Solar Charger for Field Batteries

[sheeny (Al)]

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! 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! 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.st...uct/View/O3308

I will post a report on how they go.

Al.

[RB (Andrew)]

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

[Omaroo (Chris Malikoff)]

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 (Al)]

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 (Roger)]

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 (David)]

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 (Al)]

Originally Posted by 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.

...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!!!

Al.

[h0ughy (David)]

Originally Posted by 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!!!

Al.

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

[33South (Chris)]

Originally Posted by rogerg

I think the previous quote I got was around $350, but I can't remember how powerful that was.

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...cid__SLA_/1179

[Starkler (Geoff)]

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