Solar DC System

Solar panels produce DC power. The most common type of solar system is DC System. It is simple, reliable, easy to install, and easy to maintain. When sunlight hits the panel it produces electricity that we get access through the terminals connected to the solar panel. We can use this power directly during the daytime but there is one issue with that. Sun intensity varies for different reasons. Shadows of cloud trees or birds could create disruption in the power supply. Even during the night, we need power as well. 

    Here comes the application of the Battery. A battery is a device that stores electricity in form of chemical energy. Batteries help us to store the power and use it whenever we need it as per our requirement. Batteries are sensitive devices too. To get the long life of a battery we must not do some things. Like over-charging a battery or over-discharging a battery.

    This is what a Charge Controller does. A Solar Charge Controller is a device that controlles the charging and discharging process of a battery. It aslo gives protection against over-charging and deep-discharging of the battery. There are some other optional features of a charge controller like Dusk to Dawn. With this feature charge controller automatically turns on the light during the dusk and turs the light back off at dawn. Some charge controller comes with MPPT or PWM algorithm for getting maximum power from the solar panel. Some of them comes with Trickle Charging to keep the battery fully charged.

There are mainly two terminals of a solar panel Positive and Negative. A charge controller unit has six terminals. One pair of positive and negative is for solar, one pair is for battery and the last pair is for the load. The connection is very simple Positive of the solar panel goes to the Solar Positive(S+) terminal of the charge controller and negative from the solar panel goes to Solar Negative(S-) of the charge controller. Battery positive goes to charge controllers Battery Positive(B+) terminal and battery negative goes to the Battery Negative(B-) terminal of the charge controller. Now finally we can connect the load to the Load Positive(L+) and Load Negative(L-) of the charge controller.

These Types of system are sometimes called Home Lighting System. In remote areas we use these system to provide power to small houses.