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4 layers41.4 × 14 mmSolarCharger, the printed circuit board in 3D

Small PCB that charges a Li-Ion battery from a solar panel and gives an output of 5V - 0.6A

Size
41.4 × 14 mm
Copper layers
4
Thickness
1.6 mm
Parts
38
Nets
28
Pads
97
Tracks, vias
285, 40
Pours
2
Routed
Yes
KiCad
KiCad 6 (file 20211014)
Created
8 Jan 2023
Updated
24 Mar 2024

Overview

SolarCharger is an open-source printed circuit board by makingdevices, from the makingdevices/SolarCharger repository on GitHub. It is a 4-layer board of 41.4 × 14 mm with 38 parts on 28 nets, routed with 285 tracks and 40 vias.

It is built around the BQ24210DQCR, TPS259620DDAR and FSV360FP. Its parts include 14 resistors, 9 capacitors, 4 ICs, 3 diodes and 2 connectors. It belongs with the power boards of this library.

Main components

3

README

README.md

[blocked]

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Logo

Making Devices

Open Source projects where we struggle with engineering, electronics, coding and who knows what else... The solar charger uses the energy from a solar panel (using MPPT) to charge a Li-Ion rechargeable battery and provide an stable 5V - 0.6A output.

Table of Contents
  1. About The Project
  2. Build one
  3. Usage
  4. Roadmap
  5. License
  6. Contact
  7. Sponsor

About The Project

Bytes Counter Shot

The solar charger uses the energy from a solar panel (using MPPT) to charge a Li-Ion rechargeable battery and provide an stable 5V - 0.6A output. The project was created to test a small circuit before using it with other projects.

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Built With

Kicad SPONSOR

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Build one

Documentation is updated.

  1. Get the gerber files for the latest version: V1.0
  2. Send them to a PCB manufacturer (Our Sponsor is PCBWAY)
  3. You should solder all the components in the board. (The schematic is available here v1.0)

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Usage

As soon as you connect a battery, the output voltage will be activated.

Protections:

  • Solar Panel

    • Input voltage from 3V to 20V. It has over-voltage protection (OVP).
    • NTC Sensor: The charging process is compatible with the JEITA temperature standard for Li-Ion batteries, limiting the charge of the battery depending of the temperature of it.
    • Protection for short-circuit in the battery.
  • Battery

    • Overcharge Detection Voltage at 4.2V (25mV accuracy)
    • Overcharge Hysteresis Voltage Range. (Release at 4.1V)
    • Overdischarge Detection Voltage at 2.5V.
    • Overdischarge Hysteresis Voltage Range. (Release at 3.0V)
    • Discharge overcurrent detection voltage.
    • Short current detection voltage.
      Note: You may want to select a different AP9214 configuration depending of your battery type. We have tested the AP9214L-AE-HSB.
  • Output

    • Voltage fixed at 5V +-1.5%
    • Undervoltage protection.
    • Overvoltage protection at 5.7V
    • Overcurrent and shortcircuit protection (+1A). It will recuperate when the shortcircuit is released.

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Roadmap

  • Assembly New Board
  • Test with electronic Load.
  • Validate ratings

See the open issues for a full list of proposed features (and known issues).

State: Project FINISHED - 12/09/2023

Priority: High

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License

Distributed under three licenses:

GPL v3 License

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Contact

Making Devices - @MakingDevices

Project Link: https://github.com/makingdevices/SolarCharger

Other Links: LinkTree

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Sponsor

PCBWAY is the most professional PCB manufacturer for prototyping and low-volume production to work with in the world. With more than a decade in the field, They are committed to meeting the needs of their customers from different industries in terms of quality, delivery, cost-effectiveness and any other demanding requests. As Sponsor of Making Devices, they will be in charge of all the PCBs for MDV, allowing both of us to grow together in a long term partnership. We hope you take them into account for your both personal and professional prototypes or products.

Sponsor Shot

Parts

38
QtyValueFootprintReferences
31uFLibrary_Loader:CAPC2012X140NC1, C2, C3
21kLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR4, R5
1100nFLibrary_Loader:CAPC2012X140NC7
1100uFLibrary_Loader:CAPC2012X140NC8
12.2nFLibrary_Loader:CAPC2012X140NC6
12.7kLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR6
121.5KLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR2
122uFLibrary_Loader:CAPC2012X140NC5
127kLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR9
1330Library_Loader:RESC2012X75NR3
14.7uHLibrary_Loader:SRN6045_1L1
1400kLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR12
1432kLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR11
144.2kLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR7
1450KLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR10
147uFLibrary_Loader:CAPC2012X140NC9
1780Library_Loader:RESC2012X75NR1
1820pFLibrary_Loader:CAPC2012X140NC4
182kLibrary_Loader:RESC2012X75NR8
1909Library_Loader:RESC2012X75NR13
1AP9214L-AN-HSBR-7Library_Loader:AP9214LANHSBR7IC2
1BQ24210DQCRLibrary_Loader:SON50P200X300X80-11NIC1
1FSV360FPLibrary_Loader:SS12FPD1
1GreenLibrary_Loader:LEDC2012X90NLED2
1INLibrary_Loader:282834-2_1J1
1JumperLibrary Loader:RESC2012X75NR14
1LOGOMDV:logo_MDV_3G***
1NTC 10KLibrary_Loader:THRMC2012X95NRT1
1OUTLibrary_Loader:282834-2_1J2
1OrangeLibrary_Loader:LEDC2012X90NLED1
1TPS259620DDARLibrary_Loader:SOIC127P600X170-9NIC4
1TPS61085TDGKRLibrary_Loader:SOP65P490X110-8NIC3
1bat+Library_Loader:mountinghole_batteryH1
1bat-Library_Loader:mountinghole_batteryH2

The 37 most common of 38 parts.

Questions

How big is the SolarCharger PCB?

It measures 41.4 × 14 mm and has 4 copper layers, 1.6 mm thick.

What parts does the SolarCharger use?

38 parts, built around the BQ24210DQCR, TPS259620DDAR and FSV360FP. The full list of its parts is on this page, with links to each part's symbol and footprint where PCBKit's library has them.

Where can I download the SolarCharger KiCad files?

From the makingdevices/SolarCharger repository on GitHub, at the commit this page was made from: the board is Kicad/SolarCharger/SolarCharger.kicad_pcb and its schematic Kicad/SolarCharger/SolarCharger.kicad_sch. PCBKit opens the board in the browser, with nothing to install.

Can I use the SolarCharger design in my own project?

Its repository states no licence, so its author keeps all rights: ask makingdevices before reusing the design.

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