Battery Charging Without a Controller [RE-wrenches]

[John]

Hi all,

Funny - isn't it - the different "rules" we have picked up along the way.

I heard that its a "1/3 rule" - but using different units - if the size of
the panel (in watts) is 1/3 the size of the battery (in a/h) then you don't
necessarily have to use a ch-ctl. Mind you, we are only talking about pretty
small setups here anyway.  But, if in doubt, as Doug said, the humble SG-4
is always good protection.

                        cheers from down under,                John V

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Darryl Thayer" <daryl_solar at yahoo.com>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 05, 2003 7:19 PM
Subject: RE: Battery Charging Without a Controller [RE-wrenches]


> HI all
> I do not think this is correct.  I have a 2400 amp
> hour set that I boil with 20 amps which is C/60 or
> about 1.5% of the amphours.
> Use a controller.
> Darryl
>
> --- Doug Pratt <dmpratt at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > Mark, the rule of thumb I've heard is that so long
> > as the amperage
> > output of your PV module is no more than 1.5% of
> > your battery's amphour
> > capacity, there's no chance of pushing the battery
> > into overcharge. So
> > in your example, if your battery is 20AH or larger,
> > you're safe.
> > (Disclaimer: I'm not positive that this rule applies
> > to sealed
> > batteries, the best choice for emergency power. And
> > with the reliable
> > little MorningStar SunGuard retailing for only
> > $30... your choice.)
> > Cheers,
> > Doug Pratt
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Mark Byington
> > [mailto:markbyington at sbcglobal.net]
> >
> > Anybody have any experience with connecting a small
> > PV panel directly to
> > a battery for trickle charging?  I have a 5 watt ASE
> > panel that puts out
> > 16V at 0.3A and I want to power a small
> > automotive-type inverter.  This
> > is a manual backup system to power a fish tank
> > (about 45 watts) during
> > power outages only.
> >
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