Description

The PD.Charger is a smart Solar Panel controller with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and a charger module for LiIon/LiFePo4 battery (4-cell) management with I2C/UART API control and monitoring. It features a lot of options to monitor and control: I2C/UART API gives ability to change the parameters for input voltage/current handling (solar panels or/and external DC input), monitor and control BMS and Gauge subsystems and output voltage/current monitoring and switching. Also it can be used as an UPS smart controller: when the external power supply is powered off (on both of the input power connectors), it can maintain the uninterrupted operation of the equipment by the battery channel. Additional advantage - idle current of the module is less than 1mA.

The charger module output automatically adjusts to buck, boost, or buck-boost modes based on PV input and the battery status. Built on the STM32 microcontroller, it offers customization for various battery types and additional communication interfaces.

There are several PD.Charger variants available:

• PD.Charger v.2.3 – up to 12V @ 10A+ load, additional mounting holes for optional heatsink.
• PD.Charger v.2.4 - additional MCU with WiFi+BT and GSM/GPS _ CAN bus connectivity.

ProtoDevs GmbH supports the helpdesk line in case of additional questions or PD.Charger hardware/ firmware/ software customization requests – https://www.protodevs.de/forum/

Key Features of the LiFePo+Solar PD.Charger/Controller:

Power and Charging Capabilities

• Maximum charging and load currents are 15A, adjustable via I2C/UART API commands together with additional options for flexible power management.
• Dual-input with MPPT: can be powered by two solar panels or a combination of solar panel + DC voltage source.
• Supports a maximum DC input voltage of 50V, ensuring compatibility with various power sources.
• Extremely low idle current (<1 mA), making it ideal for long-term outdoor installations where minimal power consumption is critical (post boxes, payment terminals, parking controllers, cigarette kiosks, automated grocery stores, etc.).

Battery Compatibility

• Supports Li-Ion (lithium-ion) and LiFePo (lithium-metal-polymer) batteries.
• Designed for battery capacities up to 1000+ Ah.
• The system can be customized for larger batteries based on specific customer application needs (different input voltages, different PV number, PD.Charger chain connection, different battery capacitances, GSM / LoRa / WiFI / BT / CAN / LIN / ETH communication options).

Monitoring & Control features

• External I2C/UART interfaces for comprehensive monitoring, data collection and parameters dynamic setting and tuning.
• Allows real-time reading of the battery parameters, charge status, Battery Management System (BMS) data and more.
• Monitors both PCB temperature and battery temperature to prevent overheating and improve efficiency.
• Features SMART charge limit customization, enabling users to define:
• Charging temperature range settings for optimized LiIon/LiFePo battery life.
• Voltage thresholds per battery cell to prevent overcharging.
• Other critical parameters that ensure stable operation.
• Precision battery remaining capacity measurement using a dedicated Gauge IC, providing highly accurate battery remaining charge readings.

Remote Firmware Update feature

• Advanced firmware update capabilities, allow remote updates via I2C and UART (+WiFi+GSM for PD.Charger GSM version)