Automated solar battery charging station

Date

10-2004

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Rogel Mari D. Sese

Abstract

An automated solar battery charging station was designed, tested and implemented. The study aims to design a low-cost solar charge controller that would prevent overcharging of batteries. The charge controller checks the charging voltage of the battery and disconnects it from the source upon reaching the overcharge threshold voltage. The charge controller's overcharge threshold voltage set-point was found to be 14.4 10.2 volts for the three channels. A switching circuit that facilitates sequential charging and synchronous charging of batteries was also designed. In sequential charging, the battery on the first channel is the first to be charged. When the battery is already full charged, the charging process automatically switches to the next battery, and so on. Once the battery is charged, it could be replaced by another discharged battery without interruption in the charging sequence. Synchronous charging of batteries on the other hand, is like charging the batteries in parallel, only that each battery has its own charge controller and blocking diode. The switching circuit and the charge controllers successfully performed their specific functions during testing and data gathering. Current and voltage protection of the whole system were also considered such that the whole system turns ON if the solar array open circuit voltage is approximately above 17.5 volts but below 20 volts and the short circuit current is less than 15 Amperes. When the charging voltage of the panel falls below approximately 12.5 volts, the whole system shuts down.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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