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Solar panel to trickle charge a 12v battery?

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raynerd:
Evening guys,
Just wondering if any of you have done this and can give me any advice or info.

My plan is to use a 40w solar panel which I can purchase for £50, connect this to a regulator so that the battery doesn't get overcharged £20, then to a car battery or a leisure battery.

I've just got an allotment and I can't cope without any power! Even if it is just a small radio and small LED light for the shed/lean-to.

I have a few questions and pretty sure someone can offer advice -

1. Does the solar panel wattage effect the power generated on cloudy days or is it just a case of the maximum power output on a sunny day?? My point is, if it is a crappy winter day with little sun, will a higher wattage panel going to generate more power?

2. What sort of lighting will be available to me on 12v battery supply and with something "decent" how long will it allow me to be lit for?


Basically, during winter I go to work in the dark and come home in dark. A light would allow me to at least go up for a while. I'm curious how long a light would run and in the winter - if a solar panel could fully charge the battery or will only top up a low battery. If it will fully charge - on a winter day (white clouds) how long would this take?

Hope someone can lend some info and advice.

Chris

angus:
i run an extractor fan in my workshop, off of a 20w panel... its a 12volt fan, and it always amazes me how hard it runs on a cloudy day

if you run led lighting, you will be fine....

i would suggest something like
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350871703543?var=620161368040&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

it will look a bit santa's grotto, but the wont deteriorate in the damp of a shed

awemawson:
I have a 'road compressor' - big diesel engine - that I use infrequently for sand blasting. The battery always seemed to be flat when I wanted it. Last Christmas my eldest sun gave me a solar panel measuring about 5" x 12" which was supposed to keep a vehicle's battery topped up. I was skeptical but put it on the compressor anyway.

Since then I've had no problems with a flat battery !

Andrew

John Stevenson:

--- Quote from: awemawson on December 10, 2013, 05:33:51 PM --- Last Christmas my eldest sun gave me a solar panel

Andrew

--- End quote ---

Was that perpetual motion ?   :Doh:

awemawson:
You were the only one to spot that pun about the sun, John  :ddb:

Andrew

ps bally cold here this morning, minus five Centigrade and the pig poo is frozen to the concrete in the sty  :bugeye:

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