Step-down converter based, microcontroller supervised stand-alone solar system control module design

Effective utilization of solar energy has always been a dream of human kind. Every area where there is intensive human settlement is vitalized by the sun. Thanks to the solar cells, sun not only vitalize the life of living things, but provides the necessary energy for our electronic devices as well. Through this transformation electric energy is produced at the place it is used. The natural disadvantage of the usage of electric energy depended on the solar energy however is that this transformation does not eventuate at night. This problem requires back up methods to be used together with these systems. For the critical systems which require continues energy supply, this problem may be solved by advanced microcontrollers. These control systems are responsible for transferring the electric energy circuited by the solar cells to the load. They also realize the storage of this energy in the batteries during the day time when the solar energy is high. At night however, they are responsible for transferring the energy at the batteries to the load, so that the system is not run out of energy. This process of cyclic loading persists day and night continuously. Within the context of this study, the design of the control circuit required for the effective use of the solar energy will be realized. For better understanding of the function of this control circuit, the solar energy transformation will be introduced and referred to the batteries as an energy conservation system indispensable for independent energy systems. Charge algorithm for the lead-acid batteries will be explained. Also the control module designed will be functionally tested. Key Words : Stand-alone solar systems, batterries, microcontroller