A solar-powered autonomous power system for aquaculture: optimizing dual-battery management for remote operation

In Indonesia, growing fish consumption demands necessitate expanded, yet sustainable, fish production without sacrificing quality. The process of feeding and the quality of the surrounding water are important factors influencing fish quality. To address this, Parahyangan Catholic University's Fishery 4.0 project pioneers a unique technology that integrates water quality monitoring with a fish feeding feature. The design and implementation of an independent, reliable power module, which is fundamental to the functionality of this system, is at the focus of this research. This study shows that a designed power module adapted to the specific needs of Fishery 4.0 is feasible. The system powers all modules with a 12 V battery and is recharged with a solar panel. The battery can be charged to 95% capacity, yielding 8550 mAh from a 9000 mAh capacity. A UC-3906 charger IC controls the charging process, deliberately managing the parameters required for optimal battery charging. Particularly, when exposed to ideal solar radiation, the charger recharges a 9 Ah battery from 30% to full capacity in about 10 hours and 10 minutes. This study proposes a novel to battery management, which is critical for the operation of aquaculture equipment at isolated locations.