More project photos (3)
The problem
A single renewable source is an unreliable charger: a solar-only station produces nothing after sunset, and a wind-only station sits idle on calm days, so the battery bank behind either one cycles through deep discharges that shorten its life. Hybrid solar-wind stations address exactly this intermittency — the two sources rarely peak and fade together, so their combined output keeps the bank in a healthier state of charge. But combining them is not just wiring two sources in parallel: the panel and turbine have different voltage-current behavior, the wind side needs overspeed and overvoltage handling, and a lead-acid bank needs a proper bulk/absorption/float profile rather than raw unregulated charging. This project builds that complete small station — panel, miniature turbine, hybrid charge path, monitored 12 V battery bank — as a working prototype that makes renewable integration visible and measurable on the bench.
50 W-class panel feeding the 12 V DC bus through a blocking diode.
Follow the working sequence
How it works
- The solar panel and the wind turbine (through its three-phase rectifier) each produce DC and feed the common bus through blocking diodes that prevent reverse current between sources.
- The INA219 sensor measures the panel's voltage and current while a divider network tracks turbine and battery voltages; the Arduino samples all channels continuously.
- The charge controller applies PWM switching to regulate bus energy into the battery following the three-stage profile: bulk (full current) until the absorption voltage, absorption (constant voltage, tapering current), then float.
- If the turbine voltage exceeds the safe limit — strong gusts with a full battery — the controller switches the dump-load MOSFET on and burns the excess in the resistor bank instead of overcharging the battery.
- The LCD continuously displays panel power, turbine voltage, battery voltage, charging stage and load state, while the same readings are appended to the SD-card log.
- When battery voltage drops below the deep-discharge threshold under load, the relay opens the load output; it reconnects automatically once the bank recovers past the reconnect voltage.
- At any point the student can isolate either source with its switch and observe — on the display and in the log — how the remaining source alone behaves versus the hybrid combination.
Tech stack:
- Arduino Uno/Nano (ATmega328P) for monitoring, charge-stage logic and display
- 50 W-class polycrystalline solar panel (12 V nominal)
- Small permanent-magnet wind turbine with three-phase rectifier (12 V class)
- INA219 current/voltage sensor for panel power measurement
- PWM charge-control stage with dump-load MOSFET and resistive dump bank
- 12 V lead-acid battery bank (sealed, demonstration capacity)
- 16x2 LCD with I2C backpack for live parameter display
- SD-card module for energy logging; relay module for load disconnect
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Solar input | 50 W-class panel, 12 V nominal (design target; actual output weather-dependent) |
| Wind input | Small 3-phase permanent-magnet turbine, 12 V class with rectifier and dump load |
| Battery bank | 12 V sealed lead-acid bank (demonstration capacity) |
| Charge profile | Three-stage PWM: bulk / absorption / float with temperature-compensated setpoints |
| Monitoring | Panel V/I via INA219, turbine and battery voltage via dividers, Arduino-sampled |
| Display | 16x2 LCD: source powers, battery voltage, charge stage, load state |
| Logging | SD card, voltage and current per source at fixed intervals |
| Load protection | Relay-based low-voltage disconnect with automatic reconnect |
| Output | 12 V DC load terminals (demonstration loads: lamps, small DC motor) |
Project features
- [Dual-source DC bus] A 50 W-class solar panel and a small permanent-magnet wind turbine feed a common 12 V DC bus through blocking diodes, so the stronger source carries the load at any moment without either source back-feeding the other.
- [Three-stage PWM charge control] The charge controller runs bulk, absorption and float stages with temperature-compensated voltage setpoints, giving the lead-acid bank a proper charging profile instead of unregulated trickle charging.
- [Wind overspeed and dump-load handling] When the turbine voltage rises past the safe limit the controller diverts excess energy into a resistive dump load, which both protects the battery and keeps the turbine electrically loaded so it cannot free-spin.
- [Live energy monitoring] An Arduino-based monitor measures panel voltage and current (INA219), turbine voltage and battery voltage, and shows source contributions, charging stage and battery state on an LCD in real time.
- [Low-voltage load disconnect] A relay disconnects the DC load output when battery voltage falls below the deep-discharge threshold and reconnects after recovery, protecting the bank from the deep cycles that shorten lead-acid life.
- [SD-card energy logging] Voltage and current from each source are logged to SD card at fixed intervals, so the report can include genuine charge/discharge curves recorded during the buyer's own test runs.
- [Manual source isolation] Panel and turbine each have an isolation switch, letting the student demonstrate solar-only, wind-only and hybrid charging on the same rig for the report's comparison section.
What is included
- Complete hybrid charging station prototype (panel, turbine, controller, battery bank, enclosure wiring)
- Controller and monitoring firmware (Arduino sketches) with charge-stage and logging logic
- Circuit schematic and wiring diagram (sources, bus, controller, dump load, LVD)
- Bill of materials with part numbers and sourcing notes
- Project report PDF (background, sizing calculations, charge-profile design, buyer-run test procedure and log analysis)
- PPT presentation for final review
- Viva Q&A preparation document (PV characteristics, wind energy basics, lead-acid charging, PWM control)
- Setup and demo guide (site placement, source-isolation demos, recording charge curves)
Advantages
- A 50 W-class solar panel and a small permanent-magnet wind turbine feed a common 12 V DC bus through blocking diodes, so the stronger source carries the load without either source back-feeding the other.
- A three-stage PWM charge controller runs bulk, absorption and float stages with temperature-compensated voltage setpoints for the lead-acid bank.
- Wind overspeed handling diverts excess energy into a resistive dump load, protecting the battery and keeping the turbine electrically loaded so it cannot free-spin.
- An Arduino-based monitor shows panel, turbine and battery parameters live on an LCD, with low-voltage load disconnect protecting the bank from deep discharge.
- Voltage and current from each source are logged to SD card, and isolation switches let the student demonstrate solar-only, wind-only and hybrid charging on the same rig.
Disadvantages
- Energy yield is entirely weather- and site-dependent: a small turbine produces modest power except in genuinely windy spots, and the turbine is a teaching-scale device, not a meaningful household energy source.
- All power figures are design targets from component ratings, not measured site yields; the SD-card logs from the buyer's own test runs are the honest performance record.
- The station is an off-grid 12 V DC prototype with no grid-tie inverter, no mains synchronization and no net-metering capability.
- Lead-acid batteries need ventilation and must not be shorted or overcharged, and night-time and calm-day operation relies on stored battery energy alone, supporting small DC loads, not extended or heavy loads.
Limitations & prerequisites
- Energy yield is entirely weather- and site-dependent: a small turbine produces modest power except in genuinely windy spots, and the report states plainly that the turbine is a teaching-scale device, not a meaningful household energy source.
- All power figures are design targets from component ratings, not measured site yields; the SD-card logs from the buyer's own test runs are the honest performance record, and the report is written around them.
- The station is an off-grid 12 V DC prototype: it has no grid-tie inverter, no mains synchronization and no net-metering capability.
- Lead-acid batteries need ventilation and must not be shorted or overcharged; the controller's setpoints protect against routine overcharge but the bank remains a chemical energy store that demands the handling precautions in the setup guide.
- Turbine mechanical mounting must be rigid and guyed/well-braced; vibration and imbalance at high wind are a mechanical reality of small turbines that the demo placement guide addresses.
- Night-time and calm-day operation relies on stored battery energy alone; the bank's demonstration capacity supports small DC loads, not extended or heavy loads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this project suitable for a final-year project?
Yes — it fits Electrical and Electronics programs and demonstrates renewable integration examiners recognize: PV characteristics, small-wind behavior, three-stage battery charging, PWM control and energy monitoring, all visible live on one rig.
What are the two energy sources?
A 50 W-class solar panel and a small permanent-magnet wind turbine (12 V class) with a three-phase rectifier. Each has an isolation switch so solar-only, wind-only and hybrid operation can be demonstrated separately.
How is the battery protected?
The charge controller runs a bulk/absorption/float profile with temperature-compensated setpoints, a dump load absorbs wind excess, and a relay disconnects the load before deep discharge — three independent layers.
How much power does it actually produce?
That depends on sun and wind at your site, and the report is honest about it: component ratings are design targets, and the SD-card logs from your own test runs are the real performance record the report analyzes.
Can it power my home or feed the grid?
No — it is an off-grid 12 V DC teaching prototype for small demonstration loads. Grid-tie needs an inverter, synchronization and utility approval, which are outside this project's scope.
What will I receive with the project?
The complete station prototype, controller/monitoring firmware, schematics and wiring diagrams, bill of materials, project report PDF, PPT, viva Q&A document and the setup/demo guide. Suitable for B.E./B.Tech final-year projects in Electrical and Electronics Engineering.
Components & software requirements
- Arduino Uno/Nano (ATmega328P) for monitoring, charge-stage logic and display
- 50 W-class polycrystalline solar panel (12 V nominal)
- Small permanent-magnet wind turbine with three-phase rectifier (12 V class)
- INA219 current/voltage sensor for panel power measurement
- PWM charge-control stage with dump-load MOSFET and resistive dump bank
- 12 V lead-acid battery bank (sealed, demonstration capacity)
- 16x2 LCD with I2C backpack for live parameter display
- SD-card module for energy logging; relay module for load disconnect
Delivery information
Built-to-order project. Delivery timeline is shared after order confirmation based on current queue.
Support terms
Complete documentation, setup guide, and viva preparation included. Support for setup and explanation provided.
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Optimization of Hybrid PV/Wind Power System for Remote Telecom Station (arXiv:1411.5343)