A solar charge controller regulates voltage and current from solar panels to batteries to prevent overcharging. It uses op-amps, MOSFETs, diodes and other components. Solar panels produce more than 12 volts, so the controller ensures batteries charge to 14-14.5 volts. It also protects against overcharging, deep discharge, and undervoltage. Charge controllers are used in solar home systems, street lights, hybrid power systems, and water pumps to store solar energy in batteries.
2. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Introduction
A charge controller, or charge regulator is basically a voltage and/or current
regulator to keep batteries from overcharging. It regulates the voltage and
current coming from the solar panels going to the battery. Most "12 volt"
panels put out about 16 to 20 volts, so if there is no regulation the batteries
will be damaged from overcharging. Most batteries need around 14 to 14.5
volts to get fully charged.
The solar energy is converted to electrical energy by photo-voltaic cells. This
energy is stored in batteries during day time for utilizing the same during
night time. Main project ideas is to deals with a controlled charging
mechanism which over charge, deep discharge and under voltage of the
battery.
4. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Hardware Components For Solar Power Charge Controller
• Solar panel
• Op-amps
• MOSFET
• Diodes
• LEDs
• Potentiometers
• Battery
6. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Solar Panel
Expose the cell to light, and the energy from each
photon (light particle) hitting the silicon, will
liberate an electron and a corresponding hole.
If this happens within range of the electric field’s
influence, the electrons will be sent to the N side
and the holes to the P one, resulting in yet further
disruption of electrical neutrality.
This flow of electrons is a current; the electrical
field in the cell causes a voltage and the product of
these two is power.
7. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
OP-Amps
An operational amplifier ("op-amp") is a DC-coupled high-gain electronic voltage
amplifier with a differential input and, usually, a single-ended output.
• Internally frequency compensated for unity gain
• Large DC voltage gain 100 dB
• Wideband with 1Mhz (Temperature compensated)
• Wide power supply range:
• Single supply 3V to 32V
• or dual supplies ±1.5V to ±16V
• Very low supply current drain (700 μA) essentially independent of supply voltage
• Low input biasing current 45 nA (temperature compensated)
• Low input offset voltage 2mV and offset current:5 nA
• Large output voltage swing 0V to V+ − 1.5V
8. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
MOSFET(IRF 510)
The Metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor is
a devise used for amplifying or switching electronic
signals
The basic principle of the device a voltage on the oxide-
insulated gate electrode can induce a conducting channel
between the two other contacts called source and drain.
It is by far the most common transistor in both digital
and analog circuits, though the bipolar
junction transistor was at one time much more common.
9. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Diodes
The 1N4148 is a standard small signal silicon diode used in
signal processing.
The 1N4148 is generally available in a DO-35 glass package
and is very useful at high
frequencies with a reverse recovery time of no more than 4ns.
This permits rectification and detection of radio frequency
signals very effectively, as long as their amplitude is above
the forward conduction threshold of silicon (around 0.7V) or
the diode is biased.
10. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Potentiometers
A potentiometer is an adjustable resistor which consists of a wiper that slides
across a resistive strip to deliver an increase or decrease in resistance. The level
of resistance will determine output of current to the circuit.
11. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
BATTERY
An electrical battery is a combination of one or more electrochemical cells, used
to convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy.
The battery has become a common power source for many household, robotics
and industrial applications.
Larger batteries provide standby power for telephone exchanges or computer
data centers.
12. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Why 12 Volt Panels are 17 Volts
The reason is that, the panels will provide power only when cool, under
perfect conditions, and full sun.
This is not something you can count on in most places.
The panels need to provide some extra voltage so that when the sun is low
in the sky.
13. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Why 12 Volt Panels are 17 Volts
You have heavy haze, cloud cover, or high temperatures, You have heavy haze,
cloud cover, or high temperatures.
A fully charged "12 volt" battery is around 12.7 volts at rest (around 13.6 to 14.4
under charge).
The panel has to put out at least that much under worst case conditions.
14. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Charger Controller Types
Charge controls come in 3 general types, They range from the small 4.5
amp (Sunguard) control, up to the 60 to 80 amp MPPT.
• Simple 1 or 2 stage controls
• 3-stage and/or PWM
• Maximum power point tracking (MPPT)
15. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Functionality of Solar Power Charge Controller
A solar panel is used to charge a battery.
A set of op-amps are used as comparators to continuously monitor panel
voltage, load current etc.
Indications are also provided by a green LED for fully charged battery.
A set of red LEDs to indicate under charged, overloaded and deep discharge
condition.
16. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Charge controller also uses MOSFET as power semiconductor switch.
This is to ensure cut off the load in low battery or overload condition.
A transistor is used to bypass the solar energy to a dummy load while
the battery gets fully charged.
This protects the battery from getting over charged.
Functionality of Solar Power Charge Controller
17. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Application of Solar Power Charge Controller
Solar street light system
Solar home system
Hybrid system
Solar water pump system
18. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Solar street light system
In this system that uses PV module to convert sunlight into DC electricity
The system consumes only DC electricity
It incorporates solar charge controller to store DC in the battery bank to
supply during sunlight is not visible or night time.
19. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Solar Home System
In this system energy is generated from PV module to supply for
home appliances.
The system incorporates solar charge controller to store DC in the
battery bank and suits for using in any areas where utility grid is not
available.
20. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Hybrid System
In this system that consists of multiple energy sources to provide full
time, backup power or other purposes.
It incorporates solar charge controller to store DC in the battery bank.
21. http://www.edgefxkits.com/
Solar Power Charge Controller
Solar Water Pump System
It uses solar power to pump water from natural and surface reservoirs
for home, village, water treatment, agriculture, irrigation, livestock and
other applications.