Electrical · Power Generation & Conversion
Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) Charger
Intermediate 5 weeks 35-50 hours
Build MPPT controller for solar panel. Implement algorithm to extract maximum power. Auto-adjust load. Show efficiency gains vs fixed load.
Major
Electrical
Focus area
Power Generation & Conversion
Total hours
35-50 hours
What you'll need
- 50W 12V monocrystalline solar panel
- MPPT solar charge controller 20A 12V
- LiFePO4 12V rechargeable battery
- 16x2 LCD display module with I2C for Arduino
- DC electronic load module constant current tester
Shop the parts on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Steps
- Measure the panel's I-V curve so you know where the maximum power point should be.
- Connect the panel, MPPT charge controller, battery, and electronic load.
- Program the Arduino to run a perturb-and-observe MPPT routine that adjusts the load to find peak power.
- Compare power captured with MPPT against a fixed load over the same period.
- Test performance as sunlight changes during the day.
- Chart the efficiency gain and document the build for your portfolio.
What to photograph for your portfolio
- Real-time power tracking
- efficiency comparison
- charging curves
- battery voltage profile
- energy gain
Resume bullet starters
Copy one, then swap in your own numbers.
Designed and built a maximum power point tracker (mppt) charger using MPPT algorithms, Arduino, power electronics
Applied renewable optimization to implement, test, and validate the system end-to-end
Skills you'll show off
MPPT algorithmsArduinopower electronicsrenewable optimization