Solar panels

[Rifter]

Hello, im looking for a solar panel for camping/hiking. It will be used mainly to charge AA batteries. I would like it to be able to turn out a minimum of 24V and 1000-2000ma. That would be average output, I will build a regulator to get the voltage down to the level my charger will use. So what it out there that is small(foldable maybe?) and light weight? Thanks guys! must also be durable!

Thanks!

 

[INRETECH]

That would be approx 24-48w

If you are planning on charging AA's, you should charge them in PAR, NOT series - so a lower voltage panel would be better

There are several companies on the internet that sell solar panels, for your application - I think one of those solar-panel/Battery charger complete units would be better

Just put the batteries in, close the door - and they charge

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Inre,
why not use series to charge AAs? That's the way I do it, (or have done it, depending on your answer /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif ) -- sometimes up to 16 in row..seems to work OK with my DC power supply, I just dial up the voltage till the current flows..

..for flexible solar panels, here's an example of some durable ones--

scroll down a bit:

http://www.poweriseverything.com/product/unisolar-solar-power.html

..also check ccrane.com for panel+battery holder solar charging kits..

 

[Rifter]

Any other options, I dont want a solar panel/charger combo, i want to be able to use the solar panel for other applications as well, this is also why i wanted one with about 2-3 times the power needed to charge AA's. Thanks!

 

[INRETECH]

You should not charge NiCads in series

Even thou the batteries could be the same type and same company, one of the batteries will have a slightly lower resistance than the others; this will cause the battery to get warmer than the others, as this happens the battery chemistry will cause that battery to conduct better - lower its resistance, and then a circle happens - eventually ruining the battery

 

[JSWrightOC]

Why not charge them in series?

I know for a fact that all battery packs have two or more cells wired in series, and you don't take apart the pack to charge it.

Many "regular" AAA/AA/C/D chargers connect two or four cells in series to charge them.

I can understand why you don't connect cells in series that have been in use in different devices (two in a flashlight and two in a GameBoy, for instance), but otherwise, I don't see why it would make a difference.

Also, current is going to be constant in the circuit no matter where you probe it at. 100mA at the positive output of the solar cell will be the same as 100mA at the negative, or anywhere in the cell string. If one cell tends to accept a charge better than the others, it will appear as having a lower voltage drop, because less EMF is required to push current through it. I don't see why it would make a difference.

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

ok I'm following this with interest. I keep the current pretty much down, and I feel the batteries for heat while I'm charging ( almost as good as using an alarm-thermometer ) I don't understand why a battery with lower resistance would get hotter, instinct seems to say that a higher resisitance battery would get hot faster, no? -- if there were such a battery found in a series string, would putting it at the end, or beginning of the string make a difference? would the position matter at all if the current were kept at or below, say a c-20, rate?

Rifter,
you can detach the ccrane solar panel and use it for other applications..what kinds (ie. wattage) of items are you trying to power? btw ccrane has two sizes of charging panels, a biggun and a little'un..(added)
--ok I see you said you wanted a 1 to 2 amp panel, so the ccranes would be too small for you. Did you check the Unisolars, they are bullet proof (well, say they'll keep working with a bullet hole) but expensive..here are some 1-2 amp flexible Unisolars that are less than half the price of the mil-spec foldable ones;

https://www.altenergystore.com/cart/1125.html?wowptubX;

 

[JSWrightOC]

I see no problem with charging equally-discharged cells in series. I think it makes some charging applications easier. It would be easy to develop several volts with a solar cell array, but not as easy to produce several amps. Placing a "low-impeadance" cell at either end of the stack would not make a difference. It would make more sense to me that the low-impeadance cell would overheat if the cells were in _parallel_ not _series_ because it would tend to hog all the charge current. That would, in fact, make it get hotter. Another advantage of series charging; charge current through all cells will always be equal.

 

[thegreatfixer]

hi there rifter this is thegreatfixer and i can tell you that you can get solar panels for the best price at this link www.harborfreight.com it pays to get there catalogs they always have sales sometimes 50% off and if there is a store nearby them sign up for there store mailing list its even better
i know i sound like an add for them but go ahead and make my day find something they have on sale for less!!!
by the way i have several 44768-1VGA solar panels 12v 1.5w (i paid $10) when i got them (there shipping is slow but free if over $50) i took them apart and on the back i tryed to scratch and solder on a wire lead in the middle of the panel so i get 2 6v panels but i could not do it. 1 any tips on soldering would be helpful 2 is there electric superglue that i can use
thank you
thegreatfixer

 

[snakebite]

i use loctites quickgrid defogger repair to make connections to amorphous panels.
once it sets i cover it with rtv or shoe goo.
[ QUOTE ]
thegreatfixer said:
hi there rifter this is thegreatfixer and i can tell you that you can get solar panels for the best price at this link www.harborfreight.com it pays to get there catalogs they always have sales sometimes 50% off and if there is a store nearby them sign up for there store mailing list its even better
i know i sound like an add for them but go ahead and make my day find something they have on sale for less!!!
by the way i have several 44768-1VGA solar panels 12v 1.5w (i paid $10) when i got them (there shipping is slow but free if over $50) i took them apart and on the back i tryed to scratch and solder on a wire lead in the middle of the panel so i get 2 6v panels but i could not do it. 1 any tips on soldering would be helpful 2 is there electric superglue that i can use
thank you
thegreatfixer



[/ QUOTE ]

 

[Alan]

You might be interested in Brunton's Solaris 25 Tri-fold. You could get more info at here and select portable power.

Alan

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Those panels at Harbor Freight aren't cheap, check these out;

https://www.altenergystore.com/cart/solar_panels.html?wowptubX;

as low as $2.65 a watt for some..

 

[Hogosha]

If you are using the solar charger WHILE hiking, check out this link to squeeze the most sun out of the day.
http://www.therangerdigest.com/Tips___Tricks/tips___tricks.html

Defectfully
Patrick