Performance of battery charge controllers: An interim test report
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- Florida Solar Energy Center, Cape Canaveral, FL (USA)
The performance of battery charge controllers and their effects on the system are a critical concern for stand-alone photovoltaic systems with battery storage. Many types of charge controllers are being marketed today, and designers need to understand more about their performance and compatibility with different kinds of batteries and systems. This paper describes the evaluations and selected interim test results from eight different models of small (approx. 10 amps) charge controllers. They are being subjected to a comprehensive test program including thorough electrical characterizations at selected temperatures, photovoltaic inputs and load levels. After electrical characterizations, the charge controllers are divided into concurrent evaluation paths. One path consists of side-by-side operational systems tests in which the charge controllers are installed in identical stand-alone PV systems. The other path consists of continuous environmental and electrical cycling in which the controllers are subjected to programmed electrical inputs, temperatures, and relative humidities. Recharacterizations of all controllers are addition, selected custom tests are performed on identical models to determine response to transients, installation issues and system compatibilities. The data presented here include measured electrical characteristics of the controllers, temperature effects, operational performance, and interface measurements at the array, battery and load. 8 refs., 9 figs., 4 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- DOE/CE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 7127096
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-90-1300C; CONF-900542--3; ON: DE90011413
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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25 ENERGY STORAGE
250900 -- Energy Storage-- Batteries
42 ENGINEERING
426000 -- Engineering-- Components
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99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
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ALGORITHMS
BATTERY CHARGERS
COMMERCIALIZATION
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT INTERFACES
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FEEDBACK
FUNCTIONS
HUMIDITY
IMPLEMENTATION
INSTALLATION
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
MANUFACTURING
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL PROTECTION
POWER SUPPLIES
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RELAYS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SOLAR ENERGY
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SWITCHES
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TESTING
TRANSIENTS
VARIATIONS
VOLTAGE REGULATORS