"Off-the-grid" battery charging solution

[bdancer]

Forgive me if this has been addressed before, or if this isn't the best subforum for the subject, but I've been trying to figure out what simple options there are for charging batteries without being connected to a grid. From what I've read, it seems that the following arrangement is best:

Solar panel --> "Accumulator" --> Battery charger (Maha C9000, etc.). Both connections done with a 12v car plug.

Now, what an "accumulator" is isn't crystal clear to me. I've read that "powerpacks" or "jumpstart packs" or whatever you call them (for starting a car) can be used as accumulators, but it's not clear to me how they can be charged from a solar panel (manufacturers all just say plug it into the wall). :shrug: Are there any particularly good models for this purpose?

Then there are good ol' lead acid batteries... I guess some wiring is necessary to make the car plugs work?

Right now, I'm for KISS-type solutions... a solar house is not in my near future. Thanks!

 

[AnAppleSnail]

The accumulator is likely an SLA. I think that the reasons to use an SLA is that they can be charged at any reasonable rate, and they are cheap for the capacity. However, running a stock wall-plug charger from a battery requires an inverter and the efficiency losses with that - perhaps someone here can chime in on DC-source charging?

 

[old4570]

Find a charger with a variable voltage input range .
Find a panel that can feed Volts + Amps = Watts needed

Im looking at a 18v panel myself .
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/showthread.php?t=256177 I went with this charger .

 

[Norm]

Now, what an "accumulator" is isn't crystal clear to me. !

accumulator = battery

 

[cottonpickers]

I use a Solar panel connected to a 'charge controller' connected to a 12v battery (deep cycle variety) and then have a 12v cigarette socket off this. You can then use lots of stuff via a 12v lighter socket including battery chargers. I currently have a vanson speedy charger, but your suggestions are better. http://www.suburbangoodlife.com/Newspaper_Brick_Briquette_and_Solar_Laptop_home_power_energy.html
if you want all the details. As its dark in the UK currently, I only use it to charge mobile phones and nimh batteries, but it powers my laptops from March through to September

 

[Russel]

My off the grid solution is a 50 watt solar panel charging a car battery with a simple solar charge controller that I made from a kit. Powering a Maha C9000 charger with 12 volts, directly from the battery, has worked well for me this past year.

You can get small solar charge controllers on the internet or at a big electronics outlet store without breaking the bank.

I suggest a car battery for storage and "buffering." Good performance, with respect to a C9000 charger, and low cost.

The killer is the solar panel; they can get expensive. I use my solar system to power the lights in the garage while I am working, so 50 watts does the trick for me. You could go smaller for powering a C9000, but if you are going to go to the trouble of setting up a system I recommend going at least a little bigger than you think you need.