MPPT Charge Controller
Also known as: solar charge controller, MPPT regulator, solar regulator
A solar charge controller that tracks the panel's maximum power point to extract more usable energy than a basic PWM controller, especially in low light.
MPPT stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking. A solar panel's output voltage shifts with sunlight and temperature; an MPPT controller continuously finds the voltage at which the panel delivers the most power, then converts it down to the battery's charging voltage with little loss.
The practical payoff in a van: an MPPT controller typically harvests noticeably more energy than a cheaper PWM controller — most in cold, bright, or partly shaded conditions, exactly the British weather where every watt counts. You size it by the panel array's wattage and the controller's rated charge current (amps). It is the third pillar of the charging trio alongside the alternator's DC-DC charger and, when on a campsite, mains hook-up.
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Reviewed 2026-06-26 · by Maximus