Hello, new here and to solar, looking to maintain a small battery for a generator. Can I do this with a small panel and a charge controller? Not looking to charge just maintain..
Yes, a panel in the 10-20w range with a charge controller set to the proper FLOAT voltage ( not cycle duty voltage) for your battery should work fine.
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
Thanks so much for the reply, It would be maintaining what is called a lawn and or garden tractor battery. I am thinking of using the Renogy Voyager CC, I think float is 13.6 but I don't think it is adjustable. I would be good to go with that ?..
You need to look at the specifications for your battery to see what voltage to charge to for FLOAT duty cycle. Then find a charger that can accommodate it.
This article may help explain it, and why you may want a temperature compensated charger too.
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
Comment