NiMh Charging w Solar Panel

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  • ashjur
    Junior Member
    • Feb 2012
    • 2
    #1

    NiMh Charging w Solar Panel

    Hi guys,

    I am working on a project and need help determining how my system should be wired.

    I have a 30 watt solar panel and a 12V 10000 mAH battery. http://www.all-battery.com/rectangul...obot11613.aspx

    The battery is 10 D NiMhs batteries in series for a 12 Volt output.

    I have since learned that a conventional solar charge controller will not work in this application as they are for use with SLA batteries only. Is this correct?

    This system will be off the grid entirely.

    Could someone direct me to a product or IC that I could use for charge control as well as what I need to do to wire this system properly? Thanks so much.
    Tags: None
  • Sunking
    Solar Fanatic
    • Feb 2010
    • 23301
    #2
    Originally posted by ashjur
    I have a 30 watt solar panel and a 12V 10000 mAH battery. The battery is 10 D NiMhs batteries in series for a 12 Volt output.

    I have since learned that a conventional solar charge controller will not work in this application as they are for use with SLA batteries only. Is this correct?
    No it is not correct, NiMh uses a different charging algorithm. The problem is there no commercial charge controllers available that I know of. Just no market for such a product. However it can be done.

    Did you state the Amp Hour capacity correctly? 10,000 mAh would not be expressed that way normally. It would be stated as 10 AH, which is a huge NiMh. If it is really 10 AH you do not need a charge controller, just connect the panel directly to the batteries, as the panel will regulate the current to 1.7 amps or C\6 charge rate.

    One comment if those batteries are 10 AH, with a 30 watt panel you are looking at 2 to 5 days to fully recharge the batteries if they are completely discharged.
    MSEE, PE

    Comment

    • Mike90250
      Moderator
      • May 2009
      • 16020
      #3
      One other thing you would need if you connect directly to the panels, is a Blocking Diode to prevent the batteries from discharging through the array at night. But that would keep snow from sticking to the panels !
      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

      • Sunking
        Solar Fanatic
        • Feb 2010
        • 23301
        #4
        I thought I should add if those batteries are 1000 mah, then you will need a custom designed charge controller.
        MSEE, PE

        Comment

        • mikejh
          Member
          • Aug 2011
          • 44
          #5
          ashjur, I thought I would mention that the RC guys use alot of Nimh batteries, and you may be able to find a charger with a adjustable input voltage. Although this would be a PWM charger, it would probably be alot less expencive than haveing a custom charge controller made.

          Comment

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