On Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:58:24 GMT, zekfrivo@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(GregS)
wrote:
>In article <QjYOj.19475$B83.1911@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>, "Dennis Pogson"
<dennis_nospampogson@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>>John wrote:
>>> I purchased a small flexible solar panel from Silicon Solar Inc.
>>> Their web site advises that the panel is "perfectly suited as a 12V
>>> battery charging solar solution." Just what I need for trickling the
>>> 12 volt starting battery for my dinghy. The solar panel produces 7.2v
>>> 100 mA.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> A friend, who is an engineer, informed me that I am wasting my time.
>>> He says I need 12Volts from the solar panel to charge a 12 volt
>>> battery. Thus the
>>> 7.2V will not do it.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Who's right, the manufacturer or my friend?
>>
>>Must be the pocket version. You need something around 3 foot by 5 foot,
>>shoving out 13 volts min.@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
1AH.
>>
>>Dennis
>
>1 amp is certainly not trickel charging. That may even boil the battery
too
>much. A Harbor Freight 120 ma. 3 inch by 12 inch panel would work, but is
this
>salt water ??
>
>greg
True trickle charging is only to maintain the battery at full charge
by compensating for the battery's own rate of self-discharge. A true
trickle charge rate will not recharge a battery.
A solar panel for charging AND maintaining a typical marine battery
will need substantially more available power, and a smart regulator.
There is no $100 "magic pill" for this job. The 1 AH panel Dennis
mentions will hardly ever, if at all, put out it's full rated output
for more than a few minutes under perfect conditions. Most solar
panels are rated VERY optimistcally. In any case, you need a
regulator.
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