This is primarily intended for the newcomer to solar, especially those experimenting with 12v systems.
Batteries of course are a huge part of the plan, and while reading the threads and subforums yields great advice, I KNOW that many of you will attempt to put a battery into service that may be old or inappropriate for the job.
Whether you just slap something in to see if it sticks, or have done all your homework to "right size" it for your system, the idea is to be SURE you are starting out on the right track - that is making your battery as serviceable as possible, which can mean a little bit more than just fully charging it.
I have seen quite a few projects that go to great lengths to get things exactly right, yet the battery they use is the culprit for poor performance. The biggest problem here is that unless you know how to ascertain your battery health, you may be led to making false conclusions about your other gear!
Without a lot of experience, or test gear to prove that what you are reading is true, I can make a suggestion:
Start your project by using a Tecmate-Optimate 6 ac charger on your battery first, AND being sure to let it finish the job - which is at least 12 hours or more after it finishes the job, since it is still testing / charging before it reaches a conclusion, and displays the battery health conclusion to you.
Ok Mr. Salesman, why is that? This is the internet, so you should trust me.
Read their manual online if you want to get into that. Essentially many other cheap automotive chargers are either too agressive, too weak, or too cheap to do the job *right*, despite a lot of sales hype. And doing it right means that a battery geek like me will watch what they do with their own voltmeters / ammeters inline to actually PROVE what they claim is true.
The best part is that it can appeal to both the battery geek and the neophyte. I watch and monitor what it does for the entire process. Normal people can simply attach leads to the terminals, plug in the ac, and walk away.
It is more than just a blink-led toy for geeks. It is a real TOOL. I consider it just as important as the oft-recommended Kill-A-Watt meter. The best thing about this tool is that the neophyte can simply clamp up and walk away (although I recommend NEVER leaving a battery on charge unattended!)
While I would love everyone to read the threads, get the appropriate NEW battery for the job, I know that in the real world, many will put a used one in place instead. At the very least, let a Tecmate-Optimate 6 (or 5 if you are really on a budget), vet the battery performance to see if you are going to just stumble out of the gate, or start on the right foot.
Batteries of course are a huge part of the plan, and while reading the threads and subforums yields great advice, I KNOW that many of you will attempt to put a battery into service that may be old or inappropriate for the job.
Whether you just slap something in to see if it sticks, or have done all your homework to "right size" it for your system, the idea is to be SURE you are starting out on the right track - that is making your battery as serviceable as possible, which can mean a little bit more than just fully charging it.
I have seen quite a few projects that go to great lengths to get things exactly right, yet the battery they use is the culprit for poor performance. The biggest problem here is that unless you know how to ascertain your battery health, you may be led to making false conclusions about your other gear!
Without a lot of experience, or test gear to prove that what you are reading is true, I can make a suggestion:
Start your project by using a Tecmate-Optimate 6 ac charger on your battery first, AND being sure to let it finish the job - which is at least 12 hours or more after it finishes the job, since it is still testing / charging before it reaches a conclusion, and displays the battery health conclusion to you.
Ok Mr. Salesman, why is that? This is the internet, so you should trust me.
Read their manual online if you want to get into that. Essentially many other cheap automotive chargers are either too agressive, too weak, or too cheap to do the job *right*, despite a lot of sales hype. And doing it right means that a battery geek like me will watch what they do with their own voltmeters / ammeters inline to actually PROVE what they claim is true.
The best part is that it can appeal to both the battery geek and the neophyte. I watch and monitor what it does for the entire process. Normal people can simply attach leads to the terminals, plug in the ac, and walk away.
It is more than just a blink-led toy for geeks. It is a real TOOL. I consider it just as important as the oft-recommended Kill-A-Watt meter. The best thing about this tool is that the neophyte can simply clamp up and walk away (although I recommend NEVER leaving a battery on charge unattended!)
While I would love everyone to read the threads, get the appropriate NEW battery for the job, I know that in the real world, many will put a used one in place instead. At the very least, let a Tecmate-Optimate 6 (or 5 if you are really on a budget), vet the battery performance to see if you are going to just stumble out of the gate, or start on the right foot.
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