PWM
Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is a technique used to control the amount of power delivered to a load by modulating the width of pulses in a signal. It is widely used in various applications such as motor speed control, LED dimming, and communication systems.
In PWM, a fixed-frequency signal switches between high and low states. The ratio of the time the signal remains high (on) to the total period of the signal is called the duty cycle, expressed as a percentage. A higher duty cycle delivers more power to the load, while a lower duty cycle delivers less. PWM is efficient because the switching devices (like transistors) operate in fully on or off states, minimizing energy loss.
MPPT
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is a technique used in solar inverters and charge controllers to ensure that a solar panel operates at its maximum power point, thereby maximizing the energy harvest from the solar panels. It continuously adjusts the electrical operating point of the modules to deliver the highest possible power output. Essentially, it helps to optimize the performance of the solar power system by adapting to varying sunlight conditions, temperature, and other factors.