solar powered battery - Electronic Circuits Projects Diagrams Free

akshayd · 28th January 2007, 05:37 PM

dear members,

i was interested in charging a 6v, 4Ah battery using a 3Watt(6V, 0.5mAh) solar power panel... What would be the best way to do this.... Pls help me out with the circuits involved.

Regards,
akshayd

**Nigel Goodwin** · 28th January 2007, 05:43 PM

If it's got a diode built in, then just connect it directly across the battery, if it's not got a diode, then connect it through a diode.

I presume you mean 0.5A solar cell?, it won't have enough power to overcharge the battery!.

akshayd · 28th January 2007, 05:57 PM

It is a 0.5A solar panel.... But, still do i not have to include a charging circuit that would prevent unnecessary discharging or maybe overcharging?

**Nigel Goodwin** · 28th January 2007, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshayd

It is a 0.5A solar panel.... But, still do i not have to include a charging circuit that would prevent unnecessary discharging or maybe overcharging?

A simple diode prevents discharging (as I mentioned above), and (as I also mentioned above) your panel isn't big enough to over charge it!. You will probably be very disappointed with how much power your panel will provide to the battery - most people are!.

Hero999 · 28th January 2007, 09:20 PM

You need more than 6V to charge the battery; you cell needs to be at least 7.6V to fully charge it, assuiming it's a lead acid battery that is.

audioguru · 29th January 2007, 01:18 AM

the solar panel will produce 6V at 0.5A only at noon on the equator on a bright sunny day. Any other time or behind clouds or behind a window's glass will reduce its output a lot.
Your battery will never be fully charged and will charge a little for only about 1 hour each bright sunny day.

akshayd · 29th January 2007, 05:23 PM

though it is specified as a 3W module.... when i observed the output voltage across it terminals.... it was around 9 V at noon.... but the current output was only around 400mA. I also wanted to know, if i reduced the battery capacity, what kind of charging circuit i might have to employ?

kchriste · 30th January 2007, 04:11 AM

Quote:

I also wanted to know, if i reduced the battery capacity, what kind of charging circuit i might have to employ

It depends on the chemistry of the battery... LeadAcid, NICAD, NIMH, LithiumIon, etc

**Nigel Goodwin** · 30th January 2007, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akshayd

though it is specified as a 3W module.... when i observed the output voltage across it terminals.... it was around 9 V at noon.... but the current output was only around 400mA. I also wanted to know, if i reduced the battery capacity, what kind of charging circuit i might have to employ?

You first need to accurately record what the panel will actually provide over a number of days - it's probably too small to overcharge anything much!.

There are plenty of controller designs about if you google - but not for anything as small as you've got, because there's no need.

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28th January 2007, 05:37 PM	(permalink)
akshayd	solar powered battery dear members, i was interested in charging a 6v, 4Ah battery using a 3Watt(6V, 0.5mAh) solar power panel... What would be the best way to do this.... Pls help me out with the circuits involved. Regards, akshayd

28th January 2007, 05:43 PM	(permalink)
Nigel Goodwin	If it's got a diode built in, then just connect it directly across the battery, if it's not got a diode, then connect it through a diode. I presume you mean 0.5A solar cell?, it won't have enough power to overcharge the battery!. __________________ PIC programmer software, and PIC Tutorials at: http://www.winpicprog.co.uk

28th January 2007, 05:57 PM	(permalink)
akshayd	yes you are right It is a 0.5A solar panel.... But, still do i not have to include a charging circuit that would prevent unnecessary discharging or maybe overcharging?

28th January 2007, 09:20 PM	(permalink)
Hero999	You need more than 6V to charge the battery; you cell needs to be at least 7.6V to fully charge it, assuiming it's a lead acid battery that is. __________________ I also post at the following sites: http://www.stop-microsoft.org http://www.heated-debates.com Screen name: Aloone_Jonez

29th January 2007, 01:18 AM	(permalink)
audioguru	the solar panel will produce 6V at 0.5A only at noon on the equator on a bright sunny day. Any other time or behind clouds or behind a window's glass will reduce its output a lot. Your battery will never be fully charged and will charge a little for only about 1 hour each bright sunny day. __________________ Uncle $crooge

29th January 2007, 05:23 PM	(permalink)
akshayd	though it is specified as a 3W module.... when i observed the output voltage across it terminals.... it was around 9 V at noon.... but the current output was only around 400mA. I also wanted to know, if i reduced the battery capacity, what kind of charging circuit i might have to employ?