PV Gap

Kelly Said:

my solar panel is destroyed any solutions will help?

We Answered:

Take Cheech and Chongs advice: Go down to the local laundromat, drop a few hundred mics of really righteous acid, and ride in the dryers.

Doug

Barbara Said:

how many 80w can charge 4and2 batteries?

We Answered:

It depends on the size of the batteries. 80 watts is a lot of power for a solar cell. First, make sure it's in fact an 80 watt panel. At 12 volts, 80 watts means over 6 amps or 6000 mA. This will charge about 6 AA cells in 1 hour if connected to the correct charging circuit or 48 AA cells in 8 hours. If you're talking about a car batteries, you would charge 1 car battery to a usable point in 8 hours.

Frederick Said:

Current and Voltage (How-To)?

We Answered:

In a dc system such as this, Power = V x I (note this formula does not apply to ac power systems).

So your panels are producing 8.71A x 8.74V = 76.13W

The load is consuming 4.32A x 13.75V = 59.4W

The battery is absorbing 0.83A x 13.76V = 11.42W

Total (Load + Battery) = 70.8W so it can be assumed that the remainder is being lost somewhere.

Harvey Said:

15V to 18V Solar Panel to Charge my 12Volt Multi Power Station: Transformer Needed?

We Answered:

Is it similar to this product?

http://www.amazon.com/PowerStation-Multi…

The system has a 12VDC battery, an inverter to generate 120VAC, a couple of 12VDC power sockets for powering 12V loads (presumably these sockets are connected directly to the battery, possibly with internal fusing), and a 120VAC-to-12VDC charger for recharging the battery. Hopefully the charger is a smart charger that does a fast charge, then tapers, then float charges.

You question involves around how to connect the 80W solar panel to charge the battery. Here are some rules:
1. You should not connect the panel directly to the battery to charge it, as the panel will eventually overcharge and damage the battery.
2. One option is to use a solar charge controller to connect the panel directly to the battery, same as you do for your car battery. It might be possible to make that connection through one of the 12V sockets.
3. Alternatively, you could use the panel to charge a separate 12VDC battery and an inverter to generate 120VAC which is then fed to the charger that came with the powerstation. This approach isn't as efficient and requires extra parts.

The extra Transformer/12V charger is a puzzle. If it transforms 120VAC to 12VDC, then it cannot be powered directly from the panel which outputs 14-18VDC. And it won't run in reverse.

Email me for my qualifications if desired. Also, if you can post a specific make and model number, that could be helpful.