This PWM charge controller is cheaper than the MPPT charge controllers, as it does not contain the internal powerful DC/DC converter necessary for MPPT. The lower production cost and easy manufacturing with larger SMD components makes it ideally suited for solar home systems (SHS) for rural electrification.
The design allows to use either SMD MOSFETs or TO220 THT MOSFETs, which can be easily attached to a heat sink.
Schematic: PDF file in repository
Gerber files: PCB ordering documentation
Bill of Materials: BOM export from KiCAD
Firmware: Charge Controller Firmware repository
- 12V/24V battery voltage
- Up to 20A max. charge current (depending on selected MOSFETs)
- 55V max. solar input
- 32bit ARM MCU (STM32L072)
- Expandable via Olimex Universal Extension Connector (UEXT) featuring I2C, Serial and SPI interface (e.g. used for display, WIFI communication, etc.)
- USB charging (single port)
- Low-side load switching
- Overvoltage
- Undervoltage
- Overcurrent
- PV short circuit
- PV reverse polarity (for max. module open circuit voltage of around 40V)
- Battery reverse polarity