AIMS Power sells both kinds of solar charge controller: three PWM units at 11A and 30A, and three MPPT units at 30A, 60A and 80A. The right one depends on how much panel you have, what voltage your bank runs at and whether you will ever add panels. This guide explains the difference in plain terms, then matches each AIMS controller to an RV setup. For the general theory, read MPPT vs PWM solar charge controllers for RVs; this one is about the AIMS lineup.
PWM vs MPPT in one paragraph
A PWM controller connects the panel more or less directly to the battery and switches the connection on and off to regulate charging. The panel is pulled down to battery voltage, so whatever voltage the panel could have produced above that is not used. An MPPT controller is a DC-DC converter: it holds the panel at its maximum-power voltage and converts the extra voltage into extra current at the battery. On a 12V bank with a typical "12V" panel the gain is modest; with higher-voltage panels, panels wired in series, cold mornings or partial shade it is substantial. MPPT is the right call once the array is more than a couple of hundred watts or runs above battery voltage.
The AIMS controllers
| Controller | Type | Battery voltage | Display / monitoring | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11A PWM, waterproof, prewired (SCC11ARPM) | PWM | 12V | None | About 4 in long, built-in MC4 panel and battery cables; the controller AIMS puts in its Lynx kit |
| 30A PWM (SCC30APWM) | PWM | 12V / 24V | Digital display, amps or volts | AIMS rates it for 360W of panel at 12V and 720W at 24V; 7.87 x 3.75 x 1.75 in |
| 30A PWM flush mount (SCC30AFM) | PWM | 12V / 24V | LCD: battery voltage, panel voltage, charge current, status | Mounts in a wall cut-out; 3-stage charging, preloaded battery profiles; used in the Starling kit |
| 30A MPPT with LCD and USB (SCC30MPPT) | MPPT | 12V / 24V | LCD plus LED indicators, USB ports | Fanless heatsink, configurable charge voltages, AIMS quotes up to 99% conversion |
| 60A MPPT (SCC60AMPPT) | MPPT | 12V / 24V / 36V / 48V | LCD: voltage, panel watts, current, kWh produced, charge mode, DC load | Battery temperature sensor included, RS485 port, ETL listed; Bluetooth with the BT-AIMS-PRO dongle; 18 lb |
| 80A MPPT (SCC80AMPPT) | MPPT | 12V / 24V / 36V / 48V | Same as 60A | Same features as the 60A at 80A; 21 lb |
Every one of them lists lithium among its battery types alongside AGM, GEL and flooded, and every one carries AIMS's 2-year warranty. Specs are from AIMS's product pages.
How many watts can each one take?
A charge controller's amp rating is the current it can push into the battery. At 12V, 30A is about 360W of charging, which is the figure AIMS gives for its 30A PWM; at 24V the same controller handles 720W. The same arithmetic applies to the 30A MPPT: at 12V plan on roughly 360 to 400W of panel, at 24V roughly twice that. The 60A and 80A MPPT units are built for arrays in the 700W-plus range or a 24V or 48V bank, where their 36V and 48V settings and the included temperature sensor earn their keep. AIMS does not publish a maximum panel open-circuit voltage on the product pages we have, so check the manual for your controller before wiring panels in series; exceeding the input voltage limit is the one mistake a controller does not forgive.
Which AIMS controller for which RV
One panel, one battery, keep it simple
A single 100W rigid panel or a 130W flexible slim panel on a 12V battery is PWM territory. The 11A prewired waterproof unit is the no-tools answer: MC4 leads on the panel side, battery leads on the other, and it can live outside. For a slightly larger panel or a 24V bank, the 30A PWM gives you a display for the same simplicity.
200 to 400W on a 12V bank
Two 100W panels or a 190W and a 120W get into the range where the 30A MPPT pays back: it recovers the voltage a PWM unit throws away, it has USB ports for phones, and the LCD shows what the array is actually doing. Keep the panels in parallel on a 12V bank unless the manual confirms the series voltage is within the controller's limit.
Bigger arrays, 24V or 48V banks
From about 700W, or on any 24V, 36V or 48V bank, go to the 60A or 80A MPPT. These are the controllers AIMS uses in its largest kit, the Expedition Bull (760W of solar on a 60A MPPT). For a multi-string roof, the 3-string solar combiner box and the DC disconnect switch finish the array side. The 60A MPPT setup guide walks through configuring a controller of this class.
Flush-mount or hidden installs
If the controller goes in a cabinet wall where you want to read it without opening a door, the 30A PWM flush mount is built for a cut-out and shows battery and panel voltage, current and status on its LCD.
Matching panels to the controller
AIMS's rigid monocrystalline panels run from 50W to 220W, with a 100W long narrow panel for tight roof layouts. The flexible slim panels come in 130W and 230W for curved roofs. For a portable set-up, the 360W folding panel and the 60W tri-fold panel connect to any of these controllers. Our flexible vs rigid solar panels guide covers which to mount.
Rule of thumb for an RV: daily watt-hours divided by about 4 sun-hours and a 75% system factor gives the panel watts. A 1,200Wh day needs about 400W of panel; that is a 30A MPPT job on a 12V bank.
FAQ
Will a PWM controller charge a lithium battery?
The AIMS PWM units list lithium among their battery types, so yes. What PWM cannot do is recover the extra panel voltage, so you get fewer amps from the same panel than with MPPT.
Can I run two 30A MPPT controllers on one bank?
AIMS lists the 30A MPPT as stackable, so a second controller on its own panels is a legitimate way to grow from 400W to 800W on a 12V bank without replacing the first one.
Does the 60A MPPT need the temperature sensor?
It ships with one, and using it lets the controller compensate charge voltage for battery temperature. For a lithium bank with its own heater and BMS it matters less than for AGM, but it takes a minute to connect.
Where do they ship from?
Every AIMS Power controller and panel here is genuine, carries the AIMS Power warranty and ships from our warehouse in Upland, California. Browse the full AIMS Power range, or let the RV solar and battery calculator size the array from your loads.