How to build an Arduino controlled solar charger

In this video, I'll show you how to build a solar charging circuit controlled by an Arduino. You can find the code and circuit diagrams here:

[thorntontarr]

CR: You start so simply - a solar panel charger but quickly you enter real issues with solutions involving maths, PIDs (yes, I have seen your PID videos) and experimental evaluation. If only your approach and testing philosophy was the standard of You Tube, real progress would be made by many. Your approach seems straightforward; how is its efficiency? Yes, I understand that you are teaching us not building a product to sell. So very well done, CR.

[chordlord-qtvt]

I finally succeeded in doing something that I had been struggling with for a while. Sometimes all it takes is finding the right resource or approach that clicks with you.Thank youu for the video

[trynadyna]

You are an INCREDIBLE and impressive person, my goodness! This has got to be one of the most well-done tutorial videos on any subject that I've ever watched. Everything about it is perfect, I really mean it. Subscribed and really looking forward to diving into some more of your content!

[hinokikuaimu]

Concise, excellent starting point to go deeper and a soothing voice which encourage learning, very well done! Suggestions for future videos: you made the buck, how about the boost? BLDC control (mentioned elsewhere, I second that), positioning with Kalman filter and IMU, supercapacitor charging control (not far from this video but with different charging approaches)...

[garyhalsey]

First time coming across your channel and all I can say is….. amazing!! Subscribed and looking forward to digging into your other videos! Tried many times unsuccessfully to get a good PID setup on my Arduinos, hoping watching your videos will yield success! My background is in electronics for the Royal Navy and been writing code in one form or another for over 40 years. Keep up the brilliant work!!

[AugustineAriola]

Wonderful video. I have finally found solution to my age long problem. I did control engineering, I perfectly understood the PID part very well. I used a PID controller in my M.Eng program with a multivariable sensor that added complexity to the project.

[davestewart]

Brilliant!. All your videos are amazingly well made and super helpful. Your PID video I watched 100 times and used it in a balancing system. I just got a couple solar panels and wondered how to make a charger. Well, after watching this, I am going to buy an off the shelf one. lol. Thanks again. Keep em coming.

[PhG]

This is by far one of the better videos I've seen. Very well explained and at the same time entertaining too!

[LyesSMAILI]

I wish I've found this channel early. Well, now you have +1 sub.

[weiye]

Awesome job of explaining a complex problem in a very simple and understandable way! You have been amazing! Thank you!

[davebutler]

The buck converter is more than just an LC filter... You need the diode to allow energy stored in the inductor to supply the output, when the mosfet turns off.

[francoisguyot]

Very nice, detailed modular explanation for both hardware and software! I'm subscribing as i'm eager to try that project.

[keen]

Excellent video. A bit of an overkill, but depending on your knowledge and project goals you can take the pieces of this content and build it around it. Thanks for sharing.

[sennabullet]

This is an exceptional video! Great production and amazing explanation. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[Petch]

Grate video. I could really have used that when I created a project using 12V, 10A peltier elements. I would have loved to control the voltage, in stead I just turned the elements on when the temp was too high and turned them of when the temp was too low. But the peltier elements is more efficient at say 7 and 10V than 12V, thus it would have been much better if I was able to control the voltage. But I found out really quickly that there are some dynamics effects when you turn on and of a 10A "resistor" multiple time a second. I am just glad my power supply survived.

[PrUveTGoogl]

I don’t know if you’re a guy or a girl, but you’re great for doing such projects, they definitely deserve a lot of respect for the work you’ve done! Thank you very much for sharing your experience!

[tamashamas]

Echoing the opinion of many other commenters, very impressed by the quality of your work! An organic problem solving process that has been well documented and presented with gorgeous and effective graphics, diagrams and footage. Do you do youtube full time by any chance? So much effort must go into these videos.

[nathalieb]

Hello, thank you for the amazing video. It is helping me A TON w/ my senior (bachelor's) project.

[s]

Nice film and I love your channel. Please continue to create more films for us. Thank you.

[plamenpetkov]

add an emitter resistor for the NPN, thus converting it to voltage controlled current source. Now select pull up to suit the PMOSFET