Solar Charge Controllers

Measured efficiency, voltage, current, power, and thermal behavior of MPPT solar charge controllers, tested under identical conditions on our automated test bench.

Sample data. The measurements on this page are generated placeholders used to build the comparison system. They will be replaced with real test-bench runs.

Every controller on this page went through the same procedure on our MPPT Testbench: the bench simulates a solar panel with an ITECH IT6500D-series supply, absorbs the output with a Prodigit 3366G electronic load, and reads input and output power simultaneously on a HIOKI 3193-10 power analyzer. Efficiency is the HIOKI reference reading, not a datasheet value.

For each device we run a 2D sweep across input voltage (60 V up to 150 V, clamped to the device’s rating) and output current, ramped from zero to the device’s maximum. Ambient temperature in the lab is currently around 24 °C; the final revision of the bench will regulate ambient near 30 °C to reflect tropical operating conditions. The raw CSV of every run is published below, so anyone with comparable instruments can reproduce the numbers. The bench software and instrument drivers are open source at git.b4l.co.th/B4L/mppt-testbench.

Reproducible by design

Every device on this page ran the identical, versioned test procedure.

Read the full procedure

Tested devices

	LVSolarBuckbuildfor.life	Sample Controller APlaceholder	Sample Controller BPlaceholder
Topology	3-level flying capacitor buck, GaN FETs	Synchronous buck, silicon FETs	Buck, silicon FETs
Rated output	45 A @ 48 V (2.2 kW)	40 A @ 48 V	30 A @ 48 V
Input voltage	up to 120 V	up to 120 V	up to 120 V
Firmware	Open source, STM32G474	n/a	n/a
Peak efficiency (measured)	98.32 % at 528 W, 120 V in	96.90 % at 622 W, 120 V in	95.53 % at 618 W, 120 V in
Max heatsink temp (measured)	69.6 °C	94.3 °C	108.2 °C
Raw data	Download CSV	Download CSV	Download CSV
Links	Project page

Measurements

Input voltage

Efficiency vs. output power

HIOKI reference reading, P_out / P_in. Click a legend entry to hide a device.

Output voltage vs. output power

Data tables

The full contents of each published CSV, one table per device.

LVSolarBuck (69 rows)

set_vin_V	set_iout_A	vin_V	iin_A	pin_W	vout_V	iout_A	pout_W	eff_pct	t_heatsink_C	t_board_C
60	1	59.826	0.84	50.25	48.177	0.987	47.56	94.65	25.1	26.8
60	3	59.867	2.488	148.94	48.146	3.012	145	97.35	26.6	27.1
60	5	59.82	4.126	246.79	48.156	5.012	241.38	97.81	27.3	27.6
60	7	59.852	5.765	345.06	48.174	7.014	337.9	97.92	28.4	28
60	9	59.809	7.399	442.52	48.159	9.003	433.57	97.98	29.4	29.2
60	11	59.801	9.026	539.78	48.109	10.99	528.72	97.95	30.5	29.5
60	13	59.79	10.682	638.64	48.078	13.004	625.2	97.9	30.9	30.8
60	15	59.827	12.323	737.27	48.081	15.003	721.33	97.84	32.5	30.9
60	17	59.8	13.975	835.7	48.044	16.999	816.71	97.73	34	32.1
60	19	59.814	15.633	935.05	48.076	18.998	913.35	97.68	35.9	33
60	21	59.807	17.286	1033.8	48.041	21.003	1009.01	97.6	37.5	34
60	23	59.769	18.938	1131.93	47.978	23.002	1103.57	97.49	39.7	36
60	25	59.782	20.62	1232.72	48.008	25.007	1200.53	97.39	41.9	37.4
60	27	59.732	22.296	1331.81	47.975	27	1295.32	97.26	44.4	38.4
60	29	59.733	23.99	1433.03	48.002	29.012	1392.61	97.18	46.2	39.7
60	31	59.772	25.615	1531.1	47.969	30.999	1486.97	97.12	48.2	41
60	33	59.76	27.271	1629.73	47.916	32.994	1580.92	97	50.5	42.5
60	35	59.735	28.996	1732.11	47.95	35.009	1678.69	96.92	53.3	45
60	37	59.732	30.658	1831.23	47.898	36.989	1771.73	96.75	56.8	46.6
60	39	59.724	32.338	1931.34	47.862	39.011	1867.15	96.68	59.4	48.4
60	41	59.719	34.014	2031.3	47.861	40.992	1961.89	96.58	62.2	50
60	43	59.702	35.71	2131.96	47.841	42.998	2057.07	96.49	64.8	52.4
60	45	59.728	37.419	2234.97	47.84	44.998	2152.67	96.32	69.6	54.1
90	1	89.845	0.575	51.7	48.157	1.009	48.59	93.99	25.7	27.2
90	3	89.86	1.658	149.03	48.165	3.009	144.93	97.25	26.3	27.3
90	5	89.819	2.74	246.08	48.143	5.003	240.85	97.87	26.6	27.4
90	7	89.822	3.832	344.2	48.145	7.012	337.61	98.08	27.2	28.3
90	9	89.854	4.914	441.51	48.144	9.004	433.47	98.18	28.1	28.3
90	11	89.832	6	539.02	48.142	10.994	529.27	98.19	28.9	28.9
90	13	89.846	7.088	636.79	48.098	12.996	625.07	98.16	30.9	29.4
90	15	89.789	8.185	734.89	48.07	14.998	720.95	98.1	31.8	31
90	17	89.837	9.261	831.94	48.025	16.988	815.87	98.07	32.5	31.3
90	19	89.79	10.374	931.48	48.028	19.004	912.74	97.99	34	32.4
90	21	89.778	11.471	1029.87	48.031	21.004	1008.85	97.96	35.5	32.8
90	23	89.788	12.57	1128.61	48.019	23.006	1104.72	97.88	37.6	33.9
90	25	89.798	13.666	1227.22	47.984	25.014	1200.28	97.8	38.6	34.9
90	27	89.772	14.777	1326.57	47.991	27.014	1296.4	97.73	40.3	36.8
90	29	89.799	15.884	1426.33	48.005	29.004	1392.34	97.62	43.1	37.8
90	31	89.769	16.984	1524.62	47.958	31	1486.74	97.52	45.2	39.4
90	33	89.79	18.076	1623.07	47.913	33.002	1581.22	97.42	47.4	40.8
90	35	89.762	19.195	1722.95	47.912	35.006	1677.24	97.35	49.4	41.9
90	37	89.753	20.317	1823.5	47.933	36.998	1773.39	97.25	51.9	43.7
90	39	89.769	21.402	1921.24	47.881	39.005	1867.56	97.21	53.3	44.7
90	41	89.753	22.54	2023.06	47.889	41.015	1964.16	97.09	56.4	46.6
90	43	89.73	23.652	2122.25	47.882	43.013	2059.54	97.05	58.9	47.8
90	45	89.777	24.762	2223.07	47.871	45.014	2154.89	96.93	61.2	49.3
120	1	119.859	0.434	52.02	48.228	1.004	48.4	93.05	25.7	27.2
120	3	119.857	1.242	148.81	48.15	2.999	144.38	97.02	26.5	27.7
120	5	119.841	2.047	245.34	48.145	4.987	240.09	97.86	26.7	27.3
120	7	119.852	2.866	343.45	48.142	7	336.98	98.11	27.4	28.5
120	9	119.838	3.676	440.49	48.124	8.992	432.73	98.24	28.1	28.3
120	11	119.817	4.486	537.5	48.107	10.986	528.48	98.32	28.9	28.5
120	13	119.855	5.304	635.67	48.058	13.004	624.95	98.31	30	29.7
120	15	119.846	6.129	734.52	48.089	15.012	721.92	98.29	30.6	30.1
120	17	119.795	6.945	832.02	48.051	17.014	817.52	98.26	32	31
120	19	119.804	7.751	928.61	48.009	19.003	912.3	98.24	32.8	31.9
120	21	119.844	8.582	1028.44	48.044	21.012	1009.49	98.16	34.7	31.9
120	23	119.829	9.403	1126.76	48.04	23.013	1105.55	98.12	35.4	32.7
120	25	119.826	10.209	1223.34	48.009	24.989	1199.68	98.07	37.3	33.6
120	27	119.782	11.031	1321.27	47.972	26.992	1294.83	98	38.8	35
120	29	119.787	11.859	1420.58	47.999	28.987	1391.35	97.94	39.9	35.9
120	31	119.77	12.669	1517.36	47.922	30.991	1485.16	97.88	41.9	36.6
120	33	119.806	13.515	1619.15	47.961	33.013	1583.34	97.79	43.8	38.5
120	35	119.793	14.319	1715.33	47.886	35.009	1676.42	97.73	45.6	39.4
120	37	119.79	15.149	1814.72	47.901	37	1772.32	97.66	47.3	41
120	39	119.762	15.986	1914.53	47.873	39.01	1867.51	97.54	49.7	42.3
120	41	119.797	16.804	2013.01	47.881	40.991	1962.72	97.5	52.1	43
120	43	119.765	17.638	2112.37	47.851	43.013	2058.19	97.44	53.4	45.1
120	45	119.791	18.466	2212.02	47.85	45.007	2153.54	97.36	56	46.5

Sample Controller A (60 rows)

set_vin_V	set_iout_A	vin_V	iin_A	pin_W	vout_V	iout_A	pout_W	eff_pct	t_heatsink_C	t_board_C
60	1	59.85	0.904	54.13	47.958	1.009	48.38	89.39	28.4	28
60	3	59.814	2.521	150.77	47.985	2.989	143.42	95.12	29.6	29.3
60	5	59.815	4.155	248.56	47.938	4.99	239.19	96.23	31	30.4
60	7	59.823	5.809	347.52	47.881	7.015	335.86	96.65	32.1	31.2
60	9	59.844	7.459	446.37	47.93	9.014	432.03	96.79	34.1	32
60	11	59.8	9.103	544.34	47.856	11.007	526.74	96.77	36.5	33.5
60	13	59.83	10.757	643.59	47.867	13.005	622.52	96.73	38.3	35.4
60	15	59.829	12.403	742.08	47.798	15.006	717.26	96.66	41.1	37.5
60	17	59.769	14.076	841.3	47.816	16.994	812.59	96.59	43.6	38.7
60	19	59.76	15.771	942.49	47.792	19.015	908.76	96.42	47.3	40.7
60	21	59.798	17.425	1041.96	47.77	21.013	1003.78	96.34	51.2	42.8
60	23	59.77	19.099	1141.56	47.719	23.009	1098	96.18	54	45.1
60	25	59.78	20.774	1241.9	47.684	24.998	1192.03	95.98	59.2	48.6
60	27	59.78	22.46	1342.67	47.673	27.007	1287.49	95.89	62.7	50.6
60	29	59.766	24.188	1445.61	47.68	29.01	1383.19	95.68	68	53.5
60	31	59.75	25.857	1544.93	47.612	31.001	1476.02	95.54	72.6	56.8
60	33	59.725	27.556	1645.79	47.592	32.989	1570.03	95.4	77.4	59.6
60	35	59.758	29.261	1748.61	47.594	35.009	1666.19	95.29	81.2	62.9
60	37	59.747	30.983	1851.15	47.58	36.992	1760.1	95.08	87.6	66.7
60	39	59.728	32.696	1952.9	47.519	38.994	1852.97	94.88	94.3	71
90	1	89.837	0.611	54.86	47.981	1.008	48.36	88.15	28.7	28.6
90	3	89.834	1.682	151.12	47.934	2.988	143.23	94.78	29.6	29.8
90	5	89.823	2.782	249.87	47.929	5.01	240.13	96.1	31	30.4
90	7	89.817	3.871	347.68	47.901	7.009	335.71	96.56	32.3	30.7
90	9	89.833	4.966	446.11	47.9	9.01	431.58	96.74	34.2	32.7
90	11	89.835	6.044	542.96	47.848	10.988	525.77	96.83	35.8	33.1
90	13	89.812	7.162	643.25	47.858	13.009	622.58	96.79	38.1	34.7
90	15	89.801	8.254	741.22	47.84	14.996	717.39	96.79	40.3	36.2
90	17	89.809	9.352	839.87	47.773	17.002	812.23	96.71	43.4	38.7
90	19	89.799	10.47	940.16	47.786	19.008	908.34	96.62	46.1	39.7
90	21	89.826	11.571	1039.4	47.754	21.006	1003.12	96.51	49.3	42.4
90	23	89.792	12.686	1139.08	47.753	22.989	1097.81	96.38	52.5	44.2
90	25	89.812	13.792	1238.7	47.669	25.002	1191.82	96.21	56.5	46.6
90	27	89.779	14.899	1337.59	47.639	26.992	1285.88	96.13	60.2	49.1
90	29	89.762	16.032	1439.08	47.659	28.999	1382.06	96.04	63.7	51.4
90	31	89.754	17.168	1540.87	47.646	31.007	1477.34	95.88	68.8	54.3
90	33	89.762	18.292	1641.94	47.643	33	1572.21	95.75	73.2	56.7
90	35	89.797	19.405	1742.47	47.543	35.012	1664.58	95.53	78.8	60.5
90	37	89.762	20.551	1844.65	47.581	36.997	1760.35	95.43	82.7	63.4
90	39	89.74	21.681	1945.62	47.559	38.991	1854.38	95.31	88.4	66.7
120	1	119.841	0.464	55.57	47.976	1.011	48.51	87.3	28.9	29
120	3	119.875	1.269	152.07	47.996	2.993	143.64	94.46	29.7	29.5
120	5	119.816	2.081	249.36	47.955	4.987	239.15	95.91	31.6	30.6
120	7	119.844	2.897	347.14	47.945	6.989	335.08	96.53	32.4	30.9
120	9	119.856	3.721	445.94	47.884	9.011	431.5	96.76	34.1	32
120	11	119.841	4.53	542.88	47.836	10.987	525.57	96.81	36.1	33.9
120	13	119.831	5.357	641.93	47.831	13.004	622.01	96.9	38.3	35
120	15	119.8	6.189	741.46	47.849	15.004	717.95	96.83	40.9	36.7
120	17	119.851	7.001	839.02	47.808	16.994	812.43	96.83	42.6	37.4
120	19	119.836	7.828	938.02	47.764	18.994	907.2	96.71	45.6	39.8
120	21	119.836	8.654	1037.05	47.713	21.012	1002.56	96.67	48.2	41.3
120	23	119.84	9.492	1137.51	47.739	23	1098	96.53	51.3	43.9
120	25	119.821	10.318	1236.35	47.692	24.997	1192.16	96.43	54.6	45.7
120	27	119.81	11.142	1334.97	47.652	26.998	1286.51	96.37	58	47.5
120	29	119.795	11.984	1435.67	47.637	29.003	1381.61	96.23	62.2	50.2
120	31	119.8	12.832	1537.29	47.647	30.998	1476.97	96.08	66.2	53.2
120	33	119.81	13.645	1634.82	47.568	32.987	1569.14	95.98	69.7	55.8
120	35	119.802	14.498	1736.94	47.559	35.004	1664.74	95.84	74.2	58.2
120	37	119.763	15.363	1839.91	47.572	37.004	1760.32	95.67	79.3	61.4
120	39	119.802	16.177	1938.01	47.501	38.989	1852.02	95.56	84.4	64.6

Sample Controller B (45 rows)

set_vin_V	set_iout_A	vin_V	iin_A	pin_W	vout_V	iout_A	pout_W	eff_pct	t_heatsink_C	t_board_C
60	1	59.856	0.939	56.2	47.791	1.006	48.09	85.56	31.8	29.8
60	3	59.843	2.583	154.55	47.741	3.009	143.67	92.96	33.5	32.2
60	5	59.808	4.221	252.47	47.679	5.001	238.42	94.44	36.3	34
60	7	59.818	5.873	351.33	47.622	7.004	333.55	94.94	40.2	35.6
60	9	59.799	7.544	451.13	47.643	9	428.81	95.05	44.2	38.4
60	11	59.787	9.204	550.26	47.592	10.999	523.45	95.13	47.7	40.7
60	13	59.82	10.883	651.04	47.543	13.014	618.71	95.03	53.4	43.5
60	15	59.775	12.562	750.88	47.501	15.008	712.91	94.94	58.4	46.3
60	17	59.785	14.227	850.55	47.435	16.99	805.91	94.75	64.2	50.2
60	19	59.781	15.948	953.41	47.437	19.014	901.97	94.6	70.1	53.8
60	21	59.81	17.637	1054.88	47.417	21.012	996.32	94.45	76.8	58.4
60	23	59.793	19.332	1155.92	47.377	22.985	1088.97	94.21	83.9	62.6
60	25	59.78	21.011	1256	47.262	25.003	1181.7	94.08	90.9	67
60	27	59.762	22.769	1360.72	47.291	26.99	1276.4	93.8	99.5	72.4
60	29	59.766	24.486	1463.4	47.223	28.998	1369.38	93.57	108.2	77.2
90	1	89.875	0.626	56.24	47.798	0.996	47.6	84.65	31.9	30.7
90	3	89.819	1.716	154.1	47.72	3	143.16	92.9	33.9	31.7
90	5	89.868	2.806	252.21	47.735	4.988	238.08	94.4	37	33.4
90	7	89.823	3.899	350.22	47.643	6.987	332.87	95.05	39.5	35.8
90	9	89.811	5.004	449.43	47.593	8.99	427.86	95.2	43.9	37.5
90	11	89.808	6.108	548.52	47.583	10.993	523.07	95.36	46.7	40
90	13	89.816	7.21	647.56	47.53	12.986	617.21	95.31	50.9	42.3
90	15	89.793	8.345	749.35	47.536	15.007	713.38	95.2	56.5	45.3
90	17	89.842	9.452	849.22	47.443	17.007	806.87	95.01	62	49.2
90	19	89.802	10.565	948.74	47.408	18.999	900.7	94.94	67.5	52.5
90	21	89.799	11.683	1049.16	47.358	21	994.52	94.79	73.1	55.6
90	23	89.791	12.825	1151.57	47.371	22.99	1089.04	94.57	80	60.1
90	25	89.777	13.959	1253.22	47.27	25.015	1182.43	94.35	87.4	65
90	27	89.78	15.083	1354.19	47.224	27.002	1275.12	94.16	95.3	68.9
90	29	89.778	16.228	1456.91	47.208	29.013	1369.64	94.01	102.1	73.9
120	1	119.86	0.47	56.34	47.814	0.993	47.49	84.3	31.6	30.3
120	3	119.85	1.292	154.8	47.74	3.008	143.6	92.76	33.7	32.4
120	5	119.862	2.109	252.78	47.666	5.01	238.82	94.48	36.7	33.1
120	7	119.82	2.921	350.02	47.645	6.99	333.06	95.15	39.1	35
120	9	119.819	3.746	448.9	47.606	8.996	428.25	95.4	43	37.3
120	11	119.825	4.568	547.32	47.578	10.987	522.73	95.51	46.6	39.8
120	13	119.832	5.4	647.08	47.515	13.01	618.18	95.53	50.2	41.9
120	15	119.815	6.238	747.43	47.527	15.012	713.48	95.46	54.7	44.1
120	17	119.8	7.057	845.47	47.487	16.989	806.74	95.42	58.4	47.3
120	19	119.797	7.905	946.97	47.407	19.015	901.44	95.19	65.4	50.6
120	21	119.796	8.744	1047.48	47.402	21.012	996.02	95.09	70.4	53.7
120	23	119.829	9.575	1147.33	47.364	23.005	1089.64	94.97	75.9	57.1
120	25	119.831	10.407	1247.09	47.318	24.995	1182.69	94.84	81.9	61.6
120	27	119.803	11.247	1347.4	47.231	27.004	1275.43	94.66	88.5	65.1
120	29	119.777	12.087	1447.73	47.197	28.99	1368.24	94.51	95.4	69.6

Device notes

LVSolarBuck

Prototype revision measured on the bench that produced the published milestone data. Peak efficiency 97.96 % near 330 W at 60 V input, 97.36 % at the full-power point of 45 A at 120 V input.

Sample Controller A

Generated placeholder data shaped like a typical mid-range synchronous buck controller. Swap this entry for a real device after its bench run.

Sample Controller B

Generated placeholder data shaped like a budget controller with a smaller heatsink. Swap this entry for a real device after its bench run.