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  3. 12v Solar battery monitor

12v Solar battery monitor

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  • mrc-coreM mrc-core

    I'm working again on this system but i'm having some troubles... The code has you caan see i have already adapted it to version 2.1.1 Now on the hardware i'm building i have this:

    • 1 solar panel 10w connected to the LM2596 that converts the 12v to 5.5v that goes to the LiPo Enhanced Charger Module, here i have the 3,7v bat connected and the arduinos connected to the other power out.

    My problem is that when i have the system online the values i'm getting are not right. For the battery voltage i get 5,5v when i believe i should be getting 3,7v or 4,1v maximum.
    The charge and load are always on 0,2A or 0,0A

    I have the acs712 connected to the negative side off the battery and the Voltage sensor connected to the negative and positive side off the battery.

    What i'm i doing rong here ????

    Boots33B Offline
    Boots33B Offline
    Boots33
    Hero Member
    wrote on last edited by
    #43

    @mrc-core From your code it looks like you are using a 30A acs712 and you are still using the 25v sensor to measure the expected 4v. With only a 10w panel you might be better off with a 5A acs712 and also a voltage divider that maxes out at around 10v. This will give you a better resolution to work with right from the start.

    How are you powering the arduino? Perhaps you can do a drawing of how your project is wired together. Remember the arduino needs to have a stable 5v supply to have any chance of giving a good result.

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • mrc-coreM Offline
      mrc-coreM Offline
      mrc-core
      wrote on last edited by mrc-core
      #44

      Hi. sorry for my late replay....
      Here's the way i'm powering things up.
      I don't have a solar charge since last summer we had a big fire on my island and all my arduino and sensors that were outside were all damage from the fire and hot temperatures. So to fiz this problem i'm using the LM2596 to reduce the 12V from the solar panels to 5.5V so that the lipo charger can work. Above the 5v this charger will get damage.

      Some data from this charger:
      LED: Red = Charging, Green = Complete
      Input Voltage: 4.5 to 5.5V
      Battery Max Charge Voltage: 4.2V - charges a 1S Lithium Ion Polymer Battery

      This outputs a 4.2V on the load and batt connections.

      My arduino and sensors are connected to the load pins from the lipo charger as you can see on the picture.
      Thanks for your replay and help.

      0_1497281574639_Solar.png

      Boots33B 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • mrc-coreM mrc-core

        Hi. sorry for my late replay....
        Here's the way i'm powering things up.
        I don't have a solar charge since last summer we had a big fire on my island and all my arduino and sensors that were outside were all damage from the fire and hot temperatures. So to fiz this problem i'm using the LM2596 to reduce the 12V from the solar panels to 5.5V so that the lipo charger can work. Above the 5v this charger will get damage.

        Some data from this charger:
        LED: Red = Charging, Green = Complete
        Input Voltage: 4.5 to 5.5V
        Battery Max Charge Voltage: 4.2V - charges a 1S Lithium Ion Polymer Battery

        This outputs a 4.2V on the load and batt connections.

        My arduino and sensors are connected to the load pins from the lipo charger as you can see on the picture.
        Thanks for your replay and help.

        0_1497281574639_Solar.png

        Boots33B Offline
        Boots33B Offline
        Boots33
        Hero Member
        wrote on last edited by
        #45

        @mrc-core The original circuit/sketch was designed for a 5v arduino and was measuring a 12v system . From your drawing it looks like you will be using a 3v arduino so at the very least you will need to change the voltage divider to give you a better resolution. As to the acs712 it is a 5v device so most likely will not even work on 3v so you may need to source some other device for current measurement. Again you would want a low current device if you are to have any chance of measuring the few milliamps you would be seeing. perhaps a google search for acs712 on 3v will produce a result.

        mrc-coreM 2 Replies Last reply
        0
        • Boots33B Boots33

          @mrc-core The original circuit/sketch was designed for a 5v arduino and was measuring a 12v system . From your drawing it looks like you will be using a 3v arduino so at the very least you will need to change the voltage divider to give you a better resolution. As to the acs712 it is a 5v device so most likely will not even work on 3v so you may need to source some other device for current measurement. Again you would want a low current device if you are to have any chance of measuring the few milliamps you would be seeing. perhaps a google search for acs712 on 3v will produce a result.

          mrc-coreM Offline
          mrc-coreM Offline
          mrc-core
          wrote on last edited by
          #46

          @Boots33 I'm going to change the arduino mini for an arduino nano to have the 5V still have one in the house.
          Acs712 have already buy 2 off them just in case if i have to go back to arduino mini.

          I was thinking on booting all my outside arduinos from this solar panel i have 2 more off them that i can connect.

          1 Reply Last reply
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          • Boots33B Boots33

            @mrc-core The original circuit/sketch was designed for a 5v arduino and was measuring a 12v system . From your drawing it looks like you will be using a 3v arduino so at the very least you will need to change the voltage divider to give you a better resolution. As to the acs712 it is a 5v device so most likely will not even work on 3v so you may need to source some other device for current measurement. Again you would want a low current device if you are to have any chance of measuring the few milliamps you would be seeing. perhaps a google search for acs712 on 3v will produce a result.

            mrc-coreM Offline
            mrc-coreM Offline
            mrc-core
            wrote on last edited by
            #47

            @Boots33 I have change to an arduino nano but still get some strange values. I'm going to make some changes over this project and see again what ill get.

            Thanks for all the help.

            Boots33B 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • mrc-coreM mrc-core

              @Boots33 I have change to an arduino nano but still get some strange values. I'm going to make some changes over this project and see again what ill get.

              Thanks for all the help.

              Boots33B Offline
              Boots33B Offline
              Boots33
              Hero Member
              wrote on last edited by
              #48

              @mrc-core Ok, let me know how you get on.
              I think solar powering the nodes is a great idea, I have several nodes and three raspberry pi's running on my house solar system at the moment.

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • U Offline
                U Offline
                unfadingpyro
                wrote on last edited by
                #49

                I just finished setting up this sensor to monitor my solar panels. The voltage sensors is reporting correct, but i'm not sure if the current sensor is right or wired correctly.

                This is how it is currently wired.
                alt text

                Is this going to give me both charge and discharge?

                Thanks!

                Boots33B 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • U unfadingpyro

                  I just finished setting up this sensor to monitor my solar panels. The voltage sensors is reporting correct, but i'm not sure if the current sensor is right or wired correctly.

                  This is how it is currently wired.
                  alt text

                  Is this going to give me both charge and discharge?

                  Thanks!

                  Boots33B Offline
                  Boots33B Offline
                  Boots33
                  Hero Member
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #50

                  @unfadingpyro I can't see your wiring diagram.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • mfalkviddM Offline
                    mfalkviddM Offline
                    mfalkvidd
                    Mod
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #51

                    Me neither. This is what it looks like to me:
                    0_1523442392977_IMG_2373.PNG

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • U Offline
                      U Offline
                      unfadingpyro
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #52

                      How about now?

                      0_1524089561728_Untitled drawing (1).jpg

                      1 Reply Last reply
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                      • Boots33B Offline
                        Boots33B Offline
                        Boots33
                        Hero Member
                        wrote on last edited by Boots33
                        #53

                        Yes i can see your wiring now and no you are not likely to get any sort of reading with that circuit. You have the 712 wired in parallel with the charge wire, it needs to be in series instead. The load needs to be connected to the same side that the charge wire is on. So a quick re-draw of your circuit would look like this.

                        0_1524101289797_panel wire.jpg

                        Don't forget to add a fuse at the battery positive.

                        The original drawing from earlier in this thread would also be ok

                        alt text

                        nurul amiraN 1 Reply Last reply
                        2
                        • U Offline
                          U Offline
                          unfadingpyro
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #54

                          Okay. I will rewire it this weekend. Thanks!

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          2
                          • U Offline
                            U Offline
                            unfadingpyro
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #55

                            Get the sensor rewired yesterday and i am now getting the correct readings! Thanks again for the help.

                            Boots33B 1 Reply Last reply
                            2
                            • U unfadingpyro

                              Get the sensor rewired yesterday and i am now getting the correct readings! Thanks again for the help.

                              Boots33B Offline
                              Boots33B Offline
                              Boots33
                              Hero Member
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #56

                              @unfadingpyro Great to hear you got it all working. Always a good feeling when a project comes together :)

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • Boots33B Boots33

                                Yes i can see your wiring now and no you are not likely to get any sort of reading with that circuit. You have the 712 wired in parallel with the charge wire, it needs to be in series instead. The load needs to be connected to the same side that the charge wire is on. So a quick re-draw of your circuit would look like this.

                                0_1524101289797_panel wire.jpg

                                Don't forget to add a fuse at the battery positive.

                                The original drawing from earlier in this thread would also be ok

                                alt text

                                nurul amiraN Offline
                                nurul amiraN Offline
                                nurul amira
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #57

                                @Boots33 hi. Now, i'm working on this project for my final year project. I dont really used your overall project, i just used the concept which monitor the solar battery. I used your circuit diagram without using the transceiver and use my own code to run the project. In your opinion, is that make sense to you ?

                                Boots33B 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • nurul amiraN nurul amira

                                  @Boots33 hi. Now, i'm working on this project for my final year project. I dont really used your overall project, i just used the concept which monitor the solar battery. I used your circuit diagram without using the transceiver and use my own code to run the project. In your opinion, is that make sense to you ?

                                  Boots33B Offline
                                  Boots33B Offline
                                  Boots33
                                  Hero Member
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #58

                                  @nurul-amira Yes that should all work fine. That circuit has been running 24/7 for around 4 years now without any issues.

                                  nurul amiraN 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • Boots33B Boots33

                                    @nurul-amira Yes that should all work fine. That circuit has been running 24/7 for around 4 years now without any issues.

                                    nurul amiraN Offline
                                    nurul amiraN Offline
                                    nurul amira
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #59

                                    @Boots33 thank you for your time to reply me 😁.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
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