Rising fuel prices and the increasing tolls of pollution are motivating many individuals to invesitgate solar battery chargers. Read on to find out more about different kinds of solar battery chargers, including how to build your own.
The simplest type of battery charger works by simply supplying a battery with electricity of a certain voltage. All you need to do is connect the battery to the power supply, wait for it to charge all the way, and then disconnect it. A 15-18 volt charger may be used to recharge a 12 volt battery. The drawback to this kind of charger is that there’s nothing to prevent you from overcharging the battery.
If you overcharge a battery, it’s probable that the battery’s life will be adversely affected, sometimes significantly. In the event that you seriously or repeatedly overcharge a 12 volt battery, it can be damaged so much that it will no longer maintain its charge. Luckily, you can use a charge controller to make sure that the right voltage is used to charge the battery and that the battery is not overcharged. A charge controller will allow you to take advantage of the functions of a 12 volt solar charger without the danger of overcharging.
The most widely used kind of charge controller for 12 volt batteries is a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) charge controller. A PWM charge controller works by, in a sense, switching on and off very quickly. The switch is mostly in the “on” position at first. As power is transferred to the battery, the switch spends more time activated than deactivated, and when the battery is fully charged, the switch no longer comes back on. A microprocessor chip oversees the charging process. Since it only sends electricity to the battery when the battery is less than fully charged, this type of charge controller can be left plugged into a battery indefinitely. This is called “trickle charging,” and it is a good strategy when you have a battery that you don’t necessarily use all the time, but would to make sure that it’s charged when it does need to be used. This feature is obviously very useful for a 12 volt solar charger. 12 volt batteries for boats and RVs are often charged in this way, for example.
With these basic components, you can make a 12 volt solar charger. What differentiates a 12 volt solar charger from a standard battery charger is the power source. As one would expect, a solar panel provides the power for a solar battery charger. If you want to save money, building a DIY solar panel to use in a 12 volt solar charger is a great way to go. You can get more info by taking a look at DIY Solar Panel.
Usually, solar panels used on houses contain 1/2 volt and 3-4 amp solar cells. Several of these cells have to be connected in order to produce the 15-18 volts needed for a 12 volt battery charger. It’s possible to get small solar panels in many different voltages. Matching the voltage of the solar panel to your charge controller will allow you to create a working solar battery charger. The voltage rating on the charge controller tells you what voltage you’ll need. If you’re not using a charge controller, a solar panel of 15-18 volts is usually a fairly safe bet. However, if you are using a charge controller, it’s necessary to use the indicated voltage. One great guide to building your own 12 volt solar charger is GreenDIYEnergy. To read my article about it, visit GreenDIYEnergy Review.
The connector used by the charge controller determines the best way of wiring it to the solar panel. Whatever type of connector is used on your charge controller, just solder one onto the solar panel. Use the kind of connector that’s on the battery if you aren’t using a charge controller. In terms of clamps, the spring loaded type work well with larger 12 volt batteries. For people who would prefer not to solder, you aren’t absolutely required to solder (although this type of soldering is very simple); it’s possible to just twist the wires together and use electrical tape. You’ll just need a basic soldering iron and solder, which you can find at lots of places including Radio Shack. First, twist the wires together. Then, use the soldering iron on the wires. Finally, touch the solder to the wires, and wait for it to melt. As long as you take care not to burn yourself, and remember to heat the wires and not the solder itself with the soldering iron, it’ll be a snap. Another guide to building your own 12v solar charger that I recommend is Homemade Energy. To read more, visit Homemade Energy.
It’s really as easy as that! Building a 12 volt solar charger is pretty easy as well. A 12 volt battery is the first component. Paying attention to the appropriate voltage, you’ll also need a charge controller. Build or buy a solar panel that outputs the right voltage for the charge controller. Finally, connect the solar panel to the charge controller, and the charge controller to the battery. That’s it; now, you have free power forever! What’s more, you get some significant residual benefits: you save money, because you don’t have to pay for the electricity you need to charge the battery; you reduce emissions, as energy generated by solar panels doesn’t pollute like electricity from oil or coal-fired plants does; and you help the country by helping end dependence on foreign oil.
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