Innovation Week on RES 1-11 July 2012

Intelligent Charge Controller for PV Panels

Emre AKARSLAN

Said Mahmut INAR

e.akarslan@gmail.com

smcinar@gmail.com

Abstract: In this study, a computer controller charge control system is developed for solar
panels using micro-controller. The system has ability to be followed and controlled by the
computer interface. Electricity generations of solar panels are strongly related with solar radiation
intensity. However the intensity is not stable. Therefore the generation outputs of the PV are not
stable. On the other hand the most important parameter that should be taken into account while
designing a charge controller is the output voltage of the panels indeed. It is desired to make the
output voltage around the voltage level accepted by the batteries. Therefore using charge
controller designed is aimed to reduce (buck) the voltage if it is higher than the desired level and
must increase (boost) it if the voltage level is lower than the desired level. In this study, buckboost type power circuit is designed for charge control system and so the efficiency on charging
battery by the panels is attempted to increase.

Figure 1. Charge controller circuit

Afyon Kocatepe University, Electrical Engineering Department, ANS Kampusu 03200 Afyonkarahisar
Phone: 0090 272 228 14 23 Fax: 0090 272 228 14 22

Innovation Week on RES 1-11 July 2012

Figure 2. Hourly panel voltage in summer and winter

Panels produce different voltage throughout the day.

Battery charge voltage must be stable. So charge voltage should be decreased in noon time,
because panel voltage is higher than the charge voltage.
Generally, if panel voltage is higher than the battery voltage, charge voltage stability is
performed by decreasing it in charge control systems.
In this study, buck-boost type power circuit is designed for charge control system and so the
efficiency on charging battery by the panels is attempted to increase.

Figure 3. Battery charge voltage and current curve

Afyon Kocatepe University, Electrical Engineering Department, ANS Kampusu 03200 Afyonkarahisar
Phone: 0090 272 228 14 23 Fax: 0090 272 228 14 22

Vin

Innovation Week on RES 1-11 July 2012

Q_BUCK

Vout

L1

D_BOOST

IRF540
68uH

DIODE

VIN

Q_BOOST

D_BUCK

1
2

IRF540

DIODE

C_VIN

C_VOUT
1000uF

1000uF

TBLOCK-I2

R_OUT1
1k

VOUT
1
2
TBLOCK-I2

Boost_gate
Buck_gate

Figure 4. The schema of buck-boost controller

Measuring circuit observes the input voltage (Vin), if Vin is higher than the battery voltage,
Q_BUCK mosfet is switched and Vin voltage is reduced to battery voltage.
Also, if the Vin is lower than the battery voltage, Q_BOOST and Q_BUCK are switched
together, so Vin voltage is increased to battery voltage.
C_RS1
10uF

U2

C1+

C1-

T1IN
R1OUT
T2IN
R2OUT

T1OUT
R1IN
T2OUT
R2IN

C_RS+
11
12
10
9

Rx
Tx

VS+
VSC2+

10uF

SERIAL
1
6
2
7
3
8
4
9
5

14
13
7
8
2
6

C2-

CONN-D9F

C_RS-

MAX232

10uF

The control circuit has some communication

devices such as USB, RS232.. etc.

C_RS2
D_USB

We prefer to use USB communication ports.

10uF

R_USB

Also the control circuit has a memory device

(24LC512). The memory device is used in order
to saving experiment data and it has 512KB
capacity.

J1

220

LED
D+
D-

Vusb

C_USB1 C_USB2
100nF

1
3
2
4

VCC
D+
DGND
USBCONN

100nF

In addition, the circuit has a programming port

for programming the micro controller.

R_SCKR_SDA
10k

PROG
RB6
RB7
Vpp

1
2
3
4
5

10k

U3
SCK
SDA
CONN-SIL5

6
5
7

SCK
SDA
WP

A0
A1
A2

1
2
3

24LC512

Figure 5. Communication circuits

Afyon Kocatepe University, Electrical Engineering Department, ANS Kampusu 03200 Afyonkarahisar
Phone: 0090 272 228 14 23 Fax: 0090 272 228 14 22

Innovation Week on RES 1-11 July 2012

Figure 6. Computer interface for control the circuit and collect the data

By using the interface, buck and boost operations can made manually, panel and battery
voltages can observed, data can collected, etc.

Figure 7. Buck-Boost control device for PV Panels

Device has Buck-Boost convertor, micro-controller, communication circuits, and memory

circuit for data record, control buttons and LCD display.
Afyon Kocatepe University, Electrical Engineering Department, ANS Kampusu 03200 Afyonkarahisar
Phone: 0090 272 228 14 23 Fax: 0090 272 228 14 22

Innovation Week on RES 1-11 July 2012

Figure 8. Testing the Buck-Boost Charge Controller device

In test of Buck-Boost Charge Controller device, a mobile PV panel is used.

PV panel is connected to control devices input, device output connect to the battery, an
oscilloscope and an multi-meter are used to scope signals, and computer interface is used to
manage the system.

CONCLUSION
Most of the charge control circuits, are designed for reduce the input voltage to the charge voltage
level if this value is higher than battery charge voltage. Therefore, input voltage must higher than
charge voltage for charging. In this study, a Buck-Boost convertor is used so charge process can
be implemented when the input voltage is not only higher but also lower than charge voltage. So,
the storage efficiency of electrical energy in the battery is tried to increase.

Some parameters can be added in this circuit, for example panel and ambient temperature, etc

Afyon Kocatepe University, Electrical Engineering Department, ANS Kampusu 03200 Afyonkarahisar
Phone: 0090 272 228 14 23 Fax: 0090 272 228 14 22