Charging batteries from batteries? [RE-wrenches]

[Steve Wade]

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Hi Gary,

See the Steca SLX2085 Solar Charging Station (wwwsteca.de). 
Designed to charge up to 8 different 12V batteries one after the other 
using a 200-800Wp 24V PV array. I've not used this myself but it looks 
like it fits your spec.
You should be able to get them in the US via Dave Katz at AEE.
Cheers
Steve Wade

Organization:   	Windstream Solar
To:             	RE-wrenches <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
From:           	Gary Higbee <gary at windstreamsolar.com>
Subject:        	Charging batteries from batteries? [RE-wrenches]
Date sent:      	Wed, 26 May 2004 17:16:40 -0700
Send reply to:  	RE-wrenches at topica.com

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> Wrenches,
> 
> I'm scoping a project for the Forest Service that could fund a solar
> charging station for electric boat batteries--this to encourage the
> use of electric trolling motors rather than obnoxious and polluting
> gasoline engines on a pristine alpine lake. This project is
> particularly exciting, in that it would bring solar technology to a
> lot of people, as this is a highly-visible location. We're also
> looking at including enough capacity so that the local concessionaire
> could provide ice (hmm, for fish or for beer?).
> 
> The idea is to provide around 6 $-operated lockers in which one places
> their deep cycle battery, hooks up terminals, and comes back so many
> hours later to collect the charged battery. Numerous challenges exist,
> including:
> 
> 1) Make the system safe and fool-proof. The battery clips need to be
> able to be shorted and reverse-polarity protected. If there are two
> possible ways to hook something up someone will figure out four!
> 
> 2) Have a clear indication that things are hooked up right and that
> charging has begun (red light, flashing green light or such).
> 
> 3) Have a clear indication that the battery is charged (green light or
> such).
> 
> One aspect I'm scratching my head over is what the best charging
> method would be. I vastly prefer using off-the-shelf components than
> custom circuits, and DC-DC conversion where possible. I wonder whether
> it might make sense to use a small (reverse polarity protected, charge
> status indicating) PV charge controller for each battery to be
> charged--all supplied from a considerably larger PV-charged battery
> bank at a higher voltage.
> 
> Do you know of a PV charge controller that:
> 
> 1) Will accept close to 30 volts (i.e., 24-volt nominal main battery
> charging system).
> 
> 2) Has indicator lights as to when it is correctly connected.
> 
> 3) Is reverse polarity protected.
> 
> 4) Is short-circuit protected.
> 
> 5) Is very reliable.
> 
> Does this system make sense? Any other ideas?
> 
> I've thought of one--and that is that folks buy two deep cycle
> batteries, and need to have one battery in the box and charging by
> morning so that it charges during the DAY, rather than the night
> (i.e., we lock out the system at night with a timer, and can reduce
> the battery bank size). Asking folks to change this much, this fast,
> might be a deterrent, though.
> 
> Your thoughts on this project would be greatly appreciated!
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Gary
> 
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>                      ~ Windstream Solar ~
>      Gary Higbee  (gary at windstreamsolar.com)
>                      (541 ) 607-1818 (Eugene)
>                         (541) 954-3881 (Cell)
> Solar, wind, and hydro site analysis and system design
>     Components dealer and installation assistance
>  Energy Trust of Oregon contracted system inspector
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> 
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Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0NE.
Web: www.windandsun.co.uk

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