PV Gap

Cody Said:

12 volt solar flood lights?

We Answered:

why use a batt, and solar cell
there, are solar flood lights on the market, and solar garage lights, that will light the whole area up,
go to harbor freight.com

Angela Said:

My 12 volt dc tv uses more amps by DC than AC?

We Answered:

12 volts and 16 watts or 120 volts and 35 watts?
P=IE I=P/E
12 volts 1.3 amps
120 volts 0.3 amps

I don't think this is correct labeling. It really doesn't make sense that at 120 volts AC, the unit would use more wattage than at 12 volts DC. The 120 volt AC has to be converted internally in the set to 12 volts DC because the set is engineered for a 12 volt supply. I think I would be inclined to put an amp meter on this unit and see what the actual draw is at the different voltages.

Edwin Said:

why do AA batteries not last as long if I recharge them using solar instead of mains electricicty?

We Answered:

If you are using a normal, store-bought battery charger, and using your 12-volt car battery instead of a 12-volt wall adapter, there should be no difference. Or, if you're using an inverter to get up to mains voltage, then using a wall charger, there should also be no difference. My only guess would be that somehow, you are not charging the batteries as long in your van.

If you somehow connected your battery charger to the solar panel only (no car battery), then it's possible, that the panel cannot supply the peak current needed by the battery charger. A battery charger for NiMH may have pulses that are 8 amps, with a 5% duty cycle.

If you have a solar panel that came with it's own charger for AA batteries, then it could simply be that the included charger is very poor. It could be a trickle charger, with a very low rate of charge. Also, a trickle charger will never get NiMH batteries up to full capacity - that's why they design pulse chargers.

Patricia Said:

Charging a 72 volt system from 12 volts.?

We Answered:

This is absolutely possible to do, and you wouldn't be the first one to succeed at it.

What is needed, is a classical DC to DC boost converter. For basic info on one and how it works, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boost_conve…

I have built a few myself. These can be easily made by electronics-types reasonably skilled in the art.

Beth Said:

12 volt solar poweder battery charger?

We Answered:

Yes you could, but you will still get the same charging capacity (current) as you would with only 1 at 12V