Marine Solar Panel

Renee Said:

does a 15 watt solar panel need a charge controller.?

We Answered:

I doubt as I think that is too little ampherage to worry about overcharging the battery.

Hopefully it has a built in blocking diode to prevent draining the battery back through the panel at night.

Suzanne Said:

I have a 45 watt solar panel with an regulator, what will this run?

We Answered:

Best you are going to get out of it is about 7 amps. It could charge a battery, as long as the battery isn't too low.

Jacob Said:

How do I attach an LED bulb to a solar panel, battery and a switch?

We Answered:

I am not trying to sound rude. If it comes off that way sorry.

You are right, It is simple, If you know what you are doing. Your question going un-answered so long just proves that most people are just here to talk smack about solar electric. I have noticed that very few people that answer these questions have even seen a solar power system in real life. I have systems in ranches in Texas. On house boats in Washington DC on homes in Arkansas, So this is a very very simple setup to me. But most would have no idea.

Pick a battery that can handle the power drain and then just get a solar panel of the size you need to charge the size of battery you have. Then get a charge controller that will be large enough handle the solar power you will be putting on it.

Amp hours of the battery times .05 will give you how many amps in solar panels you need if you picked your battery right compaired to the usage.

Use this number times 12 volts and you will have how many watts in solar panels you need. The charge controller is rated by amps and volts. Get a charge controller that will be able to handle the amps. Use the total amps of the solar panels times 1.25 to get the minium controller size.

Now go to a hardware store and buy you some wires large enough to handle the current of the system and a simple switch and box to turn the light on and off with. You will want to correctly size the fuses for the system.

Even if someone was to tell you step by step how to do it you will still have to know something about it. Or you are just shooting in the dark trying to hit the target.

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