Archive for the ‘Solar Panel Charger’ Category
Solar Panel Charger – Basic Review
Battery chargers are in general a device capable of performing 3 major tasks:
1- Converting power source to a suitable level for the particular type of battery used. For example an AC USB charger should convert 110 volts AC into 5 Volts DC.
2- Providing a constant voltage, constant current, or trickle charge power.
3- Some chargers will employ intelligence to keep track of charging process. For example compensate for temperature, or applying appropriate current if there is a short in a battery.
To learn how solar panel charger works, you have to know the type of battery in use. Solar power systems in homes, cottages or RVs use lead-acid deep cycled batteries. Even though their physical look is the same as a car battery, however they can be deep cycled. That means that you can discharge them almost completely and recharge them again without damaging the battery. On the other hand a normal car battery should not be totally discharged as it will lower its life expectancy.
A standard lead-acid battery charger circuit applies full voltage across the batteries and monitors the current being drawn by the battery. When the current starts to decrease, it will lower the applied voltage. This will eliminate the battery being overcharged, and increases its life span. In modern charging system there is also a battery temperature monitoring device. It basically senses the temperature of the battery and as it heats up, it lowers the charging voltage.
Solar panel charger is not any different than a standard battery charger. The only difference is that a solar panel charger uses solar panels as the source of the power. It is also designed around the components that are suitable for a green energy power system.
Do you use a certain model of the solar panel charger that you are happy with? Please share your story with us.
Jay Eld