solar panel generates more energy than needed
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- garberw
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2022 2:25 pm
solar panel generates more energy than needed
Specs: my project uses about 600 mA at 5V max I expect. It is a raspberry pi zero 2 W and an ADC and some lower current breakouts. If I have a 6V 9W colossal solar panel and a bq24074 breakout and a 6600mAh battery what happens to the excess energy received by the panel after the battery is fully charged and the cpu is at peak? It is designed to go a week with no sunlight.
- adafruit_support_bill
- Posts: 88093
- Joined: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:11 am
Re: solar panel generates more energy than needed
The bq24074 has a load-sharing circuit. When the charge cycle is complete, current will stop flowing to the battery. The bq24074 will draw enough to power the chip and the power-good indicator LED. And it will route power from the panel to the load so the load can draw what it needs.
- garberw
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2022 2:25 pm
- sj_remington
- Posts: 998
- Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2020 4:51 pm
Re: solar panel generates more energy than needed
It is discarded as heat.what happens to the excess energy received by the panel
- garberw
- Posts: 130
- Joined: Thu Feb 17, 2022 2:25 pm
Re: solar panel generates more energy than needed
Do you mean heat in the solar panel or heat in the bq24074?
- sj_remington
- Posts: 998
- Joined: Mon Jul 27, 2020 4:51 pm
Re: solar panel generates more energy than needed
Both.
Think about what happens when you put a solar panel in the sun, but don't connect it to anything.
Think about what happens when you put a solar panel in the sun, but don't connect it to anything.
Please be positive and constructive with your questions and comments.