SCC3 - 12 Volt 20 Amp Solar Charge Controller

SCC3 - 12 Volt 20 Amp Solar Charge Controller

(C) 2009, G. Forrest Cook
Introduction
The SCC3 is a solar charge controller, its function is to regulate the power flowing from a
photovoltaic panel into a rechargeable battery. It features easy setup with one potentiometer for
the float voltage adjustment and an equalize function for periodic overcharging. Automatic
temperature compensation optimizes battery charging over a wide range of temperatures. The SCC3
is robust, it can handle reverse polarity connection of both the battery and photovoltaic panel.

The design goals of this circuit were efficiency, simplicity, reliability and the use of field replaceable
parts. The circuit has been designed to be radio-quiet, which makes it suitable for ham radio
applications. A medium power solar system can be built with the SCC3, a 12V (nominal) solar panel
that is rated up to 20 amps, and a lead acid or other rechargeable battery that is rated from 500
milliamp hours to 400 amp hours of capacity.
It is important to match the solar panel's current rating to the battery's amp-hour rating (C). A
typical maximum battery charging current is C/20, so a 100 amp hour battery should have a solar
panel rating of no greater than 5 amps. It is advisable to check the battery manufacturer's data
sheets to find the maximum allowable charge current, then choose a PV that does not exceed that
value. On the other hand, if the solar panel output current is too low, the battery may never become
fully charged.
Basic Specifications
Maximum solar charging current: 20 Amps
Nominal battery voltage: 12V
Night time battery current drain: 0.8 - 1.8ma
Full specifications of the SCC3 kit
SCC3 kit alignment instructions
SCC3 FAQ document
Theory
The circuit activation section uses op-amp IC4 wired as a comparator to switch power on for the rest
of the SCC3. When the PV voltage is greater than the battery voltage, IC4 turns on and sends power
to voltage regulator IC3. Diode D2 prevents damage to IC4 if the battery is connected with reverse
polarity. IC3 produces a regulated 5 Volt power source. The 5V is used to power the SCC3 circuitry, it
is also used as a reference for the battery float voltage comparator IC1a.
The float voltage comparator IC1a compares the battery voltage (divided by R1/VR1 and R3) to the
5V reference voltage (divided by R5 and R6). The comparison point is offset by the thermistor TM1
for temperature compensation. The comparison point is also modified by the Equalize switch, S1 and
R2. The output of IC1a goes high (+5V) when the battery voltage is below the float voltage setting.
The output goes low when the battery voltage is above the float voltage setting. This provides the
charge/idle signal that controls the rest of the circuit.
The charge/idle signal is sent to IC2a and b, a pair of D-type flip-flops. The flip-flops are clocked by
the IC1b phase-shift clock oscillator, which runs at about 150 Hz. The clocking causes the flip-flop
outputs to produce a square wave charge/idle signal that is synchronized with the frequency of the
clock oscillator. The two halves of IC2 operate in synchronization, IC2a is used to drive the PV current
switching circuitry, IC2b is used to drive the charging state indicator LED either red (charging) or
green (floating).

The latched charge/idle signals from the IC2a flip-flop switch bipolar transistors Q1 and Q3 on and
off alternately. Q1 pulls the gate of MOSFET Q2 to ground, this switches the solar current on through
the battery. Q3 pulls the base of Q4 toward ground and Q4 pulls the gate of MOSFET Q2 to the PV+
line, turning Q2 off and stopping the solar charging current.
The solar charging current flows through the heavy lines on the schematic. Diode D1 prevents the
battery from discharging through the reverse-biased IRF4905 MOSFET and solar panel at night, it
also protects the circuit from high reverse currents in the event of a short across the PV lines. Fuse
F1 protects the circuit against possible high battery current if diode D1 were to become shorted out.
Transzorb TZ1 absorbs transient voltage spikes that may be caused by lightning.
Use
Connect the solar panel to the SCC3 PV terminals, connect the battery to the SCC3 battery terminals.
Put the solar panel in the sun, the battery will charge up. When the battery is low and the sun is
shining on the PV, the LED will be red. When the battery charges up to the float voltage, the LED will
alternate red/green. When the sun goes down, the LED will shut off.
In systems where the battery is frequently deep-discharged, the equalize switch should occasionally
be turned on for a period of several hours to a full day, this assures that the battery's weaker cells
become fully charged.
SCC3 Circuit Extensions
SCC3 60 Amp Modification
The 60 Amp Modification for the SCC3-e1 12 Volt Solar Charge Controller shows how to extend the
basic SCC3 kit so that it can handle up to 60 amps of PV current.
Auxiliary Battery Charger

The above circuit may be used if you wish to charge a remote secondary battery, an example would
be a 12V battery in a portable lamp. The #1156 lamp limits the secondary battery's charge current to
a maximum of 2 amps, it also protects the remote wiring from high currents in the event of a short
circuit. The wiring should be rated to handle more than 2 amps of current, #16 or #14 gauge wire is
recommended. Other lamps may be used for setting different maximum charge current values.
The Schottky diode prevents a load on the main battery from discharging the secondary battery. The
diode has about a .5V drop under load, so the secondary battery will always stay .5V below the main
battery's maximum (float) voltage setting. A wet cell lead acid main battery and a gell cell remote
battery will work well in this configuration since the float voltages for gell cell batteries are lower
than for wet cell batteries.
Dump Load Controller
A Dump Load Controller circuit can be used to feed excess solar power to an auxiliary load such as a
heating resistor. The dump load circuit works by monitoring the voltage on the PV panel. When the
PV has charged the battery and the battery reaches the SCC3 float voltage setting, the SCC3 PV
charge current switch circuit turns off and the PV voltage rises. The dump load circuit detects this
higher PV voltage and connects the dump load to the PV.
For the optimal dump load power transfer, the value of the dump load resistor should be chosen so
that it pulls the PV voltage down to the PV panel's rated maximum power point during full sun
conditions. For 12V systems, the dump load circuit should be adjusted so that it activates at a PV
voltage of around 15V. The dump load resistor should have a power rating that is greater than the
PV panel's maximum output wattage rating.
Keep in mind that tapping into the excess solar dump load power is much less important than
getting your main solar battery charging system up and running reliably. Dump power is only
available after the main battery becomes fully charged. When dump power is available it comes in
short pulses, making it unsuitable for running most electronic devices. Dump load power is mainly
useful for heating air or warming the battery compartment in cold climates. A battery will be able to
store and release more energy if it is kept warm.

12V Solar Inverter Battery Charger

Here is an energy saving solar inverter battery charger. It harvests solar energy to replenish 12 volt
inverter battery. It has auto cut off facility to stop charging when the battery attains full charge. The
charger uses a 24 volt solar panel as input.
The circuit uses a variable voltage regulator IC LM 317 to set the output voltage steady around 16
volts. Variable resistor VR controls the output voltage. When the solar panel generates current, D1
forward biases and Regulator IC gets input current. Its output voltage depends on the setting of VR
and the output current is controlled by R1. This current passes through D2 and R3. When the output
voltage is above (as set by VR) 16 volts, zener diode ZD2 conducts and gives stable 15 volts for
charging.

Charging current depends on R1 and R3. Around 250 to 300 mA current will be available for
charging. Green LED indicates charging status. When the battery attains full voltage around 13 volts,
Zener diode ZD1 conducts and T1 forward biases.
This drains the output current from the regulator IC through T1 and charging process stops. When
the battery voltage reduces below 12 volts, ZD1 turns off and battery charging starts again.