Solar pannel wash controller sub modules

Solar Panel Wash Controller

An automated, hardware-timed electronic controller PCB designed to schedule and actuate solar panel washing cycles to mitigate dust accumulation, soiling losses, and photovoltaic efficiency degradation.

Designed in KiCad with integrated Real-Time Clock (RTC) scheduling, high-current pump relay/driver stages, and industrial terminal interfaces.

Features

• Automated Cleaning Schedule:
  • Precision timekeeping via dedicated I2C Real-Time Clock (RTC) module (DS3231/DS1307 battery-backed) for reliable daily or weekly dawn/dusk wash cycles.
• Robust Pump & Solenoid Drive Stage:
  • High-current relay and switching stage engineered to drive 12V/24V high-pressure water booster pumps and solenoid valves.
  • Flyback diode suppression and optocoupled logic isolation to prevent inductive transient resets.
• Aesthetic Rounded-Track PCB Design:
  • Custom PCB routing featuring smooth curved/teardrop trace geometry for improved signal integrity and solder-mask resilience.
  • Multi-layer power routing with broad copper pours to handle high inrush pump currents.
• Modular Sub-System Layout:
  • Dedicated sub-module architecture separating the low-voltage control/logic plane from the high-voltage actuator switching plane.

Hardware Specification

• RTC Module: I2C Real-Time Clock with CR2032 backup battery holder (RTC Module.kicad_sym).
• Control Interface: Multi-pin microcontroller interface header with analog and digital telemetry pins.
• Output Actuators: SPDT Power Relays / High-Side Power Switching stages.
• PCB Stackup: 2-layer FR4 (1.6 mm core, 1 oz copper).
• Renders & Manufacturing:
  • 3D photorealistic board renders: Front.png and Back.png.
  • Manufacturing schematic: Schematic.pdf / Schematic.png.

Hardware Renders & Schematic

3D Photorealistic PCB Views

Top View	Bottom View

Electrical Schematic

Project Structure

Solar-Panel-Wash-Controller/
├── Front.png                         # 3D PCB front render
├── Back.png                          # 3D PCB back render
├── Schematic.pdf                     # Complete schematic documentation
├── Solar_pannel_wash_controller.kicad_sch # Main KiCad schematic
├── Solar_pannel_wash_controller.kicad_pcb # Main KiCad PCB layout
├── Solar_pannel_wash_controller.kicad_pro # KiCad project configuration
├── RTC Module.kicad_sym              # Custom RTC schematic symbol
├── Solar_pannel_wash_controller_sub-modules/ # Modular breakout & rounded PCB files
│   ├── Solar_pannel_wash_controller_sub-modules.kicad_sch
│   ├── Solar_pannel_wash_controller_sub-modules.kicad_pcb
│   └── Solar_pannel_wash_controller_sub-modules-rounded.kicad_pcb
├── .gitignore                        # Git ignore rules
└── README.md                         # Project documentation

EDA & Design Files

Designed using KiCad 7 / 8:

• Open Solar_pannel_wash_controller.kicad_pro to inspect or modify the full system schematic and board layout.
• Review Schematic.pdf for circuit wiring, power distribution networks, and connector assignments.

License

Hardware design. All rights reserved by the author.