International Transactions on Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Abhishek, Vol: 2, No: 2, pp: 52-59, June 2023

Solar Powered Battery Charging System by

Using Arduino: Experimental design
Abhishek Muthyala*

Abstract: In recent years, the need for efficient and sustainable energy solutions has become increasingly
important. One potential solution is the use of solar power for battery charging systems. In this project, an
Arduino-based solar-powered battery charging system is designed and implemented. The system consists of a
solar panel that collects energy from the sun, an Arduino microcontroller that regulates the battery's charging,
and a battery that stores the energy for later use. The solar panel converts sunlight into DC electrical energy,
which is then fed to the battery through a charging circuit. The implementation of this system is fairly
straightforward. The solar panel is connected to an input pin of the Arduino microcontroller, which then controls
the charging of the battery through a charging circuit connected to an output pin. The charging circuit is designed
to limit the charging current and voltage to prevent damage to the battery.

Keywords: Solar PV system, Battery storage system, Charge controller, Arduino

1. Introduction Connect the solar panel to the battery: Connect the

solar panel to the battery using a charge controller.
A solar-powered battery charging system using an The charge controller ensures that the battery is
Arduino can be an excellent project for those who charged at the correct voltage and current levels.
want to learn about renewable energy and
microcontroller programming. Here are the basic steps Connect the Arduino to the battery: Connect the
to create such a system [1]. Arduino to the battery using a voltage regulator. The
voltage regulator ensures that the Arduino is powered
Choose the solar panel: The first step is choosing the at the correct voltage level.
right one. The discussion should be able to produce
enough power to charge the battery. You can use Programming Arduino: The program should monitor
online calculators to determine the solar panel size the battery voltage and current levels and adjust the
needed. charging current accordingly.

Choose the battery: The battery should have enough Add safety features: Add safety features to the system
capacity to store the energy produced by the solar to prevent overcharging and overheating of the
panel. Choose a battery that is compatible with the battery. For example, you can add a temperature
Arduino and can be charged using the solar panel. sensor to monitor the battery temperature and shut
down the charging process if the temperature exceeds
Article History a certain level.
Received: 23-04-2023; Revised: 01-06-2023;
Accepted: 05-06-2023 Test the system: Test the system to make sure that it is
working correctly. Monitor the battery voltage and
*Corresponding author: Department of Electrical and current levels and ensure that the battery is charging
Electronics Engineering, Swinburne University of at the correct rate. You can create a solar-powered
Technology, Hawthorn VIC 3122, Australia. battery charging system using an Arduino with these
E-Mail: [email protected] basic steps. This system can charge batteries for

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Abhishek, Vol: 2, No: 2, pp: 52-59, June 2023

various applications, such as powering a small panel. The battery voltage will be displayed on LCD.
electronic device or an LED light [2]. The battery pin is connected to the voltage sensor and
current sensor will give current value. So that the
2. Brief literature review voltage and current in the battery will be known. If
we supply power to a deeply discharged battery, the
A solar-powered battery charging system for battery will be damaged. Suppose we leave the
electric vehicles using Arduino. (P. Kumar et al., 2020). battery in charging mode for a long time (overcharge).
This study presents a solar-powered battery charging In that case, the hydrogen and oxygen will vaporize
system for electric vehicles that uses an Arduino-based on the electrode plates and the energetic material
charge controller. The system is capable of monitoring coated on the plates will be washed away, causing the
the battery's charging status and providing real-time battery to break down again. battery. In these
feedback to the user. Design and implementation of an paintings, one lowcost solar battery charger can be
Arduino-based solar-powered battery charging used for hundreds of DC (DC lighting equipment i.e.
system. (A.A. Salawu et al., 2020) - This paper LEDs, DC equipment such as laptops, phones, satellite
describes designing and implementing an Arduino- TVs, etc., for computer TV controllers, etc.) is rough
based solar-powered battery charging system for and advanced [4].
household use. The system uses an Arduino
microcontroller to control the charging process and
ensure optimal charging efficiency. An Arduino-based
solar-powered battery charging system for a small
household. (B. O. Osundare et al., 2021) - This study
presents an Arduino-based solar-powered battery
charging system for a small household that is capable
of charging multiple devices simultaneously. The
system includes a battery management system that
monitors the battery's charging status and provides
protection against overcharging and overheating. A
solar-powered battery charging system for remote Fig. 1: Block diagram of system design
areas using Arduino. (S. K. Reddy et al., 2019) - This
paper presents a solar-powered battery charging The battery voltage will be displayed on LCD.
system for remote areas that uses an Arduino-based The battery pin is connected to voltage sensor and
charge controller. The system is designed to be low- current sensor will give current value. So that the
cost and easy to maintain, making it ideal for use in voltage and current in the battery will be known.
remote locations. Development of a solar-powered Advanced machines monitor, record and store data
battery charging system for a smart home using remotely, mainly to better protect battery safety,
Arduino. (O. S. Adeyemi et al., 2020) –This study thereby extending battery life. A standard solar PV
presents the development of a solar-powered battery standalone setup consists of a solar panel, an
charging system for a smart home using an Arduino- Arduino-connected PWM charge controller, and a
based charge controller. The system is capable of load that supplies usable power to a lightning arrester
monitoring the battery's charging status and adjusting [5].
the charging rate based on the available sunlight [3].
4. Hardware implementation
3. Methodology
4.1 Arduino
In Fig 1, we used solar panels to generate power
from sunlight. The solar panel collects sunlight and In Fig 2, Arduino is an integrated development
converts it into Direct Current (DC) Electricity. Using environment for board programming and opensource
Charge controller will regulate the over voltage and microcontroller-based board physics processing
the condition when there is no sunlight for solar software.

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Abhishek, Vol: 2, No: 2, pp: 52-59, June 2023

Fig. 2: Arduino uno

An Arduino controls several outputs, such as lights, together; Free download of an open-source IDE is
motors, and so on, using specific inputs like a switch available. The Arduino programming language is an
or sensor. Most microcontroller frameworks only implementation of Wiring, a comparable physical
support Windows, whereas Arduino programs are computing platform, and focuses on managing the
compatible with Linux, Macintosh, and Windows multimedia programming environment.
operating systems (OS). Programming with Arduino
is simple enough for hobbyists and beginners. Why choosing Arduino
Arduino is a tool for building a better computer that
Open Source: Arduino is an open-source platform,
can do more than just control, interact, and perceive.
which means the hardware and software designs are
It is an open-source actual handling stage fixated on a
freely available for anyone to use, modify, and
straightforward microcontroller board and a climate
distribute. This has resulted in a large community of
to gather programs for the board. Arduino can be
developers who have created a wide range of projects
used to create interactive projects that control lights,
and libraries that can be easily adapted and reused.
motors, and other physical outputs and receive inputs
from a variety of switches or sensors. Flash, Easy to Use: Arduino has a simple and easy-to-learn
Processing, and Maxmsp are examples of programs programming language similar to C/C++. The
that can be used with Arduino Activities.) Cards can integrated development environment (IDE) provides
be put together by hand or bought already put

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a user-friendly interface for writing and uploading 4.3. LCD

code to the board.
The below Fig 4, is explain in detail module has a
Low Cost: Arduino boards are relatively inexpensive, built-in controller that receives data and commands
making them accessible to many people. They can be from a microcontroller, such as an Arduino, and then
purchased online or at electronics stores for as little as displays the information on the screen. The LCD 16x2
$10. is a low-cost and easy-to-use device that can provide
visual feedback for various applications, such as
Versatile: Arduino boards can be used for various temperature and humidity monitoring, digital clocks,
projects, from controlling LEDs and motors to and other projects that require displaying text
building robots and data loggers. They can be easily information. It is widely used in various electronic
expanded with shields and other hardware projects for displaying text information. The module
components to add additional functionality. Large has a built-in controller that receives data and
commands from a microcontroller, such as an
Community: The Arduino community is large and
Arduino, and then displays the information on the
active, with many online resources, including
screen. The LCD 16x2 is a low-cost and easy-to-use
tutorials, forums, and libraries. This makes it easy to
device that can provide visual feedback for various
find help and support for your projects [6].
applications, such as temperature and humidity
4.2. Voltage Sensor monitoring, digital clocks, and other projects that
require displaying text information [8].
A device that measures voltage is called a
voltage sensor. From detecting low current levels to
high voltages, voltage sensors can measure the
voltage in a variety of ways. Many applications, such
as power systems and industrial controls, require
these devices. Electrostatic induction is typically used
to detect voltage in no-metal-contact voltage
detectors. In Fig 3, There is capacitance between the
voltage detector and the measurement target, such as
a power outlet, when the voltage detector comes into
contact with the target. Similarly, there is capacitance Fig. 4: LCD – Front View
between the user of the voltage detector and the
ground. If the measurement target is active, a tiny AC
current will flow through the voltage detector and its
user. The voltage detector uses a high resistance to
detect this tiny AC current, which is then converted
into light and sound and displayed to the user. There
is no danger to the user from the flowing current,
which is less than one [7].

Fig. 5: LCD – Back View

4.4. Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries

This is about the above Fig 6. The 18650 battery is

a rechargeable lithium-ion battery with a capacity of
2500 mAh. This is not a standard AA or AAA battery,
but is useful for applications that require sustained
Fig. 3: Voltage Sensor high current or short bursts of high current, such as

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Abhishek, Vol: 2, No: 2, pp: 52-59, June 2023

cameras, DVD players, iPods, etc. 18650 batteries can industrial processes, and consumer electronics. In an
be charged and discharged for up to 1000 cycles Arduino project, a temperature sensor can be
without much loss of battery capacity. They are safe to connected to an Arduino board to measure the
use, environmentally friendly and have long battery environment's temperature and use that information
life. It has a high energy density and provides to control other components or trigger certain actions.
excellent continuous power to your devices. It should For example, a temperature sensor could control a fan
be used with a protection circuit board to prevent the or heater in a greenhouse or trigger an alarm if the
battery from overcharging, over-discharging and temperature in a room reaches a certain threshold
avoiding excessive current consumption [9]. [11].

4.6. Charge controller module

Fig. 6: Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Batteries

4.5. Temperature sensor

There are many different types of temperature

sensors, Fig 7,including thermocouples, resistance
temperature detectors (RTDs), and thermistors.
Thermocouples work by measuring the voltage
difference between two metals joined at one end. The Fig. 8: Charge controller module
voltage generated by the thermocouple is
A single chip with multiple uses can be found in
proportional to the temperature difference between
the Power bank module or 5V Step-Up Power Module
the two ends of the metals. RTDs are sensors made
Lithium Battery Charging Protection Board. This
from a material that changes resistance as its
module is frequently utilized as a power bank
temperature changes.
application because it can provide large load currents
and large discharge currents up to 1 A, making it ideal
for charging devices. The onboard LEDs can see the
module's charging and discharging status. The charge
controller module works by monitoring the voltage
and current output of the solar panel and adjusting
the charging current accordingly to ensure that the
battery is charged at an optimal rate. It also has built-
in safety features, such as overcharge protection and
Fig. 7: Temperature Sensor short-circuit protection, to prevent battery or solar
panel damage. There are two main types of charge
The resistance of the RTD is measured, which is controller modules: PWM (pulse-width modulation)
used to calculate the temperature. Thermistors work and MPPT (maximum power point tracking). MPPT
on the principle that the resistance of a material controllers are more advanced and can increase the
changes as its temperature changes [10]. A thermistor overall efficiency of the solar power system by up to
is a type of resistor that has a very large change in 30%, making them more suitable for larger systems or
resistance with temperature, making it an excellent systems with limited space for solar panels. In
temperature sensor. Temperature sensors can be used addition to regulating the flow of electricity, some
in many applications, such as HVAC systems, charge controller modules also include features such
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Abhishek, Vol: 2, No: 2, pp: 52-59, June 2023

as LCD displays for monitoring system performance, LCD Display, and also display the battery percentage,
USB ports for charging devices, and temperature power of the load and if the battery is in charging it
sensors for protecting the battery from extreme shows 1 otherwise, it shows 0. Here the voltage of the
temperatures [12]. batteries and current from load (LED) sense from the
sensors along with Arduino we may display the
4.7. Relay module values in LCD.

In Fig.9, The switch contacts that open and close the

relay are powered by the current supply. Typically, a
coil is used to magnetize the switch contacts and drag
them together when activated. After the weakening of
the coil, a spring separates them.

Fig. 10: Experimental total kit

This is image of total hardware model with

connections to solar panel
Fig. 9: Relay module

There are primarily two advantages to using this

system. The first is that activating the relay requires
less current than switching the relay contacts do.
Another advantage is that there is no electrical
connection between the contacts and the coil because
they are galvanically isolated [13].

4.8. Arduino IDE

The Arduino Integrated Development Environment

(IDE) is a software tool for writing, compiling, and Fig. 11: After switch on the supply the values display
uploading code to Arduino boards. It provides an in LCD
easy-to-use interface for beginners and advanced
users to create and edit Arduino sketches. The IDE
includes a code editor, a compiler, a debugger, and a
serial monitor for testing and debugging Arduino
programs. Arduino IDE is open-source software
licensed under GPL v2. It is available for free and runs
on Windows, Mac OSX, and Linux platforms [14].

5. Results

The voltage and current sensors sense the voltage

and current values, which are displayed in LCD
Display. And also the temperature sensor sense the
Fig. 12: Charging status on LCD Display
temperature values and the values are displayed in
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Abhishek, Vol: 2, No: 2, pp: 52-59, June 2023

In this project, the main use is to protect the and dynamic monitoring. Therefore, in upcoming
batteries from overcharging, discharging etc. When years, the applications that run on renewable energy
the load temperature increases above 40C by using sources have much demand and further growth. As
relay module, the process will stunt down the days increase, in the competitive world, the usage
automatically. If the battery is overcharging, of time in an efficient way plays a vital role in all
discharging, also the process will stop automatically. perspectives. So, this product kills the unwanted
waste of time and benefits everyone.
Table.1: Data collected in sunny weather
Temperature Current Voltage Power Acknowledgment
Sl.no
(C) (A) (V) (W)
1 30 6 5 30 The authors would like to thank the Swinburne
2 32 5.9 4.8 27.73 University of Technology, Electrical and Electronics
Engineering department for providing the necessary
3 34 5.7 4.7 25.6
facilities to conduct this research.
4 36 5.5 4.5 23.8
5 38 5.4 4.4 21.12
Conflict of Interest
6 40 5.0 4.1 20.89
The authors declare no conflict of interest
Table.2: Data collected in cloudy weather
Temperature Current Voltage Power References
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Copyright: © 2023 by the authors, Licensee ITEECS, India. This article is an open access
article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
(CC BY) license (https:// creativecommons.org/licenses/by/ 4.0/).
***

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