[AT] Solar battery charger setup

[Tyler Juranek]

Hi,
That's no kidding, Spencer! The generator on the Oliver needs some
work. I bet it'd be cheaper to mount a solar charger on it somehow...

But the rearend needs to have all new gaskets, and a seal between the
engine and the rearend, so might as well fix the generator to. It's
all great fun until the bill gets here... :)
Tyler Juranek
IA

On 1/18/16, ATIS <yostsw at atis.net> wrote:
> My voltage readings were when I hooked the solar panel directly up to my
> digital multi meter. I did some reading a few minutes ago and it seemed
> indicate that the resistance within the battery would keep the operating
> voltage at 12 to 14 regardless of the panels capabilities. This would
> indicate you don't ever have to worry about  over-voltage conditions.   And
> you sure don't have to worry about boiling your battery with these little
> things.
>
> Maybe someone with more electronic knowledge than I could provide a little
> more insight in helping us keep our antique tractor batteries charged.
>
>
> Spencer Yost
>
>> On Jan 18, 2016, at 8:25 PM, Bill Bruer <bill_bru at bellsouth.net> wrote:
>>
>> Thanks, Spencer and Ivan.  I will assume the instructions about the
>> regulator are a lawyerism and hook the thing up as-is.
>>
>> Bill
>>
>>> On 1/18/2016 6:28 PM, Ivan wrote:
>>> Bill , I'll take a stab at it as best as I can remember .  1.5 watt =
>>> .125 amp   if you take 1.5 divided by 12.5 volts nominal  wattage
>>> (watts  divided by volts )   and that is max rating .   Meaning that the
>>> sun has to be shining straight down at the panel  which it wont most of
>>> the time . Solar panels have to be angled to match the suns angle for
>>> max charge if is shining directly on it and constantly change d to match
>>> the path of the sun across the sky . To get that max charge it has to be
>>> continiuosly angled to match the suns path across the sky ,otherwise its
>>> getting less than max output .  Actually the panel will produce a higher
>>> voltage than that because for it to charge a battery the charging
>>> voltage has to be up around 14.5 . Truth is your 12 volt battery should
>>> actuall read about 13.2 or so to be fully charge .
>>> Another factor is resistance in the wire which can really cut output
>>> especially if the wire size is too small or extended to reach outside if
>>> the tractor is in the shed .
>>>   Where you are located affectsthe output too .  DOwn close to the
>>> equator the angle is less pronounced ,but the system still haas to be
>>> able to follow the sun for max output .
>>>   Very simple to demonstrate this to make it easier to understand . Hook
>>> the charger up to any 12 volt battery with a multimeter ( digital ) to
>>> be sensitive enough . Now point the panel toward the sun and move it
>>> left and right and watch the meter voltage . It will jump all over and
>>> with a slightly weak battery it will show up even better .
>>>   Myself I have two solar systems running one for lighting in the house
>>> (and thats led nightlights only ) the other is on the roof of my camper
>>> . A 80 watt system to charge the house battery , which it doesnt do very
>>> well .
>>> For a weak battery with even a small slow internal loss a panel that
>>> small will never over charge it . If you want I can send a link for a
>>> web site that explains it much better , the guy runs his whole house on
>>> solar and seems to have a very good handle on it .   Ivan
>>>
>>> O1/17/2016 5:55 PM, Bill Bruer wrote:
>>>> I recently picked up one of these 1.5 watt solar battery chargers on
>>>> sale at
>>>> Harbor
>>>> Freight for $14.99 -
>>>> http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt-solar-battery-charger-68692.html
>>>>
>>>> The manual says it needs an external voltage regualtor to prevent
>>>> overcharging.  There's no indicaction of that requirement on the
>>>> packaging.
>>>> What's the best (cheap) way to set this thing up so that it can be left
>>>> on a battery for indefinite periods?  Harbor Freight has a 100 watt
>>>> regulator -
>>>> http://www.harborfreight.com/7-amp-solar-charge-regulator-96728.html
>>>> that will also allow you to power a tool but costs $25.99.  Kind of
>>>> defeats
>>>> the
>>>> sale price on the charger.
>>>>
>>>> My main use will be to keep the battery hot on my IH 686 tractor with a
>>>> D312 engine.  However, I would like to mount the panel and regulator on
>>>> a
>>>> light
>>>> frame that can be moved to any piece of equipment where it may be
>>>> needed.
>>>>
>>>> Bill Bruer
>>>> Murfreesboro, TN
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> AT mailing list
>>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> AT mailing list
>>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> AT mailing list
>> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>
> _______________________________________________
> AT mailing list
> http://www.antique-tractor.com/mailman/listinfo/at
>