600W Solar Power Optimizer Reference Design

The solar power optimizer adjusts panel voltage and current, sends and receives data, finds the best power point, and works for different solar systems.

TIDA-010949, a reference design from Texas Instruments (TI) is a solar power optimizer capable of supporting input and output voltages up to 80V, with input and output currents reaching up to 18A. It utilizes a configurable four-switch buck-boost converter to either step up or step down the panel current to match the string current. The bypass circuitry is based on a smart diode controller design. Additionally, the design integrates power line communication (PLC) and wireless communication capabilities. Both digital control and communication functionalities are managed by a single C2000 microcontroller (MCU). The design is suitable for a variety of applications, including solar power optimizers, solar charge controllers, and rapid shutdown systems.

The reference design is built around TI’s half-bridge gallium nitride (GaN) power stage with integrated gate drivers, along with the TMS320F2800137 C2000 MCU. It is intended for single-panel power optimizer applications and supports operation with solar panel modules ranging from 15V to 80V, delivering up to 18A of output current. The design employs a perturb-and-observe algorithm for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and achieves an operating efficiency greater than 99%. The high switching frequency—up to 300kHz—of the buck converter also enables the use of smaller passive components, contributing to a more compact design. In addition, the system incorporates power line communication (PLC) using the AFE031 and wireless communication via the CC1352P7, allowing for the transmission and reception of key parameters such as voltage, current, and power.

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The TIDA-010949 board has a small computer that collects information from the solar panel. It uses this data to get the most power from the sun and control the system. This computer sends signals to turn a power switch on and off very fast. This switch changes the panel’s voltage to get the best power output.

To power everything, a part called LM5164 lowers the solar panel voltage down to 12V. Then, another part changes the 12V into three 5V power lines — one regular and two special ones that are isolated for safety. These 5V lines power the switch and the control computer. The two special 5V lines help power the top part of the switch so it can stay on all the time if needed. The regular 5V line is also used to make 3.3V for other parts of the system.

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The TMS320F280013x is a small, fast computer chip made for real-time control in power systems, like motors or solar inverters. It has a powerful brain that can handle both simple and complex math. It also has a special helper that makes math with angles much faster, which is useful for control systems. The chip can store programs and data in up to 256KB of flash memory and 36KB of extra fast memory.

TI has tested this reference design. It comes with a bill of materials (BOM), schematics, assembly drawing, printed circuit board (PCB) layout, and more. The company’s website has additional data about the reference design. To read more about this reference design, click here.