Overview

This International Standard specifies minimum requirements for the functioning and performance of battery charge controllers used with lead acid batteries in terrestrial photovoltaic (PV) systems. The main aims are to ensure the reliability of battery charge controllers and to maximise the life of the battery. This standard shall be used in conjunction with IEC 62093, which describes requirements for intended installation application and corresponding test methods. In addition to the battery charge control functions, this standard addresses the following functional features of battery charge controllers: - photovoltaic generator charging of a battery; - load control; - protection functions; - interface functions. This standard does not cover MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) performance, but it is applicable to battery charge controller units that have this feature. This standard specifies functional and performance requirements for battery charge controllers and provides test methods to determine the functioning and performance characteristics of charge controllers. It is considered that IEC 62093 is used to determine the construction requirements for the intended installation which includes but is not limited to aspects such as the enclosure, physical connection sturdiness and safety. This standard was prepared for lead acid battery applications. The application of this standard is not limited in terms of the battery charge controller capacity to which it may be applied, however, the requirements for test equipment when applied to battery charge controllers with high voltage or current, for example, greater than 120 V or 100 A, may be difficult to achieve. The approaches provided may be applicable to other power sources and other battery technologies like Ni-Cd batteries by using the corresponding values of cell voltages. The responsible committee is K 373 "Photovoltaische Solarenergie-Systeme" ("Solar photovoltaic energy systems") of the DKE (German Commission for Electrical, Electronic and Information Technologies) at DIN and VDE.

Document: references other documents

Responsible national committee

DKE/K 373 - Photovoltaische Solarenergie-Systeme