Solar load controller #1 – project introduction and real time clock
The sun's been out and your battery is charged. Now control how that energy is used with the load controller,…
Mppt solar charge controller #10 – 72 cell solar panel charging 12v battery
If the economic argument for MPPT doesn't stack up, perhaps it's ability to match high voltage panels to a 12V…
Microchip pic12f683 as a variable frequency charge pump part 1
Coding a PIC12F683 to act as a variable frequency charge pump. Two pins are made outputs and set to complimentary…
Mppt solar charge controller #9 – project review and future ideas
MPPT test rig has been re-arranged to make it easier to see what's what. Here I explain what each section…
Logic circuits need decoupling capacitors – but what is coupling?
We all know that logic circuits need decoupling capacitors, but what do they prevent? What exactly is coupling. Here I…
High power schottky diode reverse leakage current tutorial
The 90SQ035 is alarmingly temperature dependent when it comes to reverse leakage current. But it is thermally the right way…
High power schottky diode forward voltage and current tutorial
I wanted to see what forward voltage I'd get on a 90SQ035 Schottky diode at different current flows.
Mppt solar charge controller #8 – oscillator driving buck converter components
Finally, the buck converter can be switched using a new 7555 based oscillator circuit. And it seems to work in…
Mppt solar charge controller #7 – buck converter components added
The test rig now has the buck converter components (MOSFET, Schottky diode and inductor) added to it. A 9 volt…
50w led powered from 12v car battery using dc/dc boost converter part 2
The 50W LED looks about as bright as a 500W halogen, but I've just seen a 100W LED on eBay...