Solar trainer for laboratory photovoltaic systems education

This paper presents the development of a solar trainer to be used as a photovoltaic systems educational instrument in a laboratory environment. It allows various balance of system components to be investigated and the impact of environmental conditions when generating power with solar photovoltaic panels to be studied. The stimuli tested include tilt of the panel, light intensity, and temperature. The trainer also includes the ability to test the effect of different types of solar pv panels, charge controllers, inverters, and battery types. The entire design is contained within a self-powered, easily portable rolling cart.