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Solar panel for fence charger
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<blockquote data-quote="RDFF" data-source="post: 1662610" data-attributes="member: 39018"><p>You'll notice that pretty much all of the commercially available "solar chargers" are very small on their joule ratings. There's a reason for that. First, they are very limited in battery capacity... MUCH smaller than a 12V car battery, for example. Second, they are very limited in their solar recharge capabilities. And joules (energy delivery per charge) take power. Not very significant if you're hooked to an AC source... but critical to the functioning if you're relying completely on battery power, with recharge from a solar panel.</p><p></p><p>How big a charger are you hoping to use (in joules)? The bigger it is, the more energy it will require, and that will affect how long your battery will last until it runs "empty". Putting a solar panel on it will "recharge" the battery... so now, you'll need enough panel to recharge it with the available sunlight. Don't count on having beautiful sunny days all the time though........ more often than not, you'll have cloudy, overcast days, which will reduce your solar capture capacity to less than half of what it might be at "peak charge"... which is what a panel is rated for. Snow covering the panel? Practically 0 charge capability. Winter the toughest time???? Sun isn't as strong in winter as it is in summer... = reduced charge capability.</p><p></p><p>Best bet is to have PLENTY of charging capability (overkill panel size), and then use a charge controller that will limit the input of the solar panel when the battery is getting full, so you don't overcharge and cook your battery. Regardless of the size of the panel though, if you don't have "quality sunlight" for extended periods, you may STILL drain your battery.</p><p></p><p>Therefore, Bez's advice is probably best... get as much panel as you can reasonably afford for the installation..... and STILL "monitor" your battery charge levels, and have a second battery on hand to switch them out if the sun just isn't keeping up.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="RDFF, post: 1662610, member: 39018"] You'll notice that pretty much all of the commercially available "solar chargers" are very small on their joule ratings. There's a reason for that. First, they are very limited in battery capacity... MUCH smaller than a 12V car battery, for example. Second, they are very limited in their solar recharge capabilities. And joules (energy delivery per charge) take power. Not very significant if you're hooked to an AC source... but critical to the functioning if you're relying completely on battery power, with recharge from a solar panel. How big a charger are you hoping to use (in joules)? The bigger it is, the more energy it will require, and that will affect how long your battery will last until it runs "empty". Putting a solar panel on it will "recharge" the battery... so now, you'll need enough panel to recharge it with the available sunlight. Don't count on having beautiful sunny days all the time though........ more often than not, you'll have cloudy, overcast days, which will reduce your solar capture capacity to less than half of what it might be at "peak charge"... which is what a panel is rated for. Snow covering the panel? Practically 0 charge capability. Winter the toughest time???? Sun isn't as strong in winter as it is in summer... = reduced charge capability. Best bet is to have PLENTY of charging capability (overkill panel size), and then use a charge controller that will limit the input of the solar panel when the battery is getting full, so you don't overcharge and cook your battery. Regardless of the size of the panel though, if you don't have "quality sunlight" for extended periods, you may STILL drain your battery. Therefore, Bez's advice is probably best... get as much panel as you can reasonably afford for the installation..... and STILL "monitor" your battery charge levels, and have a second battery on hand to switch them out if the sun just isn't keeping up. [/QUOTE]
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