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This project was created on 08/17/2021 and last updated 2 年前.
Description
A solar charger is a charger that employs solar energy to supply electricity to devices or batteries. Solar chargers can charge lead acid or Ni-Cd battery banks up to 48 V and hundreds of ampere-hours (up to 4000 Ah) capacity. Such types of solar charger setups generally use an intelligent charge controller.
Story
A simple solar charger must have 3 basic features built-in:
- It should be low cost.
- Layman friendly, and easy to build.
- Must be efficient enough to satisfy the fundamental battery charging needs.
The main property of this device to convert solar energy to electrical energy has made it very popular and now it’s being strongly considered as the future solution for all electrical power crises or shortages.
Solar energy may be used directly for powering electrical equipment or simply stored in an appropriate storage device for later use.
Normally there’s only one efficient way of storing electrical power, and it’s by using rechargeable batteries.
Rechargeable batteries are probably the best and the most efficient way of collecting or storing electrical energy for later usage.
The energy from a solar cell or a solar panel can also be effectively stored so that it can be used as per one’s own preference, normally after the sun has set or when it’s dark and when the stored power becomes much needed for operating the lights.
Though it might look quite simple, charging a battery from a solar panel is never easy, because for two reasons:
The voltage from a solar panel can vary hugely, depending upon the incident sun rays, and the current also varies due to the same above reasons.
The above two reasons can make the charging parameters of a typical rechargeable battery very unpredictable and dangerous.
About this solar charger circuit
This solar charger is actually a Low Dropout Voltage (LDO) charger. It uses a series P-channel MOSFET linear regulator and a simple differential amplifier. Though it is mainly intended for charging 12V lead-acid batteries, the output charging voltage can be adjusted by the potentiometer.
Specifications
Schematic of 12V Solar Charge Controller Circuit
LDO Solar Charge Control Circuit Operation
R4 and D1 form a 6V shunt Zener voltage reference. Q1 Q2 make up the classic differential amplifier that amplifies the difference between the reference voltage and the feedback voltage from the arm of potentiometer R6. The output is taken from the collector of Q1 and drives the gate of P Channel MOSFET Q3. Differential voltage gain is probably in the order of 100 to 200. For best performance, I selected Q1 Q2 for matched hFE. As the feedback voltage increases at the arm of R6, Q2 turns on harder and steals some of the emitter currents away from Q1. The collector current of Q1 follows the emitter current and drops less voltage across R1 thus reducing Vgs of Q3 and turning it off. C2 provides frequency compensation to prevent the amplifier from oscillating.
Q3 is dormant unless the battery is the.
DIY Solar Battery Backup – What You Need and Mistakes to Avoid
While it goes without saying that you will need a high-capacity battery bank if you are planning to build an off-grid solar power system, many people forget that you can also add a battery backup to a grid-tied system.
A solar battery backup can act as an emergency power supply in the event that the grid fails, or it can simply allow you to access free and environmentally-friendly electricity during peak hours when electricity are raised.
All you need to do to create your own DIY solar battery backup is invest in one or more deep cycle solar batteries, as well as the other necessary components needed to allow those batteries to work efficiently.
If you are in an area that has an unreliable electrical grid, or you live somewhere that is susceptible to severe weather conditions, investing in a solar battery backup is one of the best decisions you can make. To help you build your own DIY solar battery backup, we are going to go over everything you will need, as well as list some common mistakes that you should try to avoid.
The Benefits of Adding a Solar Battery Backup to Your Solar Power System
Adding a solar battery backup to your existing system will offer plenty of financial benefits. When your solar panels are overproducing, or you have excess solar electricity, you can store it in batteries for emergency situations and for use when net metering are at their highest.
Unless you are running a fully off-grid system, where the electricity stored in your solar batteries is the only power you have access to, adding a solar battery backup to a grid-tied solar power system creates what is often known as a hybrid system.
Hybrid Solar Power Systems:
Essentially, a hybrid solar power system is a combination of a grid-tied system and an off-grid system.
You get the financial benefits and the flexibility you get with a grid-tied system, but also the added benefits of a reliable power storage system that will allow you to access solar electricity at your convenience.
Hybrid systems are connected to the grid, meaning the owner can choose to feed solar electricity into the grid for cash rebates and monthly discounts from the local utility company, but they also store some of the electricity in one or more solar batteries, for emergencies and use during peak hours.
For the average homeowner, it makes sense to maintain a connection with a local utility company, as satisfying all of your electricity needs with only solar power can be difficult, unless you own a massive plot of land that receives plenty of direct sunlight. Hybrid systems allow you to keep this connection, so you can feed into and draw from the grid, but you also get the benefits of a solar battery backup.
These solar-plus-storage systems allow you to get the maximum financial benefit from solar power by avoiding peak electricity prices.
What Do You Need to Build a Solar Power System with a Battery Backup?
Given that grid-tied systems are often the most cost-efficient types of solar power systems to install, it is no wonder that they are incredibly popular. If you currently run a grid-tied power system, you will be happy to learn that it is actually quite easy and affordable to retrofit your existing system with a solar battery backup.
If you do not currently have a solar power system, but you are looking to invest in one, we will explain how you can easily add a solar battery backup to any system you end up building.
The basic components you will need in order to equip your solar power system with a battery bank are as follows:
- An appropriate charge controller
- A solar power inverter
- One or more deep cycle solar batteries
- The necessary cables, mounts, and connectors
The charge controller plays a vital role in any solar storage system. While the main purpose of a charge controller is to regulate the flow of electricity from the solar panels to the battery bank and prevent overcharging issues, the more advanced charge controllers also prevent battery drain, which occurs when electricity flows from the battery to the solar panels when they are no longer producing electricity.
The power inverter, which you will be familiar with if you are currently operating a grid-tied system, converts the DC power your solar panels generate into AC power, which is required to power your electronic devices and appliances. Using a power inverter with a solar battery backup ensures that the electricity stored within your batteries can actually be used for charging and running your electronic devices and appliances.
Deep cycle batteries are specifically designed to handle the repeated charging and discharging that occurs when you are using solar power. Where other high-capacity batteries, like those you would find in your car, are designed to provide a quick burst of power, deep cycle solar batteries are meant to be used as a power bank that can supply a steady flow of electricity to any electronic device or appliance that is drawing power from them.
How to Build a DIY Solar Battery Storage
Calculate Your Load and Select Your Batteries:
Now that you know what you will need, you can actually assemble and install your DIY solar battery storage. The first step is calculating the amount of electricity you will need to store. By calculating your load, you will be able to figure out how many batteries your storage system will require.
Use our Solar Watt Hour Load Calculator to determine your storage needs. From there, select the number and type of batteries you will need to satisfy your load requirements.
You will be able to find exactly what you need by browsing our Deep Cycle Solar Battery Collection, which contains 12V, 24V, and 48V solar batteries from some of the most reputable brands in the industry
If you are looking to build a budget-friendly solar battery storage bank, we recommend taking a look at the BattleBorn 100Ah 12V Deep Cycle Battery. This lithium-ion solar battery can be 100% discharged, charges quickly and efficiently, features a built-in battery management system, and it is available at a low price. Best of all, it can be stacked, meaning you can connect numerous batteries to build a high-capacity battery bank for your solar power system.
Choose a Charge Controller:
The charge controller will regulate the voltage and current coming from your solar panels, so it is necessary to choose one that allows your solar power system to operate optimally at all times.
MPPT charge controllers tend to have the greatest level of efficiency, but they are also more expensive than the less complicated PWM options. Find the perfect charge controller for your particular battery bank and solar panel combination by shopping our Charge Controller Collection. We carry a wide range of both MPPT and PWM charge controllers with wide variety of different amp ratings.
Select a Power Inverter:
You will want a power inverter that has a power rating that is equal or more than the total load in watts of your system. This will ensure your system runs efficiently and the power stored within your batteries will be the correct type of current for your needs.
You will be able to find a wide variety of solar power inverters, as well as useful information about selecting the right inverter voltage for your battery bank by browsing our Solar Power Inverter Collection.
Wire Everything Together:
The first component you are going to wire is the charge controller. Most charge controller instruction manuals will tell you to connect the device to the batteries first, as this will allow it to get calibrated to the correct voltage for your batteries. Once it is connected properly, your charge controller’s indicator light should activate and tell you the charge status of your batteries.
Now you can connect your solar panels to the charge controller. Again, follow the steps as outlined in the charge controller’s instruction manual. From there, you simply have to connect the system to your power inverter, which will ensure your batteries are storing AC power, rather than DC power.
Mistakes to Avoid
Some of the most common mistakes people make when introducing a DIY solar battery storage to their solar power system is forgetting to make sure that each of the components they have purchased are compatible and operate at the same voltage.
People will also underestimate their actual power needs, which is why it is so important to do a proper load calculation before you select the number and type of deep cycle batteries you are going to purchase.
Some people will also purchase a low-quality and low voltage charge controller in an effort to save money. While these low voltage PWM charge controllers are cheaper, many of the higher voltage MPPT charge controllers are multi-voltage capable, meaning they can handle any voltage and can adapt with your system as you expand it.
It is also important to read your instruction manuals and seek out help when you are unsure of what to do. Rather than risk damaging your solar equipment, do your research. While you can certainly install a solar battery backup on your own, you should always take the time to make sure you know what you are doing.
Final Words
Building a DIY solar battery backup does not have to be complicated or overly expensive. By selecting the correct components for your needs and wiring everything together with care, you can quickly and easily enjoy the freedom of accessing solar power at your convenience.
For more information about choosing the correct solar power storage equipment, read our Best Battery Bank Guide, which will tell you everything you need to know about solar batteries and solar generators.
If you have any questions about building a solar battery backup, or any other questions relating to solar power, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always here to help!
DIY Solar – Charging a Golf Cart with a Solar Panel
We’re here to demonstrate how you can charge a 36V or 48V golf cart battery bank with a single solar panel using Genasun’s GV-Boost solar charge controller. Unlike most solar charge controllers, the GV-Boost increases the voltage and decreases the current at its output, allowing a single solar panel to be used to charge the higher voltage battery bank.
Let’s say, for example, you have access to a 12 or 20 volt solar panel, but you don’t have enough room on the golf cart’s roof to fit multiple panels to add it up to 36 volts. All you need to do is put the single solar panel on and use the GV-Boost, which will actually charge your 36 or 48V battery bank.
See how altE’s Solar Queen does it…
About Author
Amy Beaudet Amy Beaudet was in the solar industry at the altE Store from 2007 until her untimely passing in 2021. She was a sales rep, instructor, and an all-around solar evangelist, sharing her passion for solar around the world. When whe wasn’t at work, she enjoyed sailing and skiing. but odds were good she was still talking about solar on the boat or on the slopes. See more of Amy Beaudet’s blog posts.
Комментарии и мнения владельцев
Question: With the lower current output, does this mean the charging time will be dramatically increase Do?
Because Watts = Volts x Amps, if you increase the volts, the amps increase, but the power stays the same. So the battery is still getting the same amount of power from the solar panel. Let’s use a 48V battery bank with 200W of panels as an example (rounding numbers to make the math easier). If we used four 50W, 4A 12V panels in series to make 48V, the charge controller would get 4A 48V into it and the same output. If we used a single 200W 12V panel into it, the charge controller would get 12V 16A into it, and 48V 4A out, same as with 48V 200W in.
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Make Solar AA Battery Charger Circuit Using TL497
Let’s build a small solar AA battery charger. In an era of expensive energy better. In an era that energy is more expensive every day.
Alternative energy is a good solution, to solve immediate problems, or renewable energy to do the work well.
Solar energy is an alternative that we can use another kind. For this project, we use it to charge a small battery, we must first understand the working principle of the circuit before.
How it works
Battery charger with solar cells consists of three parts are…
The solar cell panels are used to change sunlight energy to electrical energy into direct current. Normally we would put solar panels are connected to each other. Until the voltage level as needed.
Which, has the principle same battery, is sunlight cell series to increase the current. And this current production, depending on the geographic location, temperature and the amount of sunlight each day is important.
The charger controls the voltage in this project. We use the dc booster circuit to rises voltage from solar cell panels up to charge a battery.
The battery is backup electrical energy of solar cells it needs time.
Photos complete circuit as Figure 1, the heart of the increase voltage circuit is IC1 in TL497 is a DC to DC converter circuit types.
There is resistor R1 between VCC and pin 13 that limit current working of circuit. And the capacitor C3 is determined value of switch frequency in working of 50KHz.
We can adjust the output voltage as needed by potentiometer VR1. The output voltage that change be controlled by compared circuit inside IC1
Characteristics of working overall is This circuit will increase the size of the input voltage of 5 volt solar panels. (Normal the voltage 3-5volt, current 100mA) To output the voltage maximum 12-15 volt at current 30-70 mA.
To provide sufficient the voltage to flow into the battery charging. The specifications of the IC can be up to 15 volt input voltage and maximum output current 470-500mA.
Building and circuit assemblies.We prepare PCB size is shown in Figure 2 above. Then solder a resistor and IC on the PCB. Equipment is high, the coil L1 and capacitor according down.
For coils L1, we use the finished coils easily. When soldering all the equipment already in place. Should check the accuracy again. When everything is complete, then process testing circuits.
Equipment list0.5W Resistors, tolerance: 5%R1: 1 ohmsR1: 4.7KR1: 1.2KVR1: 10k potentiometerC1: 100uF 16 volt ElectrolyticC2: 0.1uF 50V CeramicC3: 220pF 50V CeramicC4: 1000uF 25V ElectrolyticIC1: TL497, with socket
What’s more? You can look other power supply circuits: Click Here
Testing and deployed
We bring solar cell panels place in sunlight location, then measure an output voltage with the DC volt meter. Which we can adjust output voltage by charging the resistance of VR1. When less sunlight, will have output DC voltage about 15 Volt (the maximum resistance of VR1) In the case of the midday sun, for example during the day, We measure an output voltage, while load is not connected. will have maximum voltage 18-20 volt.Using to charge the battery,
– The output voltage should not be too much. We adjust VR1 until the voltage of battery with less than full power for about 1 volt. Because solar panel in this project is small. So suitable for charging the voltage to the nickel cadmium battery NiCd. or Nickel Metal Hydride AA or AAA size NiHM only.For example, in the case of a fully charged battery, nickel metal hydride. Which has the voltage at 1.2 volt pack of 4 pcs., So we adjust VR1 until the the voltage is 6 volt.
– The charging time, Battery charging time depends on the capacity of the battery. (MA h). If there is a large capacity, it will take longer. We can be calculated from : The capacity of the battery divided by the charging current as the battery 500 mAh. When it is charged with 50mA current, it takes about 10Hour etc. However, the current from the solar cell will be uneven, depending on the intensity of the light. May take longer for about 12 hours.
If everything is normal. We plan to install on the box or the angle the sun. As a prototype. With each other’s ideas.
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