Solar charging

[granddad]

I am putting together a small solar charge controller, 5w 12v panel 12v 7ah lead gel battery , circuit is similar to the one used here
https://www.instructables.com/id/ARDUINO-SOLAR-CHARGE-CONTROLLER-Version-20/

I am using a PIC24FV32KA302 ( not Arduino) the basic prototype works OK , but it has not had any long testing yet. The charging sequence is based on stuff of the www. as the graph below ... am I more or less on the right lines please...

 

[MikeMl]

Usually, the full panel current goes to the battery until the battery voltage reaches (pick a number) 14.4V.

Then, hold the battery voltage at 14.4V while watching the charge acceptance current of the battery (You should be able to deduce that from the PWM duty cycle, assuming full sun state). When the charging current drops to below 0.01C, switch to float charging, where the battery voltage is held at (pick a number) 13.6V.

I dont think you ever should Equalize a sealed battery, only wet cells with removable caps.

 

[granddad]

Thanks Mike , I have took an eraser to the graph....