Solar Charger for Field Batteries

[sheeny]

I've just endulged in a little bit of impulse buying...

With the numbers expected at Lostock, I've been a bit concerned about the availability of power at the site for charging batteries during the day. For some time I've been looking around for a solar charger suitable for recharging my field batteries when on camping trips. I can probably manage 2 to 3 nights just observing, but I can flatten all my field batteries in a solid night of imaging...

So this morning I had a quick look on the DSE site and found a 6W solar charger - 400mA @ 15V. It's a bit shy of the 1A I would like to emulate the 240V charger that comes with the batteries... so I have bought 2!:lol: :whistle: Apparently, they can be connected together and they read like there's minimal work to connect and get them going. I hope that's the case, otherwise I've left my run too late for Lostock!:rolleyes: Lyn's shopping in Baturst today and picking them up, while I start packing the truck for Lostock...

FYI here's the link:

http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/45abf7ae0417b7d22740c0a87f9c0750/Product/View/O3308

I will post a report on how they go.;)

Al.

[RB]

You're a champion Al, thanks for the link!

[Omaroo]

Sheeny - these panels (at 6W) would be fine if left charging a battery at your holiday house while you're not there for days or weeks on end. If you flatten your deep-cycle cells overnight, I would not expect 12 watts-worth of juice (even at FULL sun for the whole day) to do diddly squat for the next evening's viewing power and I think that it'll lead to dissapointment.

In the 4WD game, we use $1,000+ 80 & 120 watt regulated BP mono crystalline panels and they only barely manage to top up our auxiliary battery during the day.

I believe that a better bet might be to get a second battery, and charge it before you leave home - and around $140 for a decent 80A-hour deep cycle unit you'll be saving money too.

Cheers
Chris

[sheeny]

I am sure you are right Chris. A lot depends on how hard I push the batteries I think. While it would be nice to have a system that I could push hard, I know it isn't the case;) .

I have 7AH power tank for the scope. Most nights it only takes a very short while to recharge (usually only minutes) unless I've been GOTOing like a madman or have used the 12V hairdryer or something else on it as well. So if I just use the scope, I'm confident it's OK for 3-4 nights.

I have a 24AH jump starter pack that I've been using for the dew heaters and laptop. Obviously with the lappy, it sometimes cops a caning, so I have just recently also bought a 38AH jump starter pack as well.

The dew heaters draw <2A max. and I have a PWM controller on it so I can (hopefully) manage that as efficiently as conditions allow. Obviously I can't expect to run the dew heaters all night and have the batteries fully recharged the next day...

While I know it's not ideal, I'm hoping I can manage things so I've got reasonable power for 3-4 nights without having to fight for power at the house. I just have to be a judicious about when and how much I use the laptop I think. It's the thirstiest power user.

A little more observing and perhaps being a little more discerning about imaging may be the order of the camp for me.;) I don't expect to come home with fully charged batteries though!

Al.

[LX200]

G'day Al
Parallel wiring will increase your output 4 fold
check to see if this would be OK with Dickies
http://www.uni-solar.com.au/images/dParallel.jpg

[rogerg]

I've always wanted a solar solution to charge my batteries in the field but it's always been prohibitively expensive, much more expensive than an extra battery.

So I have gone with the extra battery, I now mainly use a 40Ah but have a 17Ah one too.

This dicksmith one is one of the most affordable I've seen, I think the previous quote I got was around $350, but I can't remember how powerful that was. That was from http://www.12volt.com.au/ who are very experienced in such things, very knowledgeable and helpful. Actually I see they have a 5W for $135.

[h0ughy]

I use two 15 watt panels with regulators attatched to them, hook both up to one battery (110 AH) or one each for the 17/24AH batteries. I got those from jaycar. Made a stand up at 45degrees so as to maximise the angle and just move them through out the day. I hook them up before I tottle off to bed before sunrise, then I know they are working until I crawl out around 11-12, then move them.

[sheeny]

...and unless I'm mistaken you are going to use a generator at Lostock and you'll be goto free - is that correct? I'm not even in the league!!!:lol: ;)

Al.

[h0ughy]

the genny is only to recharge during the day, off at night. have the lot there, one can never have enough energy available.........

[33South]

For that price you should be getting a 10year, sealed gel 100AH+

Have you tried http://www.magellan-power.com.au/home.html I got a 33AH for $100 about a year ago from them in Sydney.
They are based in WA - O'Connor.

[Dujon]

Master Instruments (NSW and Vic only as far as I know) have a decent reputation when it comes to batteries and chargers. While I haven't used their services scuttlebutt tells me that they are very competitive when it comes to pricing.

http://www.master-instruments.com.au/category/Sealed_Lead_Acid__SLA_/1179

[Starkler]

I'm having a vision...

A car with its bonnet up, engine running and fly leads everywhere to a whole heap of powertanks getting charged sitting on the grass in front :lol: