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  • Charging voltage question for mini system?

    I want to make some little solar charged battery packs to run my game cameras year round without having to replace expensive alkaline batteries several times a year. I have already built two prototypes, but I am having problems keeping them charged, because of a stupid mistake on my part. I bought 6V panels to charge 6V batteries. I now realize I need higher voltage panels. My question is how much higher?

    My battery packs have a 6V 1.3-Ah lead acid batteries. Draw is minimal and the battery could last a month or more on a single charge without a panel. I need the batteries to stay up around 6V for the cameras to function properly. My worry is that since these units will have no form of charge controller, I need a panel that is larger enough to keep the battery up, but not overcharge it.

    I am looking at a couple mini panels for this project. Maybe someone could tell what they think would be best for this situation. Which one of these do you think is best. A 9V 2W 222mA mini panel or a 12V 0.6W 51mA mini panel?

  • #2
    This is where you use a charge controller. However, I don't know of any good 6V battery controllers. You are going to have to try a panel and see what the result is. Sorry. Trying to balance variable sun hours to a battery and load is tough.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment


    • #3
      How to increase solar panel output amps

      I am using 150 watt solar panel with 60ah deep cycle battery with 1.5 kw inverter with surge power 3.0kw..i want to increase the charging rate so am thinking maybe i use current booster to increase the solar panel amps by connecting the current booster to the solar panel, then the output of the current booster to the solar charger controller which will now increase the output amps to 18am.
      The solar panel is 18v 8.0 amp...but the current booster is 12v-24v, 10-19 amps...
      Can anyone give suggestion about this......is this possible?
      can it works?
      urgent response please.

      Comment


      • #4
        What you describe will not work. Your panel can only produce 150 watts. That cannot be "boosted". You can use a MPPT style of controller which will give you >90% efficiency from the panel to the battery. Optimizers are for strings of solar panels and are not suited for battery charging.
        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
          What you describe will not work. Your panel can only produce 150 watts. That cannot be "boosted". You can use a MPPT style of controller which will give you >90% efficiency from the panel to the battery. Optimizers are for strings of solar panels and are not suited for battery charging.
          I realize that what I am talking about is an optimal solar system, but this simple form of system is being used by millions of people all over this country to run there game feeders. The system is comprised of nothing more then a 6V 4.5Ah battery and a solar panel. It works quite well and last for many years. I am actually using that system in a couple of game cameras and it works fine, but it is much larger then what the camera needs. I am trying to built a smaller custom system for my cameras.

          Comment


          • #6
            For a 6 volt lead acid battery without a controller you are looking for a panel with 16 cells and a blocking diode. Put another way a panel with 8 volts Vmp. Another way to do it is use a regular 12 volt battery panel and build a simple Zener Diode - Resistor voltage regulator and a blocking diode. You cannot just connect a panel directly to a battery because the panel will discharge the battery when dark.
            MSEE, PE

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Sunking View Post
              For a 6 volt lead acid battery without a controller you are looking for a panel with 16 cells and a blocking diode. Put another way a panel with 8 volts Vmp. Another way to do it is use a regular 12 volt battery panel and build a simple Zener Diode - Resistor voltage regulator and a blocking diode. You cannot just connect a panel directly to a battery because the panel will discharge the battery when dark.
              Yes. I am using blocking diodes to prevent discharge. What I am looking for is someone who might know what the specs for a mini panel would be to trickle charge the battery without running the risk of overcharge damage to the battery. I guess this is more of electronics question then solar.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by jungleexplorer View Post
                Yes. I am using blocking diodes to prevent discharge. What I am looking for is someone who might know what the specs for a mini panel would be to trickle charge the battery without running the risk of overcharge damage to the battery. I guess this is more of electronics question then solar.
                Simple. First define Trickle Charger?

                A Trickle Charge is one in which is a Float Charger with no more than C/100 charge current. C = Battery Amp Hour rating. You have a 1.3 Amp hour battery. You you can use any solar panel with a Vmp of 8 volts or more with a Imp of 1.3 / 100 = .013 amps. If this were a 12 volt battery panel with and Vmp = 17 volts would be a .2 watts.

                Good luck finding a .2 watt solar panel.

                But I have an idea. Will be a bit expensive but might just very well work. Solar Powered landscape lights have 3 volt panels to charge a NiCd battery. You might be able to buy three of them and salvage the panels out of them and wire in series.

                But if it were me doing this, I would buy the smallest 12 volt battery panel I could find around 5 watts, and use a very simple LM317 voltage regulator and a few resistors to make a 7 volt float charger out of it. The LM-317 and resistors are around $3 to $5 worth of parts.



                Use this link, it has a calculator. I will just make it easy for you. R3 = 120 Ohms, R4 = 560 Ohms. Only thing you have to do is find a panel with a Vmp of 10 volts or higher and less than 40 volts. A 5 to 10 watt 12 volt battery panel would be great.
                MSEE, PE

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by Sunking View Post
                  Simple. First define Trickle Charger?

                  A Trickle Charge is one in which is a Float Charger with no more than C/100 charge current. C = Battery Amp Hour rating. You have a 1.3 Amp hour battery. You you can use any solar panel with a Vmp of 8 volts or more with a Imp of 1.3 / 100 = .013 amps. If this were a 12 volt battery panel with and Vmp = 17 volts would be a .2 watts.

                  Good luck finding a .2 watt solar panel.

                  But I have an idea. Will be a bit expensive but might just very well work. Solar Powered landscape lights have 3 volt panels to charge a NiCd battery. You might be able to buy three of them and salvage the panels out of them and wire in series.

                  But if it were me doing this, I would buy the smallest 12 volt battery panel I could find around 5 watts, and use a very simple LM317 voltage regulator and a few resistors to make a 7 volt float charger out of it. The LM-317 and resistors are around $3 to $5 worth of parts.



                  Use this link, it has a calculator. I will just make it easy for you. R3 = 120 Ohms, R4 = 560 Ohms. Only thing you have to do is find a panel with a Vmp of 10 volts or higher and less than 40 volts. A 5 to 10 watt 12 volt battery panel would be great.

                  Thanks. What do you think about a 9V solar panel that is 2 watt and produces 222mA? Would that work?

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by jungleexplorer View Post
                    Thanks. What do you think about a 9V solar panel that is 2 watt and produces 222mA? Would that work?
                    Is that 9 volt Vmp? If so you could probable get away with just two series diodes to drop the voltage down. One diode would certainly fry a 1.3 AH 6 volt battery in pretty short time.

                    I would highly recomend you use some sort of voltage regulator to protect your battery. Best $5 you will ever spend.
                    MSEE, PE

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Sunking View Post
                      Is that 9 volt Vmp? If so you could probable get away with just two series diodes to drop the voltage down. One diode would certainly fry a 1.3 AH 6 volt battery in pretty short time.

                      I would highly recomend you use some sort of voltage regulator to protect your battery. Best $5 you will ever spend.

                      The give you a better understanding of what I am working with, here are some pictures.

                      project+1.jpg

                      project+2.jpg

                      IMG_20140719_181229.jpg

                      The current panel the is on there is 6V 1watt 160mA. It charges the battery, but cannot get the voltage up over 5.4V and the camera does not like that low of voltage. The current diode I am using on the positive lead from the panel is a 1N5819 SCHOTTKY BARRIER DIODE 1A 40V.




                      I need the size of the panel to be less then the size of my project box and the rest of the components must fit inside the project box. As far as the diodes and charge controller you speak of, can you actual provide links to the actual devices so I can see them. It just that I am having difficulty find the exact parts I need based on descriptions. Thanks.

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                      • #12
                        Will this fit?

                        Search the web for solar battery maintainers.
                        MSEE, PE

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Sunking View Post
                          Is that 9 volt Vmp? If so you could probable get away with just two series diodes to drop the voltage down. One diode would certainly fry a 1.3 AH 6 volt battery in pretty short time.

                          I would highly recomend you use some sort of voltage regulator to protect your battery. Best $5 you will ever spend.

                          Here is a link to the 9V panel I am talking about.

                          http://www.ebay.com/itm/231074022029...84.m1439.l2649

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            It should but I would be a lot more comfortable if I could see the Voc and Vmp specs.
                            MSEE, PE

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Sunking View Post
                              It should but I would be a lot more comfortable if I could see the Voc and Vmp specs.
                              These are the specs on the panel.

                              2) Max. power: 2W
                              3) Max. voltage: 9V
                              4) Max. current: 222mA

                              Assuming that 9V is the Vmp, then it would be below that most of the time. If there were a charge control that was small enough that it would fit in the box, I would consider that if the cost was no prohibitive. I am trying to keep the cost of production down to $20. I have several of these to build for myself, family and friends, once I get the design perfected.

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