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lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2020/05/20 11:22]
frater_secessus [technical discussion] 		lifestyle:faq_solar_generator [2020/05/20 11:28]
frater_secessus [Charging from solar panels]
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   * Will you have 8hrs of usable solar harvest?  Do check the [[electrical:12v:electrical_notation|Vmax and Imax specs]] for the device if you intend to charge with solar;  the max input voltage is usually quite low.     * Will you have 8hrs of usable solar harvest?  Do check the [[electrical:12v:electrical_notation|Vmax and Imax specs]] for the device if you intend to charge with solar;  the max input voltage is usually quite low.  
  
-==== technical discussion ==== +====Charging from solar panels====
- +
-===Charging from wall socket===  +
-Wall charging is typically fastest because the manufacturer gets total control over the adapter's voltage and current output.  Note that they might not include a fast charger to reduce cost or heat stress on the battery.((particularly for Li)) +
- +
-===Charging from car outlet===  +
-Car charging is typically slow because [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]] voltage tends to be fairly low((particularly for charging lead)) and [[electrical:12v:ports#the_cigarette_outlet|ciggy outlet]] current limited to 10A.  Unless one is on a road trip there is probably not enough time spent driving the vehicle to charge the device fully.  +
- +
-===Charging from solar panels===+
  
 Charging these devices from solar panels will probably be [[electrical:solar:output|slower than you might expect]].   Charging these devices from solar panels will probably be [[electrical:solar:output|slower than you might expect]].  
  
-Devices that claim to have internal solar controllers (probably mppt) will cost more but will make much better use of panels for charging.((4S or greater Li configurations will also charge better from solar due to higher voltage))   
  
  
-  * in the absence of an MPPT controller((sometimes present on higher-end devices)) [[electrical:solar:output#charge_controller_type|panel output is hamstrung by battery voltage]].  You may see a device listing 60w max input but specifying a 100w panel for use with it, and now you know why.  +  * in the absence of an MPPT controller((sometimes present on higher-end devices)) [[electrical:solar:output#charge_controller_type|panel output is hamstrung by battery voltage]].  You may see a device listing 60w max input but specifying a 100w panel for use with it, and now you know why. 
   * devices with 3S lithium cells will hamstring the panels even worse((3S Li voltage can be as low as 9v, and maxxes around 12.5v.))   * devices with 3S lithium cells will hamstring the panels even worse((3S Li voltage can be as low as 9v, and maxxes around 12.5v.))
 +  * long wire runs (as seen with portable panels set outside) result in voltage drops
 +  * sunlight is limited to a certain number of hours.  Some units require more hours of charging than there are hours of sunlight in a day. 
 +
 +Devices with internal mppt controllers will cost more but will make much better use of panels for charging.
  
 Poly panels will typically [[http://bdp.mousetrap.net/index.php/2019/11/13/pwm-loves-poly/|make more power]] in this scenario due to their lower voltage / higher current.((mppt-equipped models will charge equally as well from both panel types)) Poly panels will typically [[http://bdp.mousetrap.net/index.php/2019/11/13/pwm-loves-poly/|make more power]] in this scenario due to their lower voltage / higher current.((mppt-equipped models will charge equally as well from both panel types))
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 Another approach might be to place a [[electrical:solar:shunt_tweaking|shunt charge controller]] between the panel and DC input and limit the voltage automatically that way. This will not work if the DC port does not "show" the controller the battery voltage. Another approach might be to place a [[electrical:solar:shunt_tweaking|shunt charge controller]] between the panel and DC input and limit the voltage automatically that way. This will not work if the DC port does not "show" the controller the battery voltage.
 +
 +
 +====Charging from wall socket====
 +Wall charging is typically fastest because the manufacturer gets total control over the adapter's voltage and current output.  Note that they might not include a fast charger to reduce cost or heat stress on the battery.((particularly for Li))
 +
 +====Charging from car outlet==== 
 +Car charging is typically slow because [[electrical:12v:alternator|alternator]] voltage tends to be fairly low((particularly for charging lead)) and [[electrical:12v:ports#the_cigarette_outlet|ciggy outlet]] current limited to 10A.  Unless one is on a road trip there is probably not enough time spent driving the vehicle to charge the device fully. 
 +
  
 ==== internal AGM batteries ==== ==== internal AGM batteries ====
lifestyle/faq_solar_generator.txt · Last modified: 2024/05/03 15:10 by frater_secessus

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