Abstract:
Optimizing the output power of any PV module
requires a number of factors to be considered, including the tilt
angle, orientation angle, environmental conditions and the
energy management system. This system often includes a
maximum power point tracker that is required to adjust a
module’s output voltage to a value which enables the maximum
energy to be transferred to a given load. A solar controller may
also be used in the energy management system to prevent
batteries from overcharging, to prevent back flow of current
from the batteries to the solar modules and to provide
maximum reliability and service life of the whole system.
However, when various parameters of PV modules need to be
investigated in real life applications, what type of economic
viable load is suitable for experimental purposes relating to
small scale PV modules? The purpose of this paper is to
present empirical evidence contrasting the performance of
three identical 10 W polycrystalline modules connected to three
unique separate loads. A LabView software program was
developed to record and display the voltage and current
measurements from the PV modules using a data logging
interface circuit and an Arduino board. Results indicate that a
solar controller extracts more power from a PV module (on
average 3.9% more power), as compared to a regulated LED
and a fixed load resistor. However, the regulated LED follows a
profile similar to that of the solar controller, drawing on
average 2 W less per day than the solar controller. On the
other hand, the fixed load resistor draws on average 8 W less
per day than the solar controller, following a profile different
to that of the solar controller and regulated LED. The
regulated LED is therefore verified as an economic viable load
for experimental purposes involving small scale PV modules.
