Many people know that solar chargers are a good alternative to non-renewable energy sources, but not everyone knows just how simple they are to build. If you’d like to find out more about different types of solar battery chargers, please read on.
In the simplest terms, a battery charger may be nothing more than a power supply that sends electricity of the correct voltage to a battery. Just put the battery in, give it time to charge completely, and then disconnect it. A 15-18 volt charger can be used to charge a 12 volt battery. The drawback to this system’s simplicity, though, is that it’s easy to overcharge the battery.
When overcharged, a battery’s life is likely to decrease. A seriously overcharged 12 volt battery may even lose its ability to hold a charge. However, you can use a charge controller, which will make sure that the necessary voltage is used and prevent the battery from being overcharged. A charge controller is equally important when you’re using a 12 volt solar charger, as it will allow you to charge a battery throughout the day without the risk of overcharging.
The most common kind of charge controller for 12 volt batteries is a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) charge controller. In basic terms, a PWM charge controller works by flipping a switch on and off rapidly. In this sense, the switch is mostly “on” when the charging process is first activated. As power is transferred to the battery, the amount of time the switch spends in the “off” position increases, and when the battery is fully charged, the switch no longer comes back on. In this kind of charge controller, a microprocessor chip usually performs the task of monitoring and controlling the charging process. Thus, you can leave this type of charge controller plugged into a battery indefinitely, since it will only send power to the battery when needed, without the risk of overcharging. Topping up a battery in this way is called “trickle charging,” and it will allow you to ensure that a battery is completely charged for whenever you happen to need it. This feature is obviously very handy for a 12 volt solar charger. 12 volt batteries for boats and RVs are often charged in this way, for example.
These are the basic components that comprise a 12 volt solar charger. The power source is the only thing that differentiates a 12 volt solar charger from a standard 12 volt battery charger. As one would expect, a solar panel is the source of the power for a solar battery charger. Many people are now building their own DIY solar panels. Read more at DIY Solar Panel.
1/2 volt and 3-4 amp solar cells are commonly used in the solar panels that you might see on houses. If you’re using this type of cell, it will be necessary to connect a number of them to produce the 15-18 volts needed to charge a 12 volt battery. Small solar panels do come in a number of different voltages. You do have to match the voltage of the solar panel to your charge controller. The voltage rating on the charge controller indicates what voltage you’ll need. A solar panel of 15-18 volts is usually the best choice if you can’t use a charge controller for whatever reason. However, if you are using a charge controller, it’s necessary to use the appropriate voltage. You can build your own 12 volt solar charger with the help of GreenDIYEnergy. To read more, visit Green DIY Energy.
Depending on the controller, the best way to wire it to the solar panel can be different. Identify the type of connector used on your charge controller, and solder one onto the solar panel. Use the kind of connector that’s on the battery if you aren’t using a charge controller. Spring loaded clamps are a good choice if you’re working with a larger type of 12 volt battery. You do have the choice of applying electrical tape as an alternative to soldering, but soldering is a more permanent solution, and, in this case, it’s a very easy procedure. A soldering iron and solder, which you can find at lots of places including Radio Shack, are all you’ll need to do this. First, twist the wires together. Then, apply the soldering iron to the wires. Finally, touch the solder to the wires, and wait for it to melt. There are only a couple of things to keep in mind: don’t burn yourself on the wires, and be sure to heat the wires directly with the soldering iron, not the solder itself. Another guide to building your own 12v solar charger that I recommend is Homemade Energy. If you’re interested, check out Homemade Energy.
It’s really as easy as that! If you can do that, you can put together a 12 volt solar charger without any problems. The first thing you’ll need is a 12 volt battery. A charge controller with the appropriate voltage is also necessary. Buy or build a solar panel that has the right voltage for the charge controller. Then, just connect the solar panel to the charge controller, then connect the charge controller to the battery as explained. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have permanent, free power! By using solar energy instead of oil to charge your battery, you’re helping cut pollution and dependence on foreign oil, and saving yourself a lot of money in the long run.
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