I am building a MPPT charge controller similar to Timnolan's one. My charge controller works with the program I adapted from Timnolan Error. Basically, I want to show how well my solar panel can charge the battery, with and without a charge controller (Plotting 2 graphs to compare the difference, one with and one without the charge controller). In his website he mention how to do it, but didn't show how the code is written. See attached for a clearer picture.
I hope someone could really help. Really appreciate any help. Please do tell me if you do not understand my question.
This is my code (under attachment) adapted from him, basically it is the same, but I added in the PLX data acquisition codes and changes some values.
This is the website for his codes :http://www.timnolan.com/uploads/Arduino%20Solar/ppt.pde
Once again thank you!
kaizer98:
Basically, I want to show how well my solar panel can charge the battery, with and without a charge controller
From the above I had assumed you have not yet carried out the comparison.
Thanks for the data file.
I only see one set of data in your spreadsheet - is this with or without the MPPT controller.
Also, I'm not sure how to interpret the data. What size is the solar panel? What size and type of battery is it feeding? How much was the battery discharged? Is there any load using power while the solar panel is producing power?
This is the one with the MPPT controller. I want to know how to compare between charging with a MPPT controller and without one with only 1 solar panel and 1 battery.
This is the battery I am using, B.B. Battery
Solar panel under attached.
I can't think of any ways other than changing the codes to do that.
I don't have a similar spare battery and solar panel to charge without a MPPT controller simultaneously.
The battery was around 11V before charged.
There isn't any load taken from the battery when the solar panel is charging it.
Sorry for the late respond, and thanks again.
I thought about MPPT for my 240w of solar panels and I tried unsuccessfully to make my own MPPT. I figured that a ready-made one was too expensive.
I think you will have difficulties getting an accurate comparison without two identical batteries and solar panels because on two different days the sunshine will be different.
You could feed the solar panel load into a resistor (rather than the battery) and measure and the volts and amps second by second so you can calculate the energy being produced. But that won't be the same as charging a battery because, as the battery voltage rises its ability to absorb energy reduces.
By the way, how are you regulating the solar panel output when you are not using the MPPT? Unless the solar panel is very small it will overcharge the battery without some form of voltage regulation.
I am rather sceptical of the value of an MPPT for battery charging - which is why I expressed an interest in your results. If they really are a good idea the sellers would be falling over themselves to provide the sort of data you are trying to collect.
I don't know how the voltage and current as measured at the input to the MPPT (or to a simple regulator) relates to the level of sunshine. Maybe it would be possible to record the actual sunshine (based on that input data) as well as the output data, and that might allow you to compare one day with another.
Woow 240W. Yup, it is rather expensive. That is my difficulty exactly,
I was doing a small project on MPPT solar charge controller, before having internship. Now I am having my intern so I am not able to go back to school and discuss with people there. Now I am trying to discuss with people on the forum to get ideas and share my difficulties. Only a short time frame for the project was given then, so I did not went to think of a way to charge my PV panel to a battery directly yet, since it was not a practical idea for me at that time. I am going back school in 2 weeks time and will discuss on your idea.
If I can think of anything I will gladly share it.
