Finaly ready to upgrade the batteries in my solar powered outdoor light (5.2V 10.5W panel output on a good clear day). It currently has two "SLM-CT 3.7V 2400mAh" 18650 batteries installed in Parallel from the factory. There's room in the battery bay to install 3 batteries. So which is my better option???
Pink battery pulled from a laptop - just there to make sure there's clearance for a 3rd battery & still room for the wires.
1> Install 3 new 2400mAh - 2800mAh batteries in Parallel for increased runtime. (I'm sure the panel wouldn't charge 3 3000+ cells very well)
OR
2> Install 2 new high capacity 3400mAh - 3600mAh batteries in parallel for increased runtime. (I'm thinking this option probably better overall)
AND: Which 3.7V chemistry would be the best to use in a solar charged light that gets 4-6 hours of direct sunlight (assuming no clouds) each day??
On a good cloudless day of charging (8 months after the cells were fully tested and charged), the light will run for about 9 - 10 hours overnight, but we're getting about 13 hours of night. It's being used as a flag light, for a US flag that is up from May 8th through through Dec 7th.
Ideally, I would love to upgrade to a light that could run year round (excluding hurricane landfall), but none in my price range give enough light continuously.
Pink battery pulled from a laptop - just there to make sure there's clearance for a 3rd battery & still room for the wires.
1> Install 3 new 2400mAh - 2800mAh batteries in Parallel for increased runtime. (I'm sure the panel wouldn't charge 3 3000+ cells very well)
OR
2> Install 2 new high capacity 3400mAh - 3600mAh batteries in parallel for increased runtime. (I'm thinking this option probably better overall)
AND: Which 3.7V chemistry would be the best to use in a solar charged light that gets 4-6 hours of direct sunlight (assuming no clouds) each day??
On a good cloudless day of charging (8 months after the cells were fully tested and charged), the light will run for about 9 - 10 hours overnight, but we're getting about 13 hours of night. It's being used as a flag light, for a US flag that is up from May 8th through through Dec 7th.
Ideally, I would love to upgrade to a light that could run year round (excluding hurricane landfall), but none in my price range give enough light continuously.
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