MPPT

In 2010 Sh3d designed a tiny MPPT designed to charge Lithium Ion batteries from solar panels mounted on wave buoys deployed in very cold conditions. Battery management included temperature control and use of MPPT over multiple panels facing different directions due to the design of the wave buoy.

Lithium batteries do not handle low temperatures very well. Non-rechargablee batteris in ice would be Alkaline to allow best temperature range. Using the MPPT, good battery monitoring and temperature monitoring, and a set of fall back Alkaline batteries, the buoys were able to run for many months, even with Lithium Ion rechargables.