Author Topic: solar panels  (Read 5460 times)

July 14, 2011, 07:45:43 pm

8v-of-fury

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solar panels
« on: July 14, 2011, 07:45:43 pm »
What type of output does your generic solar panel that originally powered a light up house number set?

The panel is about 3"x9" of solar panel. I guess easiest way would be to get a multimeter on it and test its output.. Can I test amps that way too?

I would like to use it to maintain my battery if possible.. I mean it might offset the amount of draw I have atleast :p and stop the battery from ever losing charge.



Reply #1July 14, 2011, 09:12:22 pm

the caveman

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #1 on: July 14, 2011, 09:12:22 pm »
around 2002-2003 ,they were installed on the cars shipped to the dealer and were taken off at the PDI. They would produce about .3-1  amps in strong sunlight. safe to check with a vom inline in amperage mode
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Reply #2July 14, 2011, 10:37:39 pm

8v-of-fury

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #2 on: July 14, 2011, 10:37:39 pm »
sweet. I think 1 amp would be quite nice to maintain a battery during the day while it sits.

Reply #3July 15, 2011, 12:05:17 am

Kantdrivefast

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2011, 12:05:17 am »
sweet. I think 1 amp would be quite nice to maintain a battery during the day while it sits.

Or spend a little time and find the current draw...

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Reply #4July 15, 2011, 12:15:53 am

ORCoaster

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2011, 12:15:53 am »
I tried that with a panel I had around the house for running one of those waterfall fountains.  It put out about 13.2 vdc and I never did measure the amperage.  But I found it discharges too when the sun goes down.  So I think you will need a diode on it to keep the juice going into the battery but not out.  At least I think that is what does the work.  Someone with more current electronics skills chime in.  Mine are fair for most stuff and real good for home wiring but the newer tiny things have escaped my attention.

Reply #5July 15, 2011, 09:56:15 am

8v-of-fury

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2011, 09:56:15 am »
Every single vehicle with an in dash clock, after market stereo, or dash mounted gps has current draw. You likely have both of the first two, and you also most likely have a .3-5mA draw.. A small solar panel to offset this draw is my intentions.. Not to charge the battery while it sits.

Reply #6July 15, 2011, 12:09:21 pm

bajacalal

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2011, 12:09:21 pm »
I remember... vaguely... hooking up a multimeter to one of those small solar-powered outdoor garden lights and it only put out a few volts, like under 5 IIRC and a fraction of an amp. So I don't believe there is a standard for these things, just whatever the manufacturers engineers decide to use, of which, cost is probably a huge consideration. I would definitely investigate further before you sink time or money into the project.

Reply #7July 15, 2011, 01:14:08 pm

ORCoaster

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #7 on: July 15, 2011, 01:14:08 pm »
The one I had needed to turn a 12 VDC water pump so it put out that pretty well.  Like you say depends on need.  Little LED lights might not need but a few volts and that wouldn't help on a car system.  I might look at the back of the panel and see if it has a manufacturer or other info about output. 

Reply #8July 15, 2011, 03:37:26 pm

8v-of-fury

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #8 on: July 15, 2011, 03:37:26 pm »
I am only even considering this because I have the good size panel already and a few smaller ones from work that would have charged 2 AA batteries.. So 3.5v max? If I wire the small panels and bigger panel together.. Am I looking at adding the wattage and amperage they provide together? Or how does that work?

Reply #9July 15, 2011, 04:56:57 pm

R.O.R-2.0

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #9 on: July 15, 2011, 04:56:57 pm »
I am only even considering this because I have the good size panel already and a few smaller ones from work that would have charged 2 AA batteries.. So 3.5v max? If I wire the small panels and bigger panel together.. Am I looking at adding the wattage and amperage they provide together? Or how does that work?

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Reply #10July 15, 2011, 08:44:06 pm

ORCoaster

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #10 on: July 15, 2011, 08:44:06 pm »

Depends, if the two panels produce the same voltage say 3.5 volts if you wire the positive of one to the negative of the other you should get 7 volts out the ends of the tow.  On the other hand if they both produce 12 volts or better then combining the two positives together and the then the two negatives the voltage is the same but the current is double. 

At least that is how I think the difference between series and parallel wiring works.

Double check with a google search.

 

Reply #11July 16, 2011, 07:06:31 pm

madmedix

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #11 on: July 16, 2011, 07:06:31 pm »
Or you could pick one up from CTC; which come on sale for $9 a few times per year (reg. about $22) Has mounts pre-drilled in the base; with two connectors: a 12v socket and two clamps. It's about 4" wide; 9 or 10" long. Built-in diode to prevent discharge and a very small draw LED showing charge activity. I mounted mine on the back deck of the Jetta and wired it directly into the system. Designed to maintain a battery; car, RV or boat IIRC it can supply 2 amps at full sun.

Andy
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Reply #12July 17, 2011, 10:46:13 am

8v-of-fury

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #12 on: July 17, 2011, 10:46:13 am »
Andy, ultimately that seems like the ideal way to go.

Ill try and rig up something with the stuff I have though, it won't be much time consumed and I love tinkering around.

$9 though, dammnn. Lol

Reply #13July 26, 2011, 02:41:29 pm

92EcoDiesel Jetta

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #13 on: July 26, 2011, 02:41:29 pm »
Or you could pick one up from CTC; which come on sale for $9 a few times per year (reg. about $22) Has mounts pre-drilled in the base; with two connectors: a 12v socket and two clamps. It's about 4" wide; 9 or 10" long. Built-in diode to prevent discharge and a very small draw LED showing charge activity. I mounted mine on the back deck of the Jetta and wired it directly into the system. Designed to maintain a battery; car, RV or boat IIRC it can supply 2 amps at full sun.

Andy

Got a link to that panel? I doubt a panel 4" wide; 9 or 10" long can put out 2 amps at 12V.

Reply #14July 26, 2011, 11:40:33 pm

Wayland

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Re: solar panels
« Reply #14 on: July 26, 2011, 11:40:33 pm »
Or you could pick one up from CTC; which come on sale for $9 a few times per year (reg. about $22) Has mounts pre-drilled in the base; with two connectors: a 12v socket and two clamps. It's about 4" wide; 9 or 10" long. Built-in diode to prevent discharge and a very small draw LED showing charge activity. I mounted mine on the back deck of the Jetta and wired it directly into the system. Designed to maintain a battery; car, RV or boat IIRC it can supply 2 amps at full sun.

Andy

Got a link to that panel? I doubt a panel 4" wide; 9 or 10" long can put out 2 amps at 12V.


More likely 0.2 amps.
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