Electrical charging control apparatus and method, and solar to electrical energy conversion apparatus incorporating such charging control apparatus

Patent · Tue Jun 05 00:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:6284926

Staler, T; Yerkes, J W

Electrical charging control apparatus regulates the charging of a rechargeable battery by a solar panel. The control of the charging is through a relay which when closed directly connects the output and charging terminal of the solar panel to the output and charging terminal of the battery to permit the charging of the battery by the solar panel. Such coupling is in turn under the terminals are in a coupling prevention relationship chosen to prevent significant discharging of the battery through the solar panel; of breaker apparatus which breaks a coupling after a predetermined period of time; and of additional signal-tester apparatus which causes a termination of the coupling when the signal at the connected terminals reaches a chosen charging termination threshold. The breaking of the coupling, which can result in a periodic breaking, permits the testing for discharging prevention. A charging control method is in accordance with the above outlined method of operation of the charging control apparatus.

• Assignee: EDB-85-011378
• Patent Number(s): US 4453955
• OSTI ID: 6284926
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
25 ENERGY STORAGE
250900 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries
BATTERY CHARGERS
BATTERY CHARGING
CHARGE STATE
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
LABORATORY EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS HANDLING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
RELAYS
SOLAR BATTERY CHARGERS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SWITCHING CIRCUITS