Solar Light Battery Change
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VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
mabey.
does it get more charge than discharge? (AKA are they running at 4AM)
are they LED type?
ni-cds are supposed to be able to run flat better, reverse charge with less problems, and in the most part it is true.
because the solar isnt really a speedy charge, and capacity of a ni-mhy would be much higher than the ni-cds they put in there, a LOWer capacity ni-mhy with a capability for more cycles without self discharge would be best.
something in the 1800-2200 type, of good quality.
i would NOT put these new high-caps in , because of the TIME issues, you want many many cycles, and dont NEED huge capacity.
does it get more charge than discharge? (AKA are they running at 4AM)
are they LED type?
ni-cds are supposed to be able to run flat better, reverse charge with less problems, and in the most part it is true.
because the solar isnt really a speedy charge, and capacity of a ni-mhy would be much higher than the ni-cds they put in there, a LOWer capacity ni-mhy with a capability for more cycles without self discharge would be best.
something in the 1800-2200 type, of good quality.
i would NOT put these new high-caps in , because of the TIME issues, you want many many cycles, and dont NEED huge capacity.
Brock
Flashaholic
What I have found is they actually run longer using smaller cap NiCad's (maybe smaller NiMH as well?). My guess is because there isn't enough charge from the small solar panel. Say it comes with a 750mA NiCad and you swap it for a 1600mA NiMH. I think the solar panel only puts out 850mA with a nice sunny day. The 1600mA will never be recharged while the smaller cell will be. Of course I bet the little solar panels vary with manufacture and even style. So in some case it might work out better.
KROMATICS
Enlightened
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- 563
I've got some Malibu (Intermatic) solar lights that were about $8 each so I wasn't too surprised they only last about 3 hours with a full days sun to charge them. They take a single 600mAh AA NiCad each and the manual says the solar panel provides 70mA at 4V.
Any idea as to what the ideal capacity would be then? They sell 900mAh NiCad and 1500mAh NiMH replacements under their own brand though I could get Sanyo or Energizer replacements for less. The solar panel seems rather poor and is probably the weak link in the chain. Would it even be able to charge a higher capacity battery? I'd like to get 6 hours from them.
Any idea as to what the ideal capacity would be then? They sell 900mAh NiCad and 1500mAh NiMH replacements under their own brand though I could get Sanyo or Energizer replacements for less. The solar panel seems rather poor and is probably the weak link in the chain. Would it even be able to charge a higher capacity battery? I'd like to get 6 hours from them.
VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
well if its only getting 3 hours, and only would ever get about 700ma max (solar panel provides 70mA) then any good ni-cad would be "best" for it, because each night its going to get depleated , and ni-cd will be able to handle the reverse charges better.
if it was a really good ni-?? cell that some RC people liked a lot, or that hotwire people enjoy, then it should hold up better than some overpriced malibuie replacment. i think i would want to hand build the pack, as opposed to droping in more junk that puts you right back where you were.
you dont need the extreeme rate that rc and hotwire people need, but it would be nice to have extreeme durability, which comes from the same lower capacity cells.
if it was a really good ni-?? cell that some RC people liked a lot, or that hotwire people enjoy, then it should hold up better than some overpriced malibuie replacment. i think i would want to hand build the pack, as opposed to droping in more junk that puts you right back where you were.
you dont need the extreeme rate that rc and hotwire people need, but it would be nice to have extreeme durability, which comes from the same lower capacity cells.
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KROMATICS
Enlightened
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How do you figure out how much the solar panel can (theoretically) charge a battery? What I mean is how long would it take to charge a 1.2V 600mAh AA NiCAD with a 4V 70mA source?
I should point out that quality control on these is non-existent. People who have bought packages of 10 lights report that some last 3 hours while others last 8 or even 10 hours. I bought two of them. One lasts about 3 hours and the other lasts only an hour or less.
I should point out that quality control on these is non-existent. People who have bought packages of 10 lights report that some last 3 hours while others last 8 or even 10 hours. I bought two of them. One lasts about 3 hours and the other lasts only an hour or less.
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VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
KROMATICS said:
guesed
as usual, dont want to do MATH :-(ok 70 ma at full power, 16 hours max sun, lose 40% due to not "tracking" the sun, then take off 10% loss from charging.
VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
KROMATICS said:
if they are single 5mm leds driven properly that would be a draw of only 20ma
for each hour of charge (full sun pointed directally at the sun no shade, no clouds) you should get 3 hours of runtime.
i have seen these things run all night in california, during summer, with leetel 5mm bulbs mabey driven to 30ma.
i suspect that when you replace the battery with anything, it will work much better.
if the thing is "unregulated" and only simply resistered which most of the cheap ones would be, when the voltage drops and they dwindle down, the led draws less power, and they stay running for longer, at a lower rate.
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VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
3mm use about the same ma, depending on how they are run (of course)
yes there is a potential here for possible storage past the single day.
hmmmm, because on some charges (days) you might be able to get more in than is depleated, and then a cloudy day that didnt put in as much charge, it would still run at night for longer.
yes there is a potential here for possible storage past the single day.
hmmmm, because on some charges (days) you might be able to get more in than is depleated, and then a cloudy day that didnt put in as much charge, it would still run at night for longer.
VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
these here, as tested by silverfox, and used by some hotwire people
CBP AA 1650 mAh cells
from reading HERE that sounds like a durable cell of medium capacity.
CBP AA 1650 mAh cells
from reading HERE that sounds like a durable cell of medium capacity.
VidPro
Flashlight Enthusiast
i have used the D and C versions of this battery, they are rock solid
http://battstore.stores.yahoo.net/sanyoaanicd.html
(700ma sanyo ni-cd)
but that aint cheap
http://battstore.stores.yahoo.net/sanyoaanicd.html
(700ma sanyo ni-cd)
but that aint cheap
