Amps are a measure how many electrons are flowing, current, analogous to measuring gallons per minute of water flow.
Volts measure how much energy each electron contains, analogous to water pressure.
Solar panels only put as much energy into each electron, volts, as necessary to move them into the destination (battery) but not to exceed the "deadhead" capacity of the panel and sun available. The solar panels unused capacity to add additional energy (actual voltage versus "deadhead") is not utilized and so "lost". An MPPT controller creates a temporary new destination of higher voltage than the battery and then steps down the extra volts to create additional amps going out to the battery.
Water systems use a variety of "devices" to control pressure (volts) and flow (amps) like pipe size, valves, pumps, water tanks... The MPPT equivalent for water flow is called a "water hammer pump" where more gallons at low pressure flow through the "water hammer" and create a new lower flow at higher pressure (invented many years ago). A battery is equivalent to a water tank on top of a hill. A solar panel would be equivalent to a water pump.
Watts is a definition (or tool) used in calculations to solve the law of physics that "energy must be conserved, neither created nor destroyed". Outcome calculations use several equations at the same time, conservation of energy equation combined with operating characteristics of the device equations.
I still have no opinion on FWC camper electric systems. I balanced out my system prior to purchase and it has worked fine in the field since thanks to no bad connections between the truck and camper.
"Lost" and "missing" watts occur more than most folks are aware. If a battery charges at 13.6 volts and discharges at 12.6 volts, then some watts are "missing". Charging and discharging a battery creates heat, a warmer battery, and this comes at the expense of "lost" input watts of about 10%, i.e. we get 10% fewer watts out of our battery than we put in.
Volts measure how much energy each electron contains, analogous to water pressure.
Solar panels only put as much energy into each electron, volts, as necessary to move them into the destination (battery) but not to exceed the "deadhead" capacity of the panel and sun available. The solar panels unused capacity to add additional energy (actual voltage versus "deadhead") is not utilized and so "lost". An MPPT controller creates a temporary new destination of higher voltage than the battery and then steps down the extra volts to create additional amps going out to the battery.
Water systems use a variety of "devices" to control pressure (volts) and flow (amps) like pipe size, valves, pumps, water tanks... The MPPT equivalent for water flow is called a "water hammer pump" where more gallons at low pressure flow through the "water hammer" and create a new lower flow at higher pressure (invented many years ago). A battery is equivalent to a water tank on top of a hill. A solar panel would be equivalent to a water pump.
Watts is a definition (or tool) used in calculations to solve the law of physics that "energy must be conserved, neither created nor destroyed". Outcome calculations use several equations at the same time, conservation of energy equation combined with operating characteristics of the device equations.
I still have no opinion on FWC camper electric systems. I balanced out my system prior to purchase and it has worked fine in the field since thanks to no bad connections between the truck and camper.
"Lost" and "missing" watts occur more than most folks are aware. If a battery charges at 13.6 volts and discharges at 12.6 volts, then some watts are "missing". Charging and discharging a battery creates heat, a warmer battery, and this comes at the expense of "lost" input watts of about 10%, i.e. we get 10% fewer watts out of our battery than we put in.
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