Solar Charger and Eneloops

[Ian2381]

Is it safe to use Solar charger to charge eneloop AAs or does it have negative effects? i just bought a cheap solar charger and Im reluctant to use my eneloops. I also saw a solar panels with a AA holder to charge batteries.

 

[Mr Happy]

Check the maximum charging current. If it is less than 200 mA for AA cells, or less than 80 mA for AAA cells there is no problem. If the current is up to 350 mA for AA cells, there is still not much of a problem, but you should check the cells and remove them when they are charged (i.e. when the voltage has reached 1.5 V). Note that solar cells only deliver full output in direct sunlight, so to charge AA Eneloops at 350 mA would require six hours of direct sunlight at least.

 

[Teobaldo]

Is better use a solar panel for energize a battery charger, this configuration has worked fine for me. A simple solar charger works too (and is more cheap), but you should be attentive to it indicated by Mr.Happy, because can burn the batteries upon overcharging them.

 

[pblanch]

Oh dear.

I have a http://www.voltaicsystems.com/amp.shtml which is awesome at charging my ipod touch, wireless hotspot and a few items and was going to use it in conjunction with http://www.energizer.com/usbcharger

The Energizer USB charger that states on the back output 1.4V 550mA . I haven't used the USB Enloop charger anyone got one and what does that say as the output.

Or is the 350mA as Mr Happy quoted per battery?

I love my enloops and don't want to damage them.

 

[Mr Happy]

You don't need to worry if you are using a solar system to power a battery charger like the Energizer one. My advice concerned directly connecting a solar panel to a battery or batteries without a charger in between.

Using a solar panel directly could be a more efficient option if you match voltages appropriately but it needs technical knowledge and requires manual charge monitoring. But as Teobaldo said, using a solar panel to drive a battery charger is the simpler and safer way of doing things.

 

[pblanch]

Thanks Mr Happy. I though I was pretty smart with my USB and solar panels and would have been mortified if they were damaging.

Tiefer, tiefer, irgendwo in der Tiefe gibt es ein Licht

Either your German or a Kate Bush fan Fan (or just like poetry)

 

[coachclass]

Just to clarify the posts here about putting a battery charger between the solar charger and the battery cell...

Would it have to be be a dumb battery charger? I can't imagine something like the LaCrosse would work well with intermittent wall power. And your solar panel setup would need some kind of rectifier to convert the power for 110 VAC wall power, right?

 

[Mr Happy]

Just to clarify the posts here about putting a battery charger between the solar charger and the battery cell...

Would it have to be be a dumb battery charger? I can't imagine something like the LaCrosse would work well with intermittent wall power. And your solar panel setup would need some kind of rectifier to convert the power for 110 VAC wall power, right?

The battery charger needs to run off low voltage DC power, such as a 12 V (car) or 5 V (USB) input. And it can't be intermittent, it must be continuous (unless you are doing a low current timed charge). That means your solar supply needs continuous sunlight, or it must have its own battery to store the sunlight, such as the one linked by pblanch.

 

[Bolster]

Also looking for a way to charge eneloops on solar. Opinion of the Sundance Solar?

http://store.sundancesolar.com/poaafosobach.html

Possibly safe if you make certain to charge 4 cells at a time? (300 mA rate in that case). However this wouldn't solve the "intermittent" problem of cloud cover stopping the charge in the middle.

Regarding the idea of a solar panel powering a battery charger...what solar panel could you recommend that would power the Eneloop charger that comes with the cells?

 

[Teobaldo]

Sundance Solar have good solar stuff, but this charger (to where I know) it is not intelligent and one has to be attentive to not overcharge the batteries.

Y recommend a solar panel of at least 10 Watts (above 800 mA) to powering a battery charger, but I do not know if the Eneloop charger has some car adapter to which to connect it. Perhaps the best be to charge a battery as the Xantrex and later to connect the charger to her to avoid the problem of the clouds.

 

[stockae92]

Solar charging system for camping?

Is there an off the shielf solar panel/charging system like this. I wanted to use it when I go camping to charge up AA, cell phone, etc.

- solar panel(s) can be rolled up or folded so that it will take up a smaller area
- weather proof (at least dust proof I guess)
- able to deliver enough juice (Am?) to charge 2 to 4 AA NiMH in maybe 4-6 hours of sun light
- USB? regular plug?

Thanks

 

[netprince]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

I have one of the 4AA powerfilm chargers, it is nice, I used it several times and now its in safe storage.

http://www.powerfilmsolar.com/foldable-solar-chargers/foldable-products.php

EDIT: Since the threads were merged, I'll add that the sundance 4AA charger I have does have a charging circuit with end of charge termination. IIRC there was more information in the manual.

 

[Norm]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

Thread merge:
Solar Charger and Eneloops
Solar charging system for camping?

 

[Stagdag]

Hey guys, thread bump!

Is there any major difference between the more expensive portable (roll-up) solar panels and the more stationary, "blocky" ones?

I'd like to invest in a solar panel in order to charge eneloops and NICAD/NIMH batteries.

But I don't want to fry em or stop the charge in the middle?

I take it from the previous posts that in most climates, one needs a separate self-powered trickle charger with its own power source?

What are some good brands for this, currently?

Thank you for your help!:)
PMZ

 

[SMC527]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

Is there an off the shielf solar panel/charging system like this. I wanted to use it when I go camping to charge up AA, cell phone, etc.

- solar panel(s) can be rolled up or folded so that it will take up a smaller area
- weather proof (at least dust proof I guess)
- able to deliver enough juice (Am?) to charge 2 to 4 AA NiMH in maybe 4-6 hours of sun light
- USB? regular plug?

Thanks

this is exactly what I am looking for as well (in my thread on batteries for extended wilderness stays)

I don't know anything about "thread merging" but if that is appropriate here, please do it.

I am leaving for AK on 7 June 2011 (Tuesday). I am mostly concerned with being able to charge AA size batteries (for a GPS and a Camera) but would also like to be able to charge my cell pone as well (there are some areas where I will get coverage)

Please point me in the right direction as to the items (everything-including batteries) that I need to obtain to have this ability.

thanks!

SMC

 

[glockboy]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

Look at the Cottonpickers Solar Powered & USB Chargers.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...Solar-Powered-amp-USB-Chargers-2-panels-added

 

[SMC527]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

Look at the Cottonpickers Solar Powered & USB Chargers.
http://www.cpfmarketplace.com/mp/sh...Solar-Powered-amp-USB-Chargers-2-panels-added

How durable are these chargers? Are they waterproof (or at least splash proof). How susceptible are they to damage?

 

[Samy]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

I recently bought a 'smart' charger designed for eneloops. It individually charges 8 eneloops in around 2-3 hours and comes with a house plug and a 12v car adaptor. The input of the charger is rated at 12v 1.7amps:

I'll probably get something like this which is very popular downunder - a folding solar panel designed for campers and emergency use at home in case of extended blackouts. They're a bit on the $ side but they come with a 12 volt regulator and alligator clips so they're ready to go and fold up with all the cables & regulator inside so it looks like a small briefcase. They come in all sizes so all i need is a small panel rated at 40w/2amps with a cigarette/car socket so i can use the cigarette/car plug that came with the charger but i'll probably get a longer lead to keep the charger itself out of the sun. This way i'll be using a fully automatic, temp & volt controlled charger the way it's supposed to be used and all i need is a 40w 2amp solar panel to plug it into. I should be able to charge a full set of 8 Eneloops in 2-3 hours so it doesn't need to be out there all day. At home, I should be able to leave the eneloops charging on the bench in the garage or in the house and run a lead outside to the solar panel which i can place beside the house/garage or on the lawn in the backyard. ;) Apart from the purchase price of the panel (which has a 10 year warranty) it won't ever cost me anything to charge my eneloops as long as the sun is out :)

This is a 40watt, 2.2amp self contained solar panel with 12v regulator:

cheers

 

[SMC527]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

Bump for further direction on a charger/Battery set up that could be used for eneloops on an extended wilderness expedition

 

[asval]

Re: Solar charging system for camping?

Bump for further direction on a charger/Battery set up that could be used for eneloops on an extended wilderness expedition

Don't get what you mean by charger/battery unless you mean that you'd like to have a separate battery to store any surplus power. If that's the case I'd just bring more eneloops along, unless you're going to be in really cold weather in which case a lithium power pack might be good.

Another recommendation to check out cottonpickers thread in the marketplace as there's lots of good info there.

Here's a unit that was posted there which I'm considering buying since it seems more robust, but the 1 year warranty and $$$ is making me wonder if it'd be better to just buy 2 of his units.

http://www.suntactics.com/

Here's his reply to the unit.

That first panel is great. Its like mine (5v) so perfect for usb. What it says is accurate about not needing conversion from 12v. Its got 20% more power than my xxl. Obviously its twice the price without the chargers & postage but is one of the few real usb chargers around.