Solar Battery Chargers (Vanity)

Jan-21-2006 | Moi

[Malsua]

I know I'm loathed a as vanity starter, that said, I'm interested in if anyone has an opinion about Solar battery chargers. Brand/website? I use a 12v deep cycle battery to keep my house warm since I heat with firewood, but what I'm after is opinion on Solar battery chargers. Anyone with experience or suggestions is quite welcome.

Thanks.

[writer33]

No. I won't give an opinion to you because you've started a vanity.

:) Hehe!

[Malsua]

Thanks, I think.

[coloradan]

More of a threat than a suggestion: you must have a voltage regulator between the solar array and the battery, because the open circuit voltage of a solar array will fry a full battery; a panel that can make 12 V under current (as when the battery is dead) will be something like 18 V when no current is drawn (as when the battery is charged) and 18 V will slowly destroy the battery. There are such regulator ICs available specifically for interfacing a solar array to a lead-acid battery.

[U S Army EOD]

Check out articles on sailboats, they are into that.

[writer33]

Actually, I don't have an opinion. I try to stay as far away from Mother Nature as possible, depending solely upon manmade chemicals, electrical and nuclear for my energy needs. It's great!

:)

[skinkinthegrass]

I try to stay as far away from Mother Nature as possible, depending solely upon manmade chemicals, electrical and nuclear for my energy needs. It's great!

...your such a Luddite. :D

[Malsua]

Actually, I don't have an opinion. I try to stay as far away from Mother Nature as possible, depending solely upon manmade chemicals, electrical and nuclear for my energy needs. It's great!

Well, I get that too. I'm one of those folks that aren't there. Since i burn 7 cords of firewood in the winter I figure yer good. I'm your polar opposite :)

[Malsua]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've done that bit, I was trying to get a freeper suggestion.

[writer33]

:) Hehe!

[writer33]

7 Chords. Good heavens, man! It's called central heating. Join us in 2006. Join us for heaven's sake.

:)

[PeaceBeWithYou]

What you seek is called a solar charge controller, which is a fancy name for a regulator.

Trace and Prosine make good ones, but may be overkill for your application.

Some are limited to fixed regulation, and some are programable.

Size(amperage rating) will depend on the battery(s) and solar panels you have.

[Malsua]

7 Chords. Good heavens, man! It's called central heating. Join us in 2006. Join us for heaven's sake.

Yes,I know. The thing is, I have a small house and for october to april heating it's probably a wash. At $135/cord it's about a grand for the winter. When heating oil or gas runs up, it doesn't bother me. Not to mention, whether I burn these logs or not, it has no affect on the amount of greenhouse gases. If these log rot in the woods, it's the same gases as if I burn them, so I'm a greenie. I am not a greenie by any stretch. But go figure.

[writer33]

I see. You hate big oil, and now you've unzipped your Mother Earth fly.

:) Hehe!

[Malsua]

I see. You hate big oil, and now you've unzipped your Mother Earth fly.

No, not at all. I used to work in the oilfield in the 80s. The "Clinton" formation is done. I wish they would put a rosefun on my Father's property.

[writer33]

I'm just giving you a hard time, Malsua. :)

[dickmc]

Go here for a good explanation of what is needed, why, and how they work. You call also follow related links to prices, which are generally in line with other sites, and to other interesting info.

If you are going to do this, it would be best to use sealed AGM lead acid batteries.

[Issaquahking]

Have worked oil patch in Alaska, and really enjoy what the resource does for daily life! Anything as far as solid material goes on getting a good solar for charging batteries and such would be appreciated if you gave me a ping.

You too Chris:^)

[Malsua]

If you are going to do this, it would be best to use sealed AGM lead acid batteries.

Thanks, appreciate the links. Among other things, I'm an electrical/mechanical engineer, so I get the whole bit about charge/float on chargers. I am still looking for suggestions on which to buy. I will likely insert a "minder" between any charger I get, I was sorta interested if anyone had real world results.

I currently have a 12volt deep cycle battery to keep the fans on my insert going in short outages. I have a gen set for longer ones, but I need gas to keep that one going. I weathered an Ice storm with no power for 7 days last winter and had I had a solar charger for my 12volt battery, my house would have been a nice toasty warm much of the time. Had to choke it back when the battery dropped and I ran out of fuel for the gen set.

That is the genesis of this thread.

[Rudder]

I use a 12v deep cycle battery to keep my house warm since I heat with firewood...

The more I read this the less sense it makes.