6w PV unregulated Trickle Charger.
Submitted: Monday, Oct 31, 2016 at 12:10
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martycon
Is my battery being damaged?
I have been using a 6 watt PV as trickle charger, for a year or so. Works
well and keeps the 12v 100va AGM van battery topped up when not in use.
Checked output voltage yesterday, and found 19.1v. I looked at what I thought was the faulty voltage controller, but it is only a
junction box. Should I include a voltage controller in the circuit?
cheers marty.
Reply By: Allan B (Member, SunCoast) - Monday, Oct 31, 2016 at 12:41
Monday, Oct 31, 2016 at 12:41
.
Hi Marty, when you measured the 19.1 volts I assume that the battery was not connected to the charger, nor any other load connected. If so, you would be measuring the open-circuit voltage of the PV.
It is more appropriate to measure the voltage with the battery connected and after being on charge for a time. I would expect it to be in the range of 13 to 14 volts.
What matters is the current going into the battery once it is fully charged and I would expect that to be around 20 to 50 milliamps.
You should not need a 'voltage controller' in the circuit with just a 6 Watt PV.
As you say, it has been keeping the battery "topped up".
AnswerID:
605555
Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Monday, Oct 31, 2016 at 18:41
Monday, Oct 31, 2016 at 18:41
I fitted a 5W panel directly into the TV 12V outlet with the panel sitting in the skylight.
Worked a treat and as Allan stated, no regulator is required.
I now have 2 x 150W panels so don't use the 5W panel anymore.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Monday, Oct 31, 2016 at 21:26
Monday, Oct 31, 2016 at 21:26
Back in the early '80's, I purchased a Solarex 36w panel for about the same $$$'s that would now get me over 600w, or maybe more, of solar output. Had it mainly to charge a battery to run an HF transceiver, and a few lights, in our caravan.
Some years later, I set it up on the roof of the station
homestead, where it did duty charging an N70Z battery, to run both an HF and a UHF, until we had the phone on, and the HF was eventually consigned to a storage cupboard. No regulator was fitted and the batteries gave good service for many years.
Bob
AnswerID:
605587