бұрын
Great video to watch on a Friday, regards Scott!
@NityanandaHazarika7 жыл бұрын
Good to see you after a long time.
@BeezyKing993 жыл бұрын
although I've only subbed recently.... now i finally find the video that reveals the face behind the voice... so clear yet concise... overall I gotta admit I am learning from your content as time goes on.
@lubricatedgoat7 жыл бұрын
Dude... you look much younger than I imagined. So wise for your years!
@NNNILabs7 жыл бұрын
There's a reason why people say 'Thank God its Friday' and today I realized why.
@alexstrings4 жыл бұрын
Is because you are a cheap slave. Work for yourself or be a slave
@attackaffection54443 жыл бұрын
@@alexstrings bro he meant that Friday because of the fact that this video released on a Friday which was "Out Of Schedule"
@alexstrings3 жыл бұрын
@@attackaffection5444 sorry, i was in troll mode that day😂😂😂😂
@attackaffection54443 жыл бұрын
@@alexstrings oh well nvm ok lol😂
@alexstrings3 жыл бұрын
@@attackaffection5444 lol ok!
@norvinsakiral44505 жыл бұрын
This is my first time to watch your video with you in the front explaining anything.
@leroywarner73544 жыл бұрын
Excellent both in writing and in verbalizing clear into the point
@dennissimmons37306 жыл бұрын
This is not what I thought great Scott would look like
@Taikausko7 жыл бұрын
OMG I thought you are middle aged guy with this knowledge :o You really have done your lessons and research well!
@wa9kzy3265 жыл бұрын
This is a really good presentation. You have included considerations that nobody else has thought of. Good work.
@shermluge7 жыл бұрын
I've watched many (but not all) of your videos, and this is the first time I've actually seen your face!! But Thank you.. You confirmed with what I thought on my small project and I appreciate it.
@bluesquadron5937 жыл бұрын
Great to meet you in "person"!
@ExarchNZ7 жыл бұрын
I also like the talking to the camera video format.
@martinverkaik31365 жыл бұрын
That handwriting is so satisfying..
@zero2011zero20117 жыл бұрын
Finally, we find you in front of camera
@stratismiritzis2857 жыл бұрын
I prefer those kind of talking to the camera videos
@jedoTAck7 жыл бұрын
MPPT vs PWM what you miss: the difference in efficency =( vPanelMPP - vBat)/100% (-power comsumption of the charger) This means if you have 2 panels in series with a 12 v lead acid battery the difference would be way higher. In short: the more your panel voltage missmatches your battery voltage, the more you want to use mppt.
@rm6857 Жыл бұрын
True, which panels did he used?
@ErikThiart Жыл бұрын
So young. So stress free. Ah 5 years ago, simpler times.
@MTMiser5 жыл бұрын
Great video, GreatScott! It's great to see somebody saying to do the math before choosing between MPPT and PWM. It seems a lot of people think MPPT is more efficient than PWM so that's all you need to know - go with MPPT! But PWM makes sense for many people. You really have to do the math for your particular system in addition to taking other factors into consideration (like build quality, etc.). I built a solar system for my truck camper back in 2009. I wanted to go with a high quality charge controller so I bought a Morningstar PWM. It cost me $155 US but it is a solid, excellent quality controller that is still working flawlessly today. The MPPT version of the same controller was almost $380, $225 more than the PWM version. I added an extra solar panel to my array to make up for the difference between PWM and MPPT. The MPPT controller would have given me 39% more watts to my batteries (at the most, not all the time). The extra panel gave me 36% more wattage, so nearly the same advantage. And the extra panel was $100 instead of the extra $225 for the MPPT controller. So it saved me $125 over going with MPPT. And for 9 years now the system has been working great.
@johnphillip63284 жыл бұрын
Let's us be honest Great Scott is the best
@GuzLightyear7 жыл бұрын
Finally I can put a face to the voice!
@sebincjose94747 жыл бұрын
o my God. U came infant of camera
@sebincjose94747 жыл бұрын
sorry I just saw that now
@Aperson-sv2hc7 жыл бұрын
That's a pretty big infant.
@sebincjose94747 жыл бұрын
he don't sound like so
@doormattde7 жыл бұрын
Sebin C Jose *doesn't
@id1043354097 жыл бұрын
Sebin C Jose I guest* he did
@22smudger6 жыл бұрын
Interestingly - I nearly bought one of those cheap Chinese eBay controllers, thinking it was an extremely cheap MPPT type - but after challenging the seller, he admitted it is actually a PWM controller (probably worth about $10) in an MPPT type case - the case even has MPPT in the model number. If you looked closely at the photo of the display, it actually said PWM - not that you can trust the photos on Chinese eBay listings either - that’s ONE of the ways they manage to cut costs - by blatant misrepresentation - that it seems eBay has no interest in regulating.
@threedogsandacamper5036 жыл бұрын
Excellent explanation and comparison! I don’t feel so bad about my cheap PWM controller for now but may upgrade to a better quality unit later.
@alexandruclaudiu25636 жыл бұрын
Uei! Finally I see the man behind the voice. Thank you for the video. All together, what I think in the end is that it does not mater if a solar panel can produce energy for 25 years if a solar charge controller need to be replaced after some years (meaning more money) and if you consider the price of energy you will get in the same price as if you paid the monthly bill. I like solar but I have doubts about the final cost.
@acgkplh5 жыл бұрын
Crazy! Never thought you looked like that. It's great to see the face behind the videos 👍
@leventebalogh52587 жыл бұрын
I have the same victron charger and also had a couple of cheap pwm chargers like these. the real benefit of using an mppt charger is when the sky is cloudy it produces a lot more energy than a pwm charger
@shinesanthosh7 жыл бұрын
Happy to see your face again
@FloatingIdeasonanarrowboat2 жыл бұрын
The really important reason to get an MPPT is because you can fully utilise standard mass produced panels that output much higher voltages than ones designed for 12V use. A panel giving 36V pp would waste two thirds if charging a 12V by PWM. It's the stepdown that's the key to making use of cheaper solar panels.
@Doeff83 жыл бұрын
Finally I see a video that starts with our hero GreatSCott himself!
@davidgolden60683 жыл бұрын
That is some A+ penmanship
@FappyGnome7 жыл бұрын
This is a really good video, keep them up like this man. It's good to see your channel evolve
@AnubhabKundu5 жыл бұрын
felt good to see my guide's face!
@Hobbies-and-Experiments5 жыл бұрын
I have that cheep black pwm controller on a 300w 3 panel solar system, Charging four 6v batteries wired in series and parallel to give a 12v block at 450Ah, each 6v = 225Ah ive had it for 2 years now and was going to get a mppt controller but after seeing this video i don't think i will bother :) thanks for sharing this info.
@KarmusDK6 жыл бұрын
Thank you for showcasing and explaining the different concepts so easily in this video.
@fieldsofomagh7 жыл бұрын
Enjoy your vacation, you deserve it for all your efforts !!
@succuvamp_anna7 жыл бұрын
I like this format with the intro and outros, nice touch!
@SoloRobot7 жыл бұрын
finally we saw your face
@Markle2k7 жыл бұрын
The other thing you should consider is your monetary investment in the solar panels. The PWM controller require an array that is nearly 20% larger to compensate for their inefficiency if your situation requires x number of watt-hours/day.
@ahmedmani10517 жыл бұрын
holy shit iv been watching greatscott for 2 years and i always thought his blonde and wear a glass i was like dammmn
@rohandvivedi7 жыл бұрын
I don't know if you have appeared on your channel before I subscribed to it. but It is great to see you, generally I think great scott with flashing LEDs only. I always thought of you a mentor, and your projects inspired me.
@ervivekchoubey5 жыл бұрын
Hello German Engineer, nice to see you.
@aaronb4837 жыл бұрын
I appreciate your practical view of the two type of charger
@jakob13796 жыл бұрын
Oh god.. First time actually seeing the guy. Thought he was much much older 😂😂😂
@ABID57 жыл бұрын
nice to see you scott.
@FJB2024_7 жыл бұрын
I always appreciate the formulas and detail! excellent work as always. that guy about the Stirling engine has an interesting point to followup on.
@Inesophet7 жыл бұрын
Great video, in my experience a propper battery is more important. There are many cheapo solutions outthere but there build quality REALLY matters.
@trengineer53487 жыл бұрын
i still dont understand how he can write that much well by holding that pen like that :D you're really great "GreatScott" :D
@CagnPolat7 жыл бұрын
Thank you for the video. But I have to add that ,the temperature and total flux are two major parameters that should be taken account in order to determining which controller is the best. These two parameters make the bluestar mppt charge controller more valuable, especially in the low light flux and high temperature limits.
@quentinrufin40256 жыл бұрын
Great video. Comparing the price of electricity with the price of MPPT/PWM only makes sens if you have access to electricity from the grid. When people are living off the grid, they tend to be more interrested to produce more electricity in order to not run out of juice.
@nicoras88036 жыл бұрын
Turn the PWM voltage up and the current will increase. You can take the battery voltage to 14.4V
@RumblePirate5 жыл бұрын
Nice surprise to see you, awesome work you are doing mate... Helps a lot to nerds like me
@Destructor4296 жыл бұрын
I have and use both of those Chinese solar controllers in my RV's and like them both. However the first one (Beige in color) is fully programmable and works amazing for what you pay . I used it in my last RV for 4 years with 200 watts in panels and 4 X 6 volt Trojan T105 batteries (wired to 2 - 12 volt banks). The one and only downfall I experienced was when the batteries are fully charged at 13.6 or 13.8 volts the charger said you were at %80. You had to turn up the cut out to 14.6 volts for it to read %100 and then of course the batteries would be boiling. I just locked my cut off to 13.4 and ran it like that for 4 years. When I sold that RV and bought my next one I went with the second one you tested. The Black controller. Because ...... Well it was pretty. It charges great but has no adjustable parameters and pumps the batteries to 14 volts and holds them there. I have some people say that is fine but I honestly do not like it that high. The reason I like these Chinese chargers is because they are cheap and they have full read outs on them without having to buy some ridiculous blue tooth module. That is just my personal experience other people may have different opinions.
@xMalhardeshmukh7 жыл бұрын
great to see you in front of the camera
@oskarogarp7 жыл бұрын
what an absolute hunk! great vid
@chandrurn5 жыл бұрын
What!!!! You got to be kidding dude, ohhh man you got a deep voice. we all thought that you were in your 40's, goddamm unbelievable even in screen we all feel that the voice was dubbed. Great, henceforth shoot videos with you on screen, you are too much talent dude, keep it up and let's all be creative with you, we would be glad to see you on screen every time.
@mquintus36817 жыл бұрын
just a suggestion: whenever possible crimp your stranded type wires. It might not make much of a difference with new wires, but as soon as some strands start to corrode, you'll lose effective diameter. Plus it makes repetitive "screwing around" (pun intended, hehe) easier and less harsh on the strands - Cheers from Trier
@petermuller50317 жыл бұрын
Thank you really much for the comparison! This helped me a lot. I think I will firstly get a PWM-Controller, since they are not that expensive and I can always upgrade to an MPPT-Controller later down the road. Enjoy your vacation!
@derekvanderbyl46 жыл бұрын
Was just browsing for controllers on eBay and wondering about the price differences. Great video - thanks!
@NotSleepy7 жыл бұрын
nice to see you on camera. great job..
@wickieworld7 жыл бұрын
Thank you so much for this. I know product reviews are not really your thing, but this was totally relevant. I hope to see additional videos like this in the future.
@k1ngjulien_7 жыл бұрын
HERE IN MY GARAGE JUST GOT THESE NEW SOLAR CHARGE CONROLLERS!
@Azam_Pakistan2 жыл бұрын
Beautiful handwriting.
@stanleytolle4165 жыл бұрын
Now $8 to $15 for PWM on eBay for 10A. There are even some MPPT ones for like $35 or so. Yes some of these are not PWM or MPPT but junk. However there are some that do past review tests. Really teardown examinations are needed. PWM needs the electronics to modulate pulses while MPPT needs at least one inductor to do DC voltage conversion. These units are not that efficient but they do the job on small systems. Like a my 50w RV battery maintainer controlled by a $10 PWM. Essentially keeps the battery from overcharging and enables me to run lights, cell phone charger and vent fan with out having to run the engine every day. For $10 it does the job with the intent to replace it when it dies which I expect. With the PWM keep the cell voltage near what your battery needs while higher for the MPPT converter. Yes a good MPPT would be more efficient but will not make much difference with something so small.
@smlunchen77897 жыл бұрын
I had the white china-model in use for appr. 3/4 year. Pretty much the same setup, 100W solar Panel and approx. 70AH battery. It worked so far, but I did not trust it. It was rated 20Amps, but I put a 15 Amp preliminary fuse in series with the controller, and the solar Panel. The load got a 10Amp one. - I don't would recommend pushing these things to the limit. Last week I relaced the controller with the much nicer MPPT you showed in your offgrid Video. This is a very nice controller. I like the bluetooth features, nice for tracking the data.
@kimo46463 жыл бұрын
Good work ... Now I'm going to change my charge controller to mppt 🇰🇪
@AmplifierWorld5 жыл бұрын
Feel good to hear you, also to see you
@Nono-hk3is7 жыл бұрын
If you use the cost of power available from the electrical service as a comparison point for deciding how much to pay for a solar charge controller, you should include the non-recurring cost of hooking up to the service. You can't actually get power at that price until you've incurred the price of hookup. Otherwise, if service hookup is not an option, then it becomes a simple decision of whether you need the additional power provided by the better controller.
@jeoffer6 жыл бұрын
The cost-benefit of upgrading to an MPPT should also be considered. The size of the solar panel system does affect any decision. If your solar panel system is small the money saved using a PWM may be better spent on adding extra solar panels. For me, I got much better outcome by adding a 100-watt panel for $80 rather than spending $130 on a new MPPT. I doubled my system size to 200 watts for less than an MPPT. An MPPT would have only given me an extra 10 watts and have cost more. By using a PWM for $20 instead of a $130 MPPT I was able to add another 100-watt solar panel for $80. However, for those with a larger solar panel system, it is cheaper to have an MPPT as the 10% efficiency gained would be cheaper than adding more panels. Eg: MPPT giving an extra 10 % watts from a 2,000watt system is an extra 200 watts. Lastly, the other thing when considering adding extra panels is that it would require more space on the roof plus the cost of wire, connectors, additional mounting racks.
@houlej197 жыл бұрын
his face?
@greatscottlab7 жыл бұрын
Yes, that is my face.
@houlej197 жыл бұрын
GreatScott! that's not how I imagined you
@TheAscBroth7 жыл бұрын
I thought it was a man that was like 50 lol
@hilmialbums26927 жыл бұрын
+GreatScott! pascal?
@WannabeSpaceman7 жыл бұрын
GreatScott! dude you're handsome as fuck
@shanefrisby19032 жыл бұрын
Love your handwriting - so neat😃
@samuelbudiyanto97193 жыл бұрын
As long I use 200WP Solar Panel on the roof and take 3 years experience, I throw away the PWM Charging Controller, even the MPPT not enough good for me. I just put simply BUCK CONVERTER, convert the sunlight to the Battery with CC-CV 13.9V and limiting the current at 7A to 12A. Leave the Buck Converter doing the job, never having issues for that. As far I know, it just more more efficient than the kind of charging controller. Put simple digital Voltmeter-Ammeter for the battery and enjoy for years with simple and cheap way.
@amargura77 жыл бұрын
i was surprise he showed his self on youtube
@LeelaKrishnaPakanati7 жыл бұрын
I love the low-key->high-key disdain towards cheap Chinese electronics he shows