MPPT Controllers (small capacity) are few and far between and expensive. Several are actually PWM, are falsely marketed as MPPT, making the situation complicated. A MPPT controller can produce about 30% more power from a given solar panel during the summer months and about 10% more during the winter months. But it may be difficult to justify the substantial cost increase for smaller panels -- ask the question are you better off spending $100 more for a MPPT controller to get 3 watts more out of a 10 watt panel, or spending $100 to buy a 20 watt panel?
The BuddiPole charge controller may be ideal for a KX3 user. It is very small, will work with LiFePO4 batteries or SLAs, and it isn't particularly expensive. But as others have said, using a charge controller is critical. http://www.buddipole.com/sobaco.html 73, Bob, WB4SON ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
