CircuitDB | Solar Charge Controller

Home

Circuits

Robotics

Solar Charge Controller

click here view this image in full size

Description

The previous version of this device used pulse width modulation (pwm) to control the power from the five solar panels to charge the battery bank. Under full sun conditions the MOSFETS got a bit warm and the whole unit radiated a lot of RFI. This design uses a set of relays - one for each panel. If the controller decides the battery voltage is too low, it engages another relay; if its too high, it drops one out. This tends to 'float' the voltage at about 14 volts as long as sufficient sunlight is available.

The controller also implements a network style interface (open collector TTL, 9600 baud). This makes it possible to 'tweak' the charge settings using a terminal program and an RS-232 to TTL interface (coming to this web site soon). If you choose to duplicate this device, you may leave out the network stuff and 'hardwire' the charge settings in software.

The complete schematic and source file are available for download.

Partlist

1x PIC16F84
1x ADC0831
1x crystal 8Mhz
1x 74HC164
1x 74LS06
1x LED bar display
1x 7805
Misc (resistors, condensators, etc.)

Files

solarbox.jpg

solar.src

Posted by Jospfh at Jun 27 2006 18:49

Comments

Feb 2 2007 9:34

Jefril

interesting to download

Sep 21 2007 8:32

dmaligon

were is he partlist of solar charge controller an it is very fine the circuit shown

Sep 21 2007 9:10

Jospfh

I added one now using data from the schematic.

Jun 10 2011 0:24

SilviuP

from were can download the complete schematic and the source file? because i want to make that in practice and if you can do this for me i'll be grateful.

Jun 10 2011 0:28

SilviuP

and i have a question for you what program you use for the circuit design? because i take multisim from the national instruments and i don't found lm7805 in library.