A COST EFFECTIVE SOLAR CHARGE CONTROLLER

Abstract

This paper contains the design, construction and implementation of an efficient solar charge controller at low cost. The charge controller is implemented using an inexpensive PIC microcontroller with the help of solar panel and battery. It is also simulated by using Proteus ISIS ® Professional package for different PV cell and battery voltage levels. This solar charge controller (SCC) has the properties to disconnect as well as reconnect the battery during battery overcharging condition or under discharging condition. LCD is used here as the battery voltage level indicator and to display load connection and disconnection status. LED is used to show the condition of the charge controller. This charge controller deals with the PIC16F73 microcontroller and MOSFET to control the system and coordinate with the activity in the SCC. The source code for the PIC16F73 microcontroller is written in the professional programming language Proton IDE to obtain very accurate and effective connecting or disconnecting action automatically. The low cost construction and practical implementation of this smart solar charge controller indicates that it functions properly .