A Photovoltaic Battery - Charge Controller

(Page 4 of 4)

March/April 1984
By TJ Byers  
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WHY NOT AUTO REGULATION?

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Charge controllers for lead-acid batteries have been around for just about as long as the batteries themselves. For example, many people are probably familiar with the voltage regulators used in the electrical systems of cars. In fact, you might even be wondering why you need to build a special controller for your PV panels . . . when a replacement automotive regulator can readily be had for a few dollars.

Well, the answer is that PV panels and automobile generators or alternators are quite different . . . and, accordingly, the controllers appropriate to the two kinds of systems work on very different principles. The voltage regulator in your car manages the charging rate to the battery by controlling voltage (rather than current). It does this by altering the current flowing to the field windings of the generator. The field current then produces the magnetic field in the generator, and the output voltage of the unit is directly proportional to the strength of that field: The stronger the magnetic flux, the higher the voltage.

When the charging voltage begins to creep up above the limit imposed by the battery, the regulator reduces the current to the field winding. This lowers the output of the unit, and the battery and charge rate stay in step.

Photovoltaic cells, on the other hand, have no field winding in which to effect a change in charging current. Therefore, an automotive regulator would be less than useless with a PV panel. Furthermore, most wind generators use a setup quite similar to an automotive voltage regulator, so the photovoltaic controller we've described here is to be used exclusively with solar electric panels. It's the right tool for the right job!

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Comments

  • dimas 6/4/2007 2:00:52 AM

    dear, i want to use Battery Charge Controller for my final project,
    PV-Wind Hybrid Power System, i would be gratefull if you can give
    me complete circuit of your Battery Charge Controller for
    reference.. thank you very much.. my regards

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