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Charge controller

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A charge controller or charge regulator limits the rate at which electric current is added to or drawn from electric batteries. [1] It prevents overcharging and may prevent against overvoltage, which can reduce battery performance or lifespan, and may pose a safety risk. It may also prevent completely draining ("deep discharging") a battery, or perform controlled discharges, depending on the battery technology, to protect battery life. [2][3] The terms "charge controller" or "charge regulator" may refer to either a stand-alone device, or to control circuitry integrated within a battery pack, battery-powered device, or battery recharger. [4]

Stand-alone charge controllers

Charge controllers are sold to consumers as separate devices, often in conjunction with solar or wind power generators, for uses such as RV, boat, and off-the-grid home battery storage systems. [1] In solar applications, charge controllers may also be called solar regulators. [5]

A series charge controller or series regulator disables further current flow into batteries when they are full. A shunt charge controller or shunt regulator diverts excess electricity to an auxiliary or "shunt" load, such as an electric water heater, when batteries are full. [6] [7]

Simple charge controllers stop charging a battery when they exceed a set high voltage level, and re-enable charging when battery voltage drops back below that level. Pulse width modulation (PWM) and maximum power point tracker (MPPT) technologies are more electronically sophisticated, adjusting charging rates depending on the battery's level, to allow charging closer to its maximum capacity.[8] Charge controllers may also monitor battery temperature to prevent overheating. Some charge controller systems also display data, transmit data to remote displays,[8] and data logging to track electric flow over time.

Integrated charge controller circuitry

Circuitry that functions as a charge regulator controller may consist of several electrical components, or may be encapsulated in a single microchip, an integrated circuit (IC) usually called a charge controller IC or charge control IC.[2][9]

Charge controller circuits are used for rechargeable electronic devices such as cell phones, laptop computers, portable audio players, and uninterruptible power supplies, as well as for larger battery systems found in electric vehicles[10] and orbiting space satellites[11]

Charge controller circuitry may be located in the battery-powered device, in a battery pack for either wired[12] or wireless[13] (inductive) charging, inline with the wiring,[14] or in the AC adapter or other power supply module.[15]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Charge Controllers for Stand-Alone Systems" (Web page), part of A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved on 2007-08-20.
  2. ^ a b Brown, David. "Technical Article: Battery Charging Options for Portable Products." (Commercial website). Analogic Tech, 2006-07-01. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  3. ^ "United States Patent 5475294: Charge controller for battery charger." (Website) Freepatentsonline.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  4. ^ "Remote Observation Station, Entry #F2040: Abstract." Circuit Cellar Flash Innovation 2003 Design Contest, via circuitcellar.com. 2003. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  5. ^ "Conergy Solar-Port available from Energy Matters" (Press release). 2007-07-23. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  6. ^ Dunlop, James P. "Batteries and Charge Control in Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Systems: Fundamentals and Application" Sandia National Laboratories, Photovoltaic Systems Applications Dept, 1997-01-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  7. ^ Glossery (Website). Home Power, Inc. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  8. ^ a b "MPPT Charge Controller Receives UL Listing" (Press release). Blue Sky Energy, Inc., 2002-12-10, via rewnewableenergyaccess.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  9. ^ "MAX712, MAX713 NiCd/NiMH Battery Fast-Charge Controllers." (Data sheet). Maxim Integrated Products. 2002-06-21. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  10. ^ Patent CA 2121470: Charging Station for Electric Vehicles Canadian Patents Database, via patents1.ic.gc.ca. 1992-10-15. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  11. ^ Glover, Daniel R. (Editor: Andrew J. Butrica) "SP-4217 Beyond The Ionosphere: Fifty Years of Satellite Communication, Chapter 6: NASA Experimental Communications Satellites, 1958-1995." National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA History Division, 1997. Retrieved on 2007-08-21.
  12. ^ "United States Patent 20020063551: Battery unit with an integral charge controller." (Website). Freepatentsonline.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
  13. ^ Wu, Jason, Kiran Kanukurthy, and David Andersen. "Portable Power: A Power Supply for Embedded Applications." Circuit Cellar, via circuitcellar.com, April 2006. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
  14. ^ "United States Patent 20030015990: In line charge controller for photovaltaic modules." (Website). Freepatentsonline.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
  15. ^ "United States Patent 20040164714: AC Adaptor." (Website). Freepatentsonline.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-21
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