How to build an Arduino controlled solar charger

In this video, I'll show you how to build a solar charging circuit controlled by an Arduino. You can find the code and circuit diagrams here:
github.com/curiores/ArduinoTu...

[@thorntontarr2894]

CR: You start so simply - a solar panel charger but quickly you enter real issues with solutions involving maths, PIDs (yes, I have seen your PID videos) and experimental evaluation. If only your approach and testing philosophy was the standard of You Tube, real progress would be made by many. Your approach seems straightforward; how is its efficiency? Yes, I understand that you are teaching us not building a product to sell. So very well done, CR.

[@chordlord-qt4vt]

I finally succeeded in doing something that I had been struggling with for a while. Sometimes all it takes is finding the right resource or approach that clicks with you.Thank youu for the video

[@trynadyna9662]

You are an INCREDIBLE and impressive person, my goodness! This has got to be one of the most well-done tutorial videos on any subject that I've ever watched. Everything about it is perfect, I really mean it. Subscribed and really looking forward to diving into some more of your content!

[@garyhalsey7693]

First time coming across your channel and all I can say is….. amazing!! Subscribed and looking forward to digging into your other videos! Tried many times unsuccessfully to get a good PID setup on my Arduinos, hoping watching your videos will yield success! My background is in electronics for the Royal Navy and been writing code in one form or another for over 40 years. Keep up the brilliant work!!

[@curiores111]

Hey Gary, thanks for dropping by! I appreciate your kind words. Let me know how your PID projects go. I find them to be very interesting, although I'd like to get more into the theory. Hard to find the time though. 40 years! Well done. I've been writing code for maybe the last 14 years. But only started working as a software engineer a couple of years ago. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. You can also email me at [e-mail] although my responses can get a bit spotty if I am busy.

[@davestewart2433]

Brilliant!. All your videos are amazingly well made and super helpful. Your PID video I watched 100 times and used it in a balancing system. I just got a couple solar panels and wondered how to make a charger. Well, after watching this, I am going to buy an off the shelf one. lol. Thanks again. Keep em coming.

[@curiores111]

Thank you! Also...you and me both Dave, you and me both.

[@hinokikuaimu]

Concise, excellent starting point to go deeper and a soothing voice which encourage learning, very well done! Suggestions for future videos: you made the buck, how about the boost? BLDC control (mentioned elsewhere, I second that), positioning with Kalman filter and IMU, supercapacitor charging control (not far from this video but with different charging approaches)...

[@curiores111]

Thank you for the suggestions, I'm very interested in all of those. I've started working on BLDC and Kalman filter before, so those are near or at the top of my list.

[@MyChico2012]

This video is a piece of art!

[@PhG1961]

This is by far one of the better videos I've seen. Very well explained and at the same time entertaining too!

[@weiye701]

Awesome job of explaining a complex problem in a very simple and understandable way! You have been amazing! Thank you!

[@curiores111]

Nice of you to stop by! Glad that you found it interesting. 😊

[@Petch85]

Grate video. I could really have used that when I created a project using 12V, 10A peltier elements. I would have loved to control the voltage, in stead I just turned the elements on when the temp was too high and turned them of when the temp was too low. But the peltier elements is more efficient at say 7 and 10V than 12V, thus it would have been much better if I was able to control the voltage. But I found out really quickly that there are some dynamics effects when you turn on and of a 10A "resistor" multiple time a second. I am just glad my power supply survived.

[@LyesSMAILI]

I wish I've found this channel early. Well, now you have +1 sub.

[@s909201]

Nice film and I love your channel. Please continue to create more films for us. Thank you.

[@francoisguyot9770]

Very nice, detailed modular explanation for both hardware and software! I'm subscribing as i'm eager to try that project.

[@hoangthang8772]

This panel can put out close to 100 watts kzbin.infoUgkxOqI2yqX0XVrhR2BMJciTWrHJpG8FhJyg when positioned in the appropriate southernly direction, tilted to the optimal angle for your latitude/date, and connected to a higher capacity device than a 500. The built in kickstand angle is a fixed at 50 degrees. Up to 20% more power can be output by selecting the actual date and latitude optimal angle.The 500 will only input 3.5A maximum at 18 volts for 63 watts. Some of the excess power from the panel can be fed into a USB battery bank, charged directly from the panel while also charging a 500. This will allow you to harvest as much as 63 + 15 = 78 watts.If this panel is used to charge a larger device, such as the power station, then its full output potential can be realized.

[@curiores111]

who said anything about 400 watt? The solar panel I used was 25 watt. I was charging AA batteries, not a car battery. :)

[@vigneshperiyasamy3019]

this channel deserves 10M subs

[@tamashamas6193]

Echoing the opinion of many other commenters, very impressed by the quality of your work! An organic problem solving process that has been well documented and presented with gorgeous and effective graphics, diagrams and footage. Do you do youtube full time by any chance? So much effort must go into these videos.

[@DylanCahill64]

Super helpful and informative as always, thanks :)

[@curiores111]

Well thank you Dylan 😊

[@bigonprivacy2708]

Excellent video!!! Thank you!

[@paulanselmendoza5178]

OMG, Thank You very much for this!

[@sumalansebastian5313]

You deserve more subscribers

[@hssnov]

This is amazing. Thank you Madam

[@sennabullet]

This is an exceptional video! Great production and amazing explanation. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@nathalieb4648]

Hello, thank you for the amazing video. It is helping me A TON w/ my senior (bachelor's) project.

[@naeemhaq3504]

Excellent videos. Proper engineering explanation.

[@GoatZilla]

whoah this video turned out way more technical than expected. I was kind of expecting you to just hijack one of the pins (feedback or on/off) of an existing LM2596 module tho. There's also kind of a bad shortage of low power boost MPPT chargers for smaller projects out there. Errbuddy just wanna do big stuff; the little guys r left fending for themselves.

[@7alfatech860]

Really nice walkthrough the entire process. I also liked how you clearly stated what you weren't going to cover. BTW, what software did you use to overlay the graphs on the video?

[@curiores111]

Thank you very much. 😊 I use Camtasia to overlay the graphs

[@7alfatech860]

@@curiores111 Thanks for the reply. I have used Camtasia, and will need to figure out how to do the overlay.

[@curiores111]

@@7alfatech860 ​ Sure. For myself, I use PNGs with transparency for the overlay, and simply animate some parts in Camtasia. In other cases with just a basic black background, I create the video in Python and then import it in. I have not yet found a good solution for using transparency in a video directly yet (haven't needed it so far), but I'm sure its out there.

[@_DTEB_KEITHNUBAILSIDQI]

Incredible video, super helpful explanation. I have one question, Curio Res can you explain how to stop the battery from charging when its fully charged?

[@mobysteve7515]

Nice!!! can't wait to try

[@JesseSchoch]

have you considered having the PID target power vs current?

[@MuZetaIEEE-EtaKappaNu]

I agree with Gary. Thank you so so so so much for this video! You have no idea how much you are helping me with a DIY project. May I please ask you, what do you have your current sensor and Arduino connected to in order to get the graphs that you are showing in the video? Like what software or o-scope are you using? I would be forever grateful for your reply. Thank you again for this content.

[@rajup.abraham9267]

Good narrations and video, pls help to increase current to 10A. I have 40V/10A panel

[@mookfaru835]

This is SO well put together, WOwwwwwwwwwwwww.

[@keen2461]

Excellent video. A bit of an overkill, but depending on your knowledge and project goals you can take the pieces of this content and build it around it. Thanks for sharing.

[@curiores111]

Thanks! Overkill -- meaning the circuit details perhaps?

[@keen2461]

@@curiores111 Meaning that in some situations that approach can be too complex to implement. Normally in a solar powered system you want to balance simplicity and performance.

[@curiores111]

@@keen2461 Thanks for your thoughts!

[@mehmetdemir5655]

You are genius

[@a.sanusinazareth9213]

BEST CHANNEL. Thanks so much for your tutorial. Vielen Dank! Gracias!

[@user-gw1pj7fh7q]

I don’t know if you’re a guy or a girl, but you’re great for doing such projects, they definitely deserve a lot of respect for the work you’ve done! Thank you very much for sharing your experience!

[@curiores111]

Both, as we collaborate on the projects. Thank you!

[@davebutler3905]

The buck converter is more than just an LC filter... You need the diode to allow energy stored in the inductor to supply the output, when the mosfet turns off.

[@CroftGaming1]

I guess she is better at coding and electronics is just a hobby.

[@michaelandersen1161]

Very nice videos, what software do you ude to make the electronic Circuit in your videos? Could you make a video on how you create your nice looking videos here on youtube

[@plamenpetkov7132]

add an emitter resistor for the NPN, thus converting it to voltage controlled current source. Now select pull up to suit the PMOSFET

[@user-hz8xw1nl8b]

Nice and teaching video. What parameters should change to charge 24V battery from 48V panel?

[@Gerald-iz7mv]

hi nice video - is there a solar panel, battery with that additional circuit ready to buy somewhere? i want to use it for some project but just want to connect both and not build it myself...

[@vitronicstech2633]

very nice tutorial, one quick question. can you modify your code to use I2C lcd?

[@SahilJamraMA]

Can you please...upload a new video in running condition of your project....? Your video is amazing... A few help is needed when the project is under running... So please help us...🙏❤

[@alurihariharan5082]

Very nice and neat...i tried it before (writing pid with if loops) it kinda oscillated to set value

[@curiores111]

Yeah, it is common to see instability with PID control in many systems.

[@CryingNeutrons]

Incredible Video, Very informative, simple breakdown. Are you an electrical engineer? Self taught?

[@curiores111]

Much appreciated Sir Neutrons. I am self-taught in this area... my original degree is in applied math. I missed not getting to actually apply anything, so now I do it for fun. :)

[@Abc-sl1nf]

Great voice!

[@neuralcircuitry1]

Great Video! Can I get the inductor spec? current value, voltage value...?

[@danielcastro9282]

Thank you for this information. Sorry to ask but if the Vin will only be 12V, what good values of pull up resistor and the resistor that would divide the voltage be? thank you

[@orides5976]

You can stick with 1k for the pullup. And assuming your P mosfet has a Vgs equal or greater than +- 20 volts, you can simply remove the second resistor, as there is no need to a voltage divider in this situation.

[@spolz2231]

well done.

[@copernicofelinis]

your videos are beautifully done. what do you use for the animations?

[@curiores111]

Many thanks Copernico. I use camtasia and python, mostly.

[@10e999]

@@curiores111 you're building animation with python ? Interesting ! do you use a library to do so? Or did you built it from scratch?

[@curiores111]

@@10e999 Yeah, Python is mostly for the plots, (using matplotlib). Since it's pretty basic functionality, I haven't used a library or built much of one. :)

[@10e999]

@@curiores111 I didn't know matplotlib could do animation ! interesting !

[@mookfaru835]

Which off the shelf ones are as good as yours?

[@helinaras8664]

Hello, um I have a question, what is a good equivalence for the IRF9540 MOSFET if it's not available?

[@hristonedelkov1903]

Can I make the same system, but with 12V solar panel? What parts I have to replace ?

[@markday3145]

Another great video! That was a good example of windup, and easier to understand than in things like motor control applications I've seen. I also appreciate you working through the basics of a buck converter, step by step. Would it make sense to use both proportional and integral terms? Would that reduce the overshoot once the panels resume generating power? I can see that the integral-only controller ramps up more slowly. I imagine that might be better for the battery.

[@curiores111]

Thank you for dropping by Mark! I'm glad that you found it to be an informative example. The system is so unstable the proportional controller doesn't really improve the response much. On the time-scale required by the battery, the integral controller is pretty good. I did actually have some issues with overshoot using the integral controller, but I actually found that by adding a feed-forward controller I was able to manage that pretty quickly. To be fair, this controller would normally be an analog one built with ICs and op amps... which does not suffer from (as much of) the same control stability issues as the digital one. I do enjoy broadly applying the Arduino, though, since it's much easier to utilize (especially for learning) than specific ICs.

[@kifahzaidan4505]

THANKS A LOT CAN YOU PLEASE POST VIDEO FOR THE (CONTROLLING OF DC MOTOR 'ACTUATOR ' PROGRAMABLE POSITION WITH MEMORY BUTTONS USING ARDUINO. BEST WISHES

[@zahidakram9622]

Vary nice and vary nice

[@helinaras8664]

Also does the system still work without the arduino mega and temperature sensor?

[@andyroom4563]

sweety voice ,very good!

[@mhranmrad3284]

I am very thankful for your amazing explanation. I have a question and I hope you can answer me. If I use 0.5W Solar Panel, 5.5V, 100mA, 55 x 70mm instead of 24v solar panel with circuit you have made. It will work or I need to consider it as a new circuit and i have to change the value of components in the circuit.

[@curiores111]

Thanks! As you suspected you would need to update the components for your circuit.

[@patricknoyan3149]

very good video! could someone help me how exactly to get the integral coefficient and what mathematical equations are used

[@Nxck2440]

Simulink PID tuner

[@sneezydwarf8744]

Hi! Can I use a programable DC power source instead of solar panel?

[@rafimd4670]

Is it for Li-io)Li-po battery or leadstorage battery?

[@Baraka_SYP]

Hello! Is it possible to list the components used so we can DIY at home please!😊

[@aislingboyhan350]

Hi there, I'm looking for this exact build to go with my solar fire alarm project for my bachelor's degree. Can you advise the panel you used for this? I'm finding it hard to source a 24V panel. :)

[@curiores111]

I used this inexpensive one from amazon.. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IFJ73X4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 Cheap and not a lot of power but that is what I wanted. It's not exactly 24 V but it was sufficient for this system. If you need higher voltage you could always put a couple panels in series.

[@sharifabdulrahmansharifhas6607]

Is this suitable for lead acid battery?

[@derickniwin7084]

Can you post a video boost converter

[@adnanahmadknowledgevideo]

I was given a solar charge controller project from my college and after working day in day out for days i finally made this solar charge control with the help of your video Thanks a Lot. And the battery is charging. But I have a question does this circuit have autocutt off feature when the battery is fully charged? because by reading the code you have provided I didn't understand that it has a autocutt off feature or not ?

[@curiores111]

No, this is most definitely experimental code. There's no auto cut-off feature, or other quality of life features.

[@adnanahmadknowledgevideo]

​@@curiores111 So can you please explain me how can I add a auto cutoff feature in the code. I have to submit the project on coming week it will be better if I add a auto cut off feature.

[@curiores111]

That's a complex topic. Typically a combination of signals are observed -- and it depends on the type of battery. The voltage will typically peak and then dip, so you can shut off after the voltage peaks. Another sign is a temperature increase. When the battery is fully charged it starts shedding energy as heat, so you can monitor temperature and shut off when you start seeing a spike. You can also just shut off when the voltage reaches an expected value. Again, it's a complex topic, so it would require some research.@@adnanahmadknowledgevideo

[@adnanahmadknowledgevideo]

@@curiores111 Okay thanks for sharing this information

[@ASAPASPOSSIBLE]

Is there an MPPT video on the. way? :D

[@jamest.5001]

Seems a voltage controllef relay would work just as well On until voltage rises to full charge then shut off. Using the panel voltage to open n/c side of relay. Maybe a Zener diode to control the relay, maybe put a transistor/mosfet between, use a viltage divider with pot to fine adjust the voltage and a small capacitor to slow switch ocillilation delay shut off slightly, then Keep off (transistor on), longer by the stored voltage in cap the battery may drop voltage then the relay will switch panel vack on possibly taking minutes to charge capacitor through a resistor and pot. Adjust to chsrge speed, possibly another to adjust adjust charge current/speed if cap/transistor , much more simple than Arduino, if using a Arduino, why not make a mppt, add a inductor to convert the voltage above full vharge voltage to current, to gsin wattage?

[@aislingboyhan350]

Also do you have an idea on how i can connect my Mq2 sensor now that the 5V pin is in use! Im a complete novice out of my depth!

[@curiores111]

You can use the 5V pin to power more than one device as long as your current draw isn't too high (for sensors it won't be). If you're using a breadboard you can just connect the 5V pin to a power rail (or any terminal..whatever really), and then hook that to both. If you're not using a breadboard there are other options. I like solder seal connectors.

[@subhatrasaravanan1498]

Hii can I get the coding and the flowchart

[@the_harmless3459]

How did you generated the bode plot? Is there any video related to this?

[@curiores111]

I made a video about it! kzbin.info/www/bejne/hneXl4aIrLWea6s

[@yosh1don]

Can you do a further video on the PID controller code for this please? I am trying to make one and need to understand the code on it. thanks. Great Vid BTW!!!!!

[@curiores111]

I might be able to do that. Is there any particular part of the code you're having trouble with?

[@yosh1don]

@@curiores111 I am making a similar set-up but not as complicated as you have done - it's slightly above my level. I am trying to make a simplified version of the charge controller. My PID results come out as garbled symbols of lines of question marks. Have tried various iterations. Maybe I could send an email with my code?

[@yosh1don]

@@curiores111 Hi I think I have managed to get the PID working, but I am having trouble understanding how you calculated the values of you LC filter, could you please tell me the calculations you used.

[@meilein9865]

@@yosh1don I'm also having some troubles with the PID controller.... would you be able to tell me how you figured it out? I cant seem to get the setParams function to carry over into my main code, did you have that as well?

[@pvsysttutor1186]

Hello, Excellent work! I cannot access circuit diagrams in that link. Could you make them available?

[@curiores111]

I'm not seeing any issue with the ones posted to the GitHub repo. Try these links: github.com/curiores/ArduinoTutorials/blob/main/SolarCharger/UnoChargingCircuit.pdf github.com/curiores/ArduinoTutorials/blob/main/SolarCharger/MegaChargingCircuitV2.pdf Alternatively, try downloading the whole repo and navigating to the "SolarCharger" folder.

[@pvsysttutor1186]

@@curiores111 I got them, thank you!

[@yahiaahmed4364]

please, can u tell me how much watts of the solar panel is?

[@curiores111]

I was using a 25 watt panel in this video.

[@tahirkamboh147]

I do not click on notifications as that fast as fast I came here.

[@curiores111]

Too kind as always, Tahir. 😊

[@AlirezaAzimi-hr9lq]

Thank you for this great video. Can someone help me to underestand how her class file is .hpp type? How I can I create such file to write my code in? Thank you!

[@curiores111]

You can use regular hpp includes with Arduino (among other standard C++ stuff). It's really no different than writing the class inside the main Arduino file. Here, it's just used as a simple way to separate some of the definitions from the main arduino code.

[@alirezaazimi7392]

@@curiores111 Thank you vry much, I think it will be easier for me to write the class in the main Arduino code. I just have one more question if you don't mind. Should Li-Ion batteries be charged with a steady voltage and current? Is this the reason that we necessarily have to use a LPF to only keep the DC component in the output voltage? The reason that I am asking this is that why didn't we do the same thing simply by a voltage divider then use a buck convertor? Thank you so much!

[@jermboslice]

Are you on twitter also?

[@JamesFraley]

There is something I cannot understand. I understand that if my input is 12v and the duty cycle is 0.275, the average is 3.3V. However, devices don't work on the average. Even with a smoothing filter, a spike of 12v would destroy most 3.3v devices. So, how does the equipment survive? Does the RC filter smooth the voltage sufficiently for the equipment to survive?

[@curiores111]

Yeah, the ripple on a correctly tuned RC filter should be pretty small. If the equipment is sensitive then of course you'd have to add additional filtering. Its common to have step-down converters use a mean approach with a filter. There are certainly other methods. There's plenty of engineering that's gone into this type of problem.

[@JamesFraley]

@@curiores111 Thank you

[@omronnixt.quicay6344]

can I have the code sir ? I want to try it

[@flangooo2617]

would it be possible to charge a computer with this?

[@King_Ithra]

A computer doesn’t charge; as far as I know, you can only charge a battery not a computer

[@carminex]

woooooow...

[@nguyenanhhao9074]

what is the difference between using a buck converter and BTS 7960 to charge a lead-acid battery? please, reply me as soon as possible, Currently i'm in a project needed this kind of code

[@avicstaghlem5527]

Noob question, is this mopt charge controller?

[@curiores111]

No, I did not compute the maximum power point -- but you certainly could do that and adjust the control signal. (In fact, as I recall, I used a relatively low input amperage to the batteries. They were quite small.)

[@aislingboyhan350]

Hi there do you have an email address. I'm doing something similar to this for college but I cannot get it to work and I'm having major trouble trying to connect the solar panel to the buck converter and the battery to the breadboard! Kind regards Aisling

[@jay10987]

Has anyone else got this to work.

[@jay10987]

Got it to work, I was using an Arduino mega and looking at the uno code. I didn't realize that the mega and uno had different pins for timer1.

[@biswajit681]

Excellent... please upload BLDC motor control ... mainly trapezoidal and FOC ... please please

[@curiores111]

Appreciate that. I did buy some bldc stuff... haven't gotten around to making a video yet though. :S

[@biswajit681]

@@curiores111 please consider my request because there is no good resource available on the internet regarding BLDC motor control algorithm.thanks in advance and appreciate your efforts

[@curiores111]

@@biswajit681 Indeed, I think it's a great suggestion! Definitely near the top of my list

[@Rafy_24]

The power of the Sun... And about 60kFLOPS... In the palm of my hand

[@honumoorea873]

Useless, not efficient at all.

[@donaldnasplucker]

I have a question: does the inductor need to have a specific ohm or wattage rating?

[@curiores111]

The inductor needs to be rated for the expected current. (this is of course the case for any circuit components). As far as ohms/watts, I'm not familiar enough with the non-ideal characteristics of inductors to know how much energy they are dissipating. If the current rating is sufficient, I assume any non-ideal dissipation will be negligible.

[@donaldnasplucker]

@@curiores111 thanks!

[@wakeupcanadians]

Thought this was a how to build not here the structure lol

[@curiores111]

I'm not sure I understand the distinction... are you indicating that the depth of the technical detail in the build is more than you expected?

[@Leilektsoglou]

Congrats for your work. Can you share your email ?