CN3791 12V MPPT Solar Charge Controller Board for 3.7V Lithium Battery Charging
Teach solar power basics with the CN3791 MPPT board—efficient 12 V to 3.7 V lithium charging in one classroom kit!
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CN3791 12V MPPT Solar Charge Controller Board – 3.7 V Lithium Battery Edition
The CN3791 board is a compact, high‑efficiency MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller designed to harvest power from a 12 V solar panel and safely charge a single‑cell 3.7 V lithium‑ion or lithium‑polymer battery. Built around the industry‑standard CN3791 IC, the board automatically finds the optimal voltage‑current point of the solar array, delivering up to 97 % conversion efficiency in a rugged, solder‑ready package. It’s an ideal plug‑and‑play solution for portable solar kits, hobby drones, IoT sensor nodes, or any small‑scale renewable‑energy project.
What students will learn & why it’s great
Working with this controller gives students hands‑on experience with core power‑electronics concepts: MPPT theory, buck‑converter operation, battery‑management algorithms, and protection circuitry. They’ll see how voltage‑feedback loops regulate charge current, explore thermal‑design trade‑offs, and practice PCB layout and debugging on a real‑world device. Key features include a 1 A continuous charging current, over‑charge, over‑discharge, short‑circuit and over‑temperature protection, a built‑in 5 V step‑up output for auxiliary loads, and clear LED status indicators. Because the board is low‑cost, easy to integrate, and backed by a well‑documented datasheet, it lets learners focus on design and experimentation rather than troubleshooting, making it a favorite in university labs and makerspaces.