Hi,
I'm wanting to build a peak power tracker for a solar powered car that I am building. Using my basic knowledge of electronics and help from other sites I have come up with a circuit design shown in the attached picture.
The panel is 24V nominal and with peak output of 175W (though obviously only in the Sahara!) at 35V. The microcontroller will be a rabbitcore that takes in values of voltage and current both upstream and downstream of the MOSFET. The DC-DC conversion is handled by a buck converter.
Here is where my knowledge falls short. The voltage sensors and the OPAMP current sensor needs to measure the voltage drop across a very small resistor in series with the solar panel and MOSFET. In theory there will be 5A @ 35V running through this resistor and I'm looking for it to only be in the region of a milliohm (if that). Say its 1mΩ, then it will dissipate 25mW of power. Does this mean that I only need a resistor that can dissipate this power? What about the other 5ish amps running through, won't this burn out the resistor?
Any other ideas as to the circuit design would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
I'm wanting to build a peak power tracker for a solar powered car that I am building. Using my basic knowledge of electronics and help from other sites I have come up with a circuit design shown in the attached picture.
The panel is 24V nominal and with peak output of 175W (though obviously only in the Sahara!) at 35V. The microcontroller will be a rabbitcore that takes in values of voltage and current both upstream and downstream of the MOSFET. The DC-DC conversion is handled by a buck converter.
Here is where my knowledge falls short. The voltage sensors and the OPAMP current sensor needs to measure the voltage drop across a very small resistor in series with the solar panel and MOSFET. In theory there will be 5A @ 35V running through this resistor and I'm looking for it to only be in the region of a milliohm (if that). Say its 1mΩ, then it will dissipate 25mW of power. Does this mean that I only need a resistor that can dissipate this power? What about the other 5ish amps running through, won't this burn out the resistor?
Any other ideas as to the circuit design would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
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