WattConduit Specification

Home / WattConduit / WattConduit Specification

WattConduit

Transparent Energy You Can Trust.

Overview

WattConduit is an open-source, modular solar energy conduction and battery storage platform designed to capture, regulate, optimize, and safely deliver electricity generated by photovoltaic panels into battery storage systems. By combining intelligent maximum power point tracking (MPPT), advanced DC-to-DC power conversion, battery charging management, electrical protection, and real-time energy monitoring, WattConduit transforms variable solar energy into controlled, battery-compatible electricity.

The platform is designed to support residential solar installations, off-grid systems, homesteads, distributed energy infrastructure, and expandable energy storage applications. Its modular architecture allows individual hardware and software components to be independently developed, configured, replaced, and expanded without requiring a complete system redesign.

WattConduit prioritizes electrical safety, transparent energy management, independently verifiable protection mechanisms, hardware repairability, local operation, and user ownership. Its goal is to make solar-to-battery energy storage more accessible, understandable, adaptable, and independently maintainable.

Core Objectives

Capture and efficiently manage electricity generated by photovoltaic panels.
Optimize solar energy production through intelligent MPPT algorithms.
Convert variable photovoltaic output into regulated battery-compatible electricity.
Provide chemistry-aware battery charging and protection.
Prevent unsafe electrical conditions through independent hardware safeguards.
Monitor and document energy generation, conversion, and storage.
Provide transparent and configurable energy management.
Support modular, repairable, and expandable hardware configurations.
Operate locally without requiring cloud connectivity.
Enable integration with compatible battery management and home energy systems.
Provide accessible documentation for independent builders and contributors.

Core Modules

Solar Input and Protection Module

Manages photovoltaic electricity entering the WattConduit system while protecting downstream components against unsafe electrical conditions.

Features:

Photovoltaic panel input management.
Solar voltage and current monitoring.
Configurable photovoltaic input voltage ranges.
Multiple solar input channel support.
Series and parallel panel configuration support within rated limits.
Reverse polarity protection.
Input overvoltage protection.
Input overcurrent protection.
Surge and transient voltage protection.
Electrical filtering and interference management.
Input disconnect control.
Solar input fault detection.
Solar panel performance diagnostics.
Configurable input operating limits.
Input isolation options.
Solar generation measurement.

Maximum Power Point Tracking Module

Optimizes the amount of electrical energy extracted from connected photovoltaic panels by continuously identifying and maintaining their optimal operating conditions.

Features:

Intelligent maximum power point tracking.
Perturb and Observe tracking algorithm.
Incremental Conductance tracking algorithm.
Configurable MPPT operating parameters.
Adaptive tracking frequency.
Solar output fluctuation analysis.
Partial shading detection.
Multiple independent MPPT channel support.
Solar panel performance optimization.
Dynamic operating point adjustment.
Historical tracking performance analysis.
Comparative MPPT algorithm benchmarking.
Configurable tracking profiles.
Optional predictive tracking capabilities.

Power Conversion Module

Converts photovoltaic electricity into regulated electrical output compatible with the requirements of connected battery storage systems.

Features:

DC-to-DC power conversion.
Buck converter configurations.
Boost converter configurations.
Buck-boost converter configurations.
Synchronous power conversion.
Configurable output voltage regulation.
Configurable output current regulation.
Constant-current operation.
Constant-voltage operation.
Conversion efficiency optimization.
Electrical conversion loss monitoring.
Switching frequency management.
Thermal-aware conversion management.
Hardware-level output current limiting.
Output overvoltage protection.
Output short-circuit protection.
Modular converter configurations.
Optional bidirectional power conversion support through compatible hardware.

Battery Charging Management Module

Governs the delivery of regulated electrical energy into connected battery storage systems using configurable charging profiles and chemistry-specific operating requirements.

Features:

Automated solar-to-battery charging.
Chemistry-specific charging profiles.
Lithium iron phosphate battery support.
Lithium-ion battery support.
Lead-acid battery support.
AGM battery support.
Gel battery support.
Extensible sodium-ion battery profiles.
Configurable bulk charging.
Absorption charging management.
Float charging management where applicable.
Constant-current charging.
Constant-voltage charging.
Charging voltage regulation.
Charging current regulation.
Battery temperature monitoring.
Battery capacity configuration.
Battery state of charge estimation.
Battery state of health estimation.
Charging termination management.
Charge cycle tracking.
Battery charging history.
Charging efficiency analysis.
Battery management system communication.
Compatible cell balancing coordination.
Configurable charging limits.

Battery Protection and Safety Module

Provides independent electrical and thermal protection mechanisms designed to prevent unsafe charging conditions and protect connected battery storage equipment.

Features:

Battery overvoltage protection.
Battery undervoltage protection.
Overcurrent protection.
Overtemperature protection.
Short-circuit protection.
Reverse polarity protection.
Thermal monitoring.
Emergency battery disconnect.
Contactor control integration.
Fuse and circuit breaker integration.
Independent hardware protection circuits.
Hardware fault interlocks.
Watchdog monitoring.
Safe startup and shutdown procedures.
Charging fault detection.
Battery fault isolation.
Configurable protection thresholds within validated operating limits.
Fail-safe power interruption.
BMS fault coordination.
Electrical grounding and bonding guidance.

Intelligent Energy Management Module

Coordinates solar energy capture, electrical conversion, charging operations, and available storage capacity to improve overall system efficiency.

Features:

Automated solar energy allocation.
Dynamic charging current adjustment.
Battery charging priority management.
Configurable storage priorities.
Solar production analysis.
Battery charging forecasts.
Energy availability predictions.
Load-aware charging coordination.
Charging schedule management.
Excess solar energy identification.
Energy consumption analysis.
Charging efficiency optimization.
Multi-battery coordination.
Configurable energy management policies.
Optional microgrid coordination.
External energy management integration.

Energy Monitoring and Telemetry Module

Measures and records electrical activity throughout the solar-to-storage process, providing transparent insight into system performance and energy utilization.

Features:

Real-time solar voltage monitoring.
Real-time solar current monitoring.
Real-time power measurement.
Battery voltage monitoring.
Battery current monitoring.
Battery temperature monitoring.
Accumulated watt-hour tracking.
Daily energy generation reporting.
Weekly energy generation reporting.
Monthly energy generation reporting.
Lifetime energy generation reporting.
Battery charging history.
Conversion efficiency reporting.
Electrical loss calculations.
Battery charging cycle analytics.
Thermal performance monitoring.
Hardware performance monitoring.
Fault and warning history.
Configurable telemetry sampling.
Historical energy records.
Exportable energy reports.
Sensor calibration monitoring.

Dashboard and Visualization Module

Provides an accessible interface for monitoring, configuring, and managing WattConduit operations.

Features:

Local-first web dashboard.
Real-time solar generation display.
Battery charging status.
Battery state of charge visualization.
Solar input measurements.
Battery output measurements.
Conversion efficiency visualization.
Historical energy production charts.
Charging performance analytics.
Configurable charging profiles.
Hardware status monitoring.
Fault notification interface.
System configuration management.
Energy production summaries.
Historical performance comparisons.
Offline dashboard functionality.
Mobile-responsive interface.
Multi-device monitoring.
Exportable performance reports.

Connectivity and Communication Module

Enables communication between WattConduit, compatible battery management systems, external monitoring equipment, and supported energy management platforms.

Features:

MQTT communication.
REST API.
Local network connectivity.
USB communication.
Serial communication.
CAN bus integration.
Modbus integration.
Compatible BMS communication.
Home Assistant integration.
External energy monitoring integration.
Modular sensor connectivity.
Secure firmware update communication.
Local data export.
Optional remote monitoring.
Documented communication interfaces.

Firmware and System Control Module

Coordinates system operations, manages hardware interfaces, and enforces validated electrical and charging operating constraints.

Features:

Embedded control firmware.
Deterministic control state machine.
MPPT coordination.
Power conversion control.
Battery charging coordination.
Sensor communication.
Hardware watchdog management.
Fault detection and handling.
Charging state management.
Configuration validation.
Safety threshold enforcement.
Secure firmware verification.
Signed firmware updates.
Firmware recovery procedures.
System startup and shutdown management.
Event logging.
Hardware compatibility management.

Diagnostics and Predictive Maintenance Module

Monitors system health, identifies abnormal operating conditions, and provides information to support preventive maintenance and component replacement.

Features:

Automated hardware diagnostics.
Electrical anomaly detection.
Charging performance diagnostics.
Thermal performance analysis.
Component health monitoring.
Conversion efficiency degradation detection.
Battery charging irregularity detection.
Sensor calibration diagnostics.
Fault history analysis.
Predictive maintenance recommendations.
Component replacement notifications.
Hardware service records.
System health reporting.
Maintenance history tracking.

Security, Privacy, and Transparency Module

Protects system communications, configuration data, and user-controlled energy information while maintaining transparency across system operations.

Features:

Transparent and auditable energy management logic.
Secure firmware verification.
Signed firmware updates.
Encrypted network communications.
Role-based dashboard access.
Local-first operation.
No mandatory cloud connectivity.
User-controlled telemetry.
Configurable data retention.
Exportable system data.
Secure configuration management.
Access control for system settings.
No unauthorized charging configuration changes.
Documented system behavior.
User-controlled remote connectivity.

Hardware Customization and Repairability Module

Supports independent hardware development, component replacement, system customization, and long-term maintenance.

Features:

Modular circuit board architecture.
Replaceable power conversion modules.
Replaceable monitoring modules.
Interchangeable sensor interfaces.
Documented electrical connections.
Open hardware design documentation.
Modular enclosure configurations.
Configurable cooling solutions.
Component-level repair documentation.
Hardware testing procedures.
Bill of materials transparency.
Component substitution guidance.
Expandable input and output configurations.
Field-serviceable design.
Hardware compatibility documentation.

Optional Plugin Modules

Optional plugins extend WattConduit’s capabilities without making additional functionality mandatory for the core system. Each plugin operates through documented interfaces and compatible module integrations.

Predictive Solar Intelligence Plugin

Provides advanced solar generation forecasting and predictive energy optimization.

Features:

Weather-informed solar generation forecasting.
Predictive solar production modeling.
Historical generation comparisons.
Predictive MPPT optimization.
Solar production forecasting.
Environmental condition analysis.
Adaptive energy availability predictions.

AI Energy Optimization Plugin

Introduces optional artificial intelligence capabilities for analyzing energy production, storage patterns, and charging performance.

Features:

AI-assisted charging recommendations.
Energy usage pattern analysis.
Predictive battery charging recommendations.
Adaptive energy management suggestions.
Solar production pattern recognition.
Charging efficiency recommendations.
Historical energy performance analysis.
Human-controlled optimization settings.

Advanced Battery Analytics Plugin

Extends battery monitoring with additional performance analysis and long-term storage health intelligence.

Features:

Long-term battery degradation analysis.
Battery aging predictions.
Advanced state of health estimation.
Charge cycle comparisons.
Battery performance benchmarking.
Charging efficiency trends.
Capacity degradation reporting.
Battery replacement recommendations.

Microgrid Integration Plugin

Extends WattConduit to coordinate multiple compatible solar energy and battery storage systems.

Features:

Multi-unit WattConduit coordination.
Distributed solar generation monitoring.
Shared battery storage coordination.
Microgrid energy reporting.
Distributed energy management.
Multi-system performance analytics.
Energy availability coordination.
External microgrid communication.

Home Energy Integration Plugin

Connects WattConduit with compatible residential energy management systems and smart home infrastructure.

Features:

Home Assistant integration enhancements.
Smart inverter integration.
Residential energy monitoring.
Home battery coordination.
Household energy consumption analysis.
Solar production integration.
External load monitoring.
Configurable home energy priorities.

Remote Monitoring Plugin

Provides optional remote access to WattConduit monitoring and system health information.

Features:

Remote dashboard access.
Encrypted telemetry transmission.
Remote system health reporting.
User-authorized notifications.
Remote performance analytics.
Configurable monitoring intervals.
Secure access management.
User-controlled remote connectivity.

Advanced Reporting Plugin

Extends energy monitoring with detailed historical reporting and comparative performance analytics.

Features:

Detailed energy production reports.
Battery performance reports.
Conversion efficiency comparisons.
Historical system analytics.
Daily, weekly, monthly, and annual summaries.
Energy loss analysis.
Charging performance comparisons.
Exportable reports.

Bidirectional Energy Plugin

Introduces optional bidirectional energy management for compatible power conversion hardware and supported electrical systems.

Features:

Bidirectional converter support.
Controlled battery discharge coordination.
External DC bus integration.
Energy flow direction management.
Battery discharge monitoring.
Compatible vehicle-to-home integration.
Compatible vehicle-to-grid integration.
External energy system coordination.

All bidirectional energy functionality must operate within compatible equipment specifications, battery manufacturer requirements, and applicable electrical and interconnection regulations.

Hardware Architecture and Build Requirements

WattConduit is designed around independently testable hardware modules that work together as an integrated solar-to-storage system.

The physical implementation may include:

Photovoltaic input and protection circuitry.
MPPT control and measurement circuitry.
DC-to-DC power conversion circuitry.
Battery charging control circuitry.
Independent hardware protection circuitry.
Voltage and current sensing.
Temperature monitoring sensors.
Battery management system interfaces.
Communication and connectivity interfaces.
Embedded system control hardware.
Cooling and thermal management.
Enclosures and electrical connection interfaces.

Build and Development Process

Solar Input Development: Design and validate a protected photovoltaic input interface with appropriate voltage and current sensing.
MPPT Development: Implement and test maximum power point tracking algorithms using simulated photovoltaic sources.
Power Conversion Development: Build and validate appropriately rated DC-to-DC conversion hardware.
Battery Interface Development: Implement charging profiles and compatible battery management system communication.
Safety Development: Validate independent hardware protection, disconnect mechanisms, and fault handling.
Monitoring Development: Integrate voltage, current, temperature, and power measurement.
Firmware Development: Implement system coordination, charging control, diagnostics, and telemetry.
Dashboard Development: Provide a local interface for monitoring and configuration.
System Integration: Connect individual modules and validate their combined operation.
Performance Validation: Test conversion efficiency, thermal behavior, charging accuracy, electrical protection, and fault recovery.

Electrical Safety and Validation Requirements

WattConduit must prioritize electrical safety throughout hardware development and deployment.

Initial development should use simulated photovoltaic sources or appropriately protected, current-limited laboratory supplies.
Initial battery charging tests should use battery simulators or suitable electronic loads.
Battery integration must account for chemistry-specific voltage, current, temperature, and charging requirements.
Battery management system protections must remain independent of WattConduit firmware.
Hardware overvoltage, overcurrent, short-circuit, and thermal protections must operate independently of software wherever practical.
Power conversion components must be rated for their intended electrical operating conditions.
Electrical isolation, grounding, fusing, and disconnect requirements must be documented.
Firmware failures must not disable independent hardware protection.
Fault conditions must result in a defined safe operating state.
Hardware and firmware must undergo documented validation before deployment.
Higher-voltage and higher-power configurations require qualified electrical engineering review and appropriate regulatory compliance.

Specification Branding License (SBL)

Standard

Fully AGPL-3.0+ compliant system
Copyleft enforced for network deployments
Required attribution:
- Roxanne Ardary
- https://www.roxanneardary.com/

Optional

Specification Branding License (SBL)
- Attribution-free commercial deployment
- Pricing based on scale, usage, and deployment scope
- https://roxanneardary.com/wattconduit/

License & Notice Requirements

WattConduit is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0+).

By contributing to any Open Arsenal project, you agree that your contributions will also be released under this license.

Please note the following:

All contributions must comply with the AGPL-3.0+ terms.
Under Section 7 of the license, all redistributions, forks, and derivative works must preserve attribution to Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com.
WattConduit specifications are free to use with attribution. A Specification Branding License can be negotiated upon request.
The project’s notice.md file tracks attribution requirements and contributor acknowledgments. Any update that adds new contributors or modifies attribution should also update notice.md.
When submitting a pull request, ensure that any new files maintain the attribution headers where applicable.
Network-deployed versions of this software must also remain fully AGPL-3.0+ compliant, including exposure of source code modifications when applicable under the license.

For full legal details, please refer to the AGPL-3.0+ license and the project’s notice.md file.

Notice – WattConduit

Attribution Requirement: Under Section 7 of the AGPL 3.0+ license, all redistributions, forks, and derivative works, including network-deployed versions of this project, must provide attribution to Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com.

Contributors

This file tracks contributors and their specific contributions to the project.

Roxanne Ardary, roxanneardary.com – November 7, 2026
Created the repository for WattConduit. Developed the project concept and specification for an open-source, modular solar energy conduction and battery storage platform featuring intelligent MPPT, power conversion, battery charging management, electrical protection, energy monitoring, and system diagnostics.
Add other contributors here – [Date]
[Describe contribution in one sentence]

License – WattConduit

This repository is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0+).

Key Points:

You are free to use, modify, and distribute the code.
All redistributions, forks, and derivative works or network-deployed versions must also be licensed under AGPL-3.0+ and provide attribution to Roxanne Ardary and roxanneardary.com as required under Section 7 of the license.
The software is provided “as is,” without warranty of any kind.

For the full license text, see GNU AGPL-3.0 License.