Battery Charging Without a Controller [RE-wrenches]

[Randy Brooks]

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Mark,
After having a "maintenance free" battery explode in a solar powered 
gate opener that had gone unused for some time, I've gone back and 
added MorningStar SunGuard charge controllers to other applications 
that I thought would be OK based on the "rule" about small PV modules 
and battery amp hour size.  Two of these installations showed signs of 
overcharging.  I'd recommend a charge controller!

Randy Brooks
Brooks Solar, Inc.
Solar Power for People
140 Columbia View
Chelan, WA  98816
509-682-9646
info at BrooksSolar.com
www.BrooksSolar.com

On Tuesday, November 4, 2003, at 07:46  PM, Mark Byington wrote:

>
> 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.
> Thanks
> _______________
> Mark Byington
> President
> Cobalt Power Systems, Inc.
> Tel 650-948-9574   Fax 650-948-9573   Cell 415-298-1947
> markb at cobaltpower.com   www.cobaltpower.com
>
>
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