Skip to main content

How to build Solar Cell Voltage Regulator


Description

This device is designed to be a simple, inexpensive ‘comparator’, intended for use in a solar cell power supply setup where a quick ‘too low’ or ‘just right’ voltage indicator is needed. The circuit consists only of one 5V regulator, two transistors, two LEDs, five resistors, two capacitors, and one small battery. Although a 4-V battery is indicated, 4.5 V (3 alkalines in series) or 3.6 V (3 NiCd cells in series) will also work.
The specifications of voltage regulator IC1 are mainly determined by the size and number of the solar cells and the current pull of the equipment connected to the output. Here the low-drop 4805 is suggested but other regulators may work equally well as long as you observe the output voltage of the solar cells. Transistors T1 and T2 are complementary types i.e. one each of the pnp and npn variety.

Circuit diagram:

Circuit diagram
Although the ubiquitous BC557B (pnp) and BC547B (npn) are indicated, any small-signal equivalents out of the junk box will probably do. The values of voltage dividers R1/R6 and R3/R4 may need to be adjusted according to the type of transistor and its gain, or according to the desired voltage thresholds. Using the resistor values shown in the schematic, LED D2 turns on fully when the voltage is just above 5 volts.
LED D1 turns on when the voltage drops below 4.2 volts or so. Between those two thresholds, there is a sort of no man’s land where both LEDs are on dimly. A buzzer or other warning device could be connected across the terminals of LED D1 to give a more substantial warning if the voltage drops below operating limits. The current consumption of the circuit is about 20 mA at 5 V, and it decreases with the voltage supplied by the solar cells.


author: Reuben Posthuma
circuit from http://www.extremecircuits.net/2010/05/solar-cell-voltage-regulator.html

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

NE566 Function Generator Circuit Diagram

The NE566 Function Generator is a Voltage-Controlled Oscillator of exceptional linearity with buf fered square wave and triangle wave outputs. The frequency of oscillation is determined by an external resistor and capacitor and the voltage applied to the control terminal. The Oscillator CAN be programmed over a ten-to-one frequency range by proper selection of an external resistance and modulated over a ten-to-one range by the control voltage, with exceptional linearity.  FMAX = 1 MHz     WIDE 1000:1 Continuous Sweep Possible  NE566 Function Generator Circuit Diagram Pdf Datasheet  Sourced by : Circuitsstream

Transceiver Homebrew QRP SSB 80M Band

Radio communication transceiver is a radio transmitter at the same time the plane doubles as a radio receiver used for communication purposes. It consists of the transmitter and the receiver are assembled in an integrated way. In mulamula generation, the transmitter or receiver or transmitter and receiver sections are assembled separately and is part of a stand sendirisendiri and can work well sendirisendiri Currently employed both parts are integrated in turn. Aircraft simple transmitter consists of an oscillator generating radio vibration and this vibration after vibration boarded with our voice, in a technique called dimodulir radio, then by the antenna is converted into radio waves and transmitted. As we know that the sound waves we can not reach long distances, although its power is quite large, while the radio waves with a relatively small force can reach a distance of thousands of kilometers. In order for our voice can reach a far distance, then our voice superimposed on radio w...

Altec Lansing 353A – power amplifier – vacuum tube type – Circuit diagram 6L6 12AX7

Used tubes – 12AX7 [pre-amplifier, tone control and audio pre-amplifier] – 6L6GC [audio output] Circuit diagram Tube pin-out -6L6 Tube pin-out 12AX7