Design and Simulation-Based Performance Analysis of A PIC16F73 Microcontroller-Based Solar Charge Controller For Power Solutions In Federal University Otuoke.

This paper focuses on the design and simulation-based performance analysis of a PIC16F73 microcontroller-based solar charge controller for power solutions in Federal University Otuoke. A 12V microcontroller-based charge controller was designed and simulated to achieve this objective. Given the abundant sunlight in the region, the study centred on a solar power system, which generates electrical energy from sunlight using photovoltaic (PV) panels. Since solar energy is unavailable at night, a battery storage system is required to store energy harvested during the day. The charge controller serves as a critical component of the solar power system, regulating and monitoring the battery’s charging and discharging processes. The proposed system comprises five functional units: a current booster, a switching unit, a control unit, a voltage sensing unit, and a voltage regulation unit. The controller was developed using a 28-pin PIC16F73 microcontroller, selected for its ease of use, configuration, and programmability. It can handle up to 23A. The entire design process was implemented and simulated using MATLAB/Simulink.