Pulse width modulation (PWM) charge controllers send out a series of short pulses to charge the battery instead of a steady output. It continually checks the battery status and uses the data to send appropriately-timed and -sized energy pulses. These energy pulses essentially limit the amount of charge that is sent to the batteries
A PWM controller will send a [small] pulse to the battery every few seconds in a fully charged battery with no load. But it would send long, continuous pulses to a discharged battery.
As your battery approaches full charge, a PWM controller slowly reduces the power volume entering the battery. It will continue to supply a small trickle charge to keep the battery topped off after it’s full.
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controllers are more sophisticated. They convert the solar panel’s high voltage power output to a lower voltage. Doing so means your batteries can charge safely, and your devices can access peak power.
So MPPT controllers ensure the output meets the battery’s voltage requirements and that the charge is efficient.
In addition to being a DC-DC voltage converter the MPPT does something very special that its name is derived from, "maximum power point tracking.' What this means is that the MPPT device analyzes the solar panels and determines what the perfect operating voltage should be to maximize power output. It then holds the panels at that and thus increases that panel output. This technology can improve solar panel performance by 30% over a PWM controller... the maximum power point of a solar panel will change depending on light and temperature conditions.
MPPT charge controllers provide greater control in large systems. They’re as much as 30% more efficient than PWM controllers in these applications. They can use the maximum output from your solar panels, while PWM charge controllers cannot.
PWM controllers’ efficiency rating is anywhere from 65-85% and often depends on weather conditions. On the other hand, MPPT controllers give you optimal efficiency from your solar array at all times, even in cooler climates.
https://mortonsonthemove.com/what-is-an-rv-solar-charge-controller/
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