The post explains a novel way of using an ordinary SMPS unit for
charging a battery via a solar panel. The method will result in an
extremely efficient and fast solar charging of the connected battery.
SMPSs have become very common nowadays and we find them being used in the form of of low voltage DC units wherever needed. The best example is our cell phone chargers which are actually compact SMPS 5V chargers.
Solar charger devices are also becoming popular nowadays and folks are constantly in look out for options in the form of solar chargers having the most efficient charging response.
Solar panels or PV devices are normally utilized for charging lead acid batteries which tends to take relatively long hour for getting fully charged, and especially when the sunlight conditions are bad things start getting even more sluggish.
For tackling the above condition or rather for enabling quicker charging from solar panels, special MPPT based soar chargers have been developed which effectively monitor the solar panel maximum power point levels and generate the most efficient charging conditions for the connected battery.
In this article although we won't be discussing an ideal MPPT, yet the discussed method will give you an opportunity to acquire the most efficient way of charging your battery through a solar panel.
As proposed in one of my previous articles, a switch mode based power supply (SMPS) is probably the best option for making it work as a solar charger circuit, so here we will learn how to make an smps based solar charger circuit at home.
Making an SMPS can be quite complex and might require considerable amount of time and knowledge for the implementations so here rather we will focus on how to convert a ready made smps into an effective solar charger circuit quickly.
For this you will require the following materials, assuming the battery to be charged is 12V rated:
A ready made 120V or 220V to 12V SMPS unit having current rating equal to 1/5th of the battery AH which is to be charged.
A few Solar Panels whose total open circuit voltage equals around 100V.
Connecting wires.
How to Proceed.
As we all know a normal mains SMPS may be rated with minimum of 85V to 100V input in order to provide the required output DC, let's assume it to be 12V, meaning for acquiring 12V it must be supplied with a minimum of 100V at the input.
Keeping the above issue in mine we must select a solar panel which is able to produce approximately 100V for making the procured SMPS work.
Since PV panels with such high voltage might not be available, we may opt for many low voltage solar panel connected in series for generating the above voltage.
For instance you can go for 3nos. of 30V solar panels and connect them in series to get 90V from it, which might just do the job.
The above input supplied to the procured SMPS would generate the required 12V which may be directly attached to the battery for charging it efficiently.
However a 12V supply might not charge a 12V battery we need at least 14V for it, so that's not a big issue, the required voltage can be easily tweaked and set by adjusting the output voltage of the SMPS manually.
That's it, you have just now converted a ready made SMPS unit into an efficient solar charger circuit that might generate results equivalent to MPPT charger circuits for you.
SMPSs have become very common nowadays and we find them being used in the form of of low voltage DC units wherever needed. The best example is our cell phone chargers which are actually compact SMPS 5V chargers.
Solar charger devices are also becoming popular nowadays and folks are constantly in look out for options in the form of solar chargers having the most efficient charging response.
Solar panels or PV devices are normally utilized for charging lead acid batteries which tends to take relatively long hour for getting fully charged, and especially when the sunlight conditions are bad things start getting even more sluggish.
For tackling the above condition or rather for enabling quicker charging from solar panels, special MPPT based soar chargers have been developed which effectively monitor the solar panel maximum power point levels and generate the most efficient charging conditions for the connected battery.
In this article although we won't be discussing an ideal MPPT, yet the discussed method will give you an opportunity to acquire the most efficient way of charging your battery through a solar panel.
As proposed in one of my previous articles, a switch mode based power supply (SMPS) is probably the best option for making it work as a solar charger circuit, so here we will learn how to make an smps based solar charger circuit at home.
Making an SMPS can be quite complex and might require considerable amount of time and knowledge for the implementations so here rather we will focus on how to convert a ready made smps into an effective solar charger circuit quickly.
For this you will require the following materials, assuming the battery to be charged is 12V rated:
A ready made 120V or 220V to 12V SMPS unit having current rating equal to 1/5th of the battery AH which is to be charged.
A few Solar Panels whose total open circuit voltage equals around 100V.
Connecting wires.
How to Proceed.
As we all know a normal mains SMPS may be rated with minimum of 85V to 100V input in order to provide the required output DC, let's assume it to be 12V, meaning for acquiring 12V it must be supplied with a minimum of 100V at the input.
Keeping the above issue in mine we must select a solar panel which is able to produce approximately 100V for making the procured SMPS work.
Since PV panels with such high voltage might not be available, we may opt for many low voltage solar panel connected in series for generating the above voltage.
For instance you can go for 3nos. of 30V solar panels and connect them in series to get 90V from it, which might just do the job.
The above input supplied to the procured SMPS would generate the required 12V which may be directly attached to the battery for charging it efficiently.
However a 12V supply might not charge a 12V battery we need at least 14V for it, so that's not a big issue, the required voltage can be easily tweaked and set by adjusting the output voltage of the SMPS manually.
That's it, you have just now converted a ready made SMPS unit into an efficient solar charger circuit that might generate results equivalent to MPPT charger circuits for you.
