Performance of battery charge controllers: An interim test report

Conference · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1990

OSTI ID:7127096

Bower, W I ^[1]; Dunlop, J P; Maytrott, C W ^[2]

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1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
2. 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 Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC04-76DP00789
• OSTI ID: 7127096
• Report Number(s): SAND-90-1300C; CONF-900542-3; ON: DE90011413
• Resource Relation: Conference: 21. Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers photovoltaic specialists conference, Kissimmee, FL (USA), 21-25 May 1990
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
25 ENERGY STORAGE
42 ENGINEERING
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS//MATHEMATICS, COMPUTING, AND INFORMATION SCIENCE
BATTERY CHARGERS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
DESIGN
PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER SUPPLIES
EQUIPMENT INTERFACES
SOLAR ENERGY
IMPLEMENTATION
ALGORITHMS
COMMERCIALIZATION
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
FAILURE MODE ANALYSIS
FEEDBACK
HUMIDITY
INSTALLATION
LOAD MANAGEMENT
MANUFACTURING
MEASURING METHODS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
OPERATION
PHYSICAL PROTECTION
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RELAYS
RESPONSE FUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELL ARRAYS
SWITCHES
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
TRANSIENTS
VARIATIONS
VOLTAGE REGULATORS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
EQUIPMENT
FUNCTIONS
MANAGEMENT
MATHEMATICAL LOGIC
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
POWER SUPPLIES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SYSTEM FAILURE ANALYSIS
SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
TESTING
140600* - Solar Energy- Photovoltaic Power Systems
250900 - Energy Storage- Batteries
426000 - Engineering- Components
Electron Devices & Circuits- (1990-)
990200 - Mathematics & Computers