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solar panel questions?
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08-19-2004, 07:43 PM
I just bought one of those solar power maintainers/chargers and it is a 12v 100ma model and I was wondering if anyone has any experience with these. Will it help extend the life on my trolling motor or keep my fishfinder charged or even charge a trolling battery. Just wondering if anyone knows how well they work,
Jed [signature] 
08-20-2004, 12:06 AM
[url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][cool][/url][#0000ff]Sorry Jed, that's a bit fur out of my area of expertise. Heck, I once bought a wood burning microwave oven to try to save electricity.[/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][/#0000ff] [#0000ff]Most of those solar generators have a function to download power to a battery system for storage. If you are considering adding it to the bag of tricks you already take afloat, I might suggest that it is a bit much.[/#0000ff] [signature]
08-20-2004, 03:20 PM
Hey Jedburton, That particular charger is the solar equivelant to the trickle charge that you would plug into the house. The 100ma output would be sufficient to charge the battery for your fishfinder providing that you are using the SLA type batteries.
If you are using a larger battery for your trolling motor, there is a potential of damaging the solar unit if you connected it. I use a solar panel that has a 1 amp output rating. That allows me to hook it up paralleled with the FF and have no problems since my FF only draws about 150ma. Normally they recommend that you don't use the solar panel while the device is in operation since people will tend to over do it sometimes. My 1amp panel will run my FF and my DVD player without alot of current draw. What size is your trolling battery?? Is it close to normal car size?? 115ah? 185ah?? 200ah?? [signature]
08-21-2004, 04:40 AM
Hey there TubeN2,
I can't believe it! I just got a solar panel at a yard sale today (Friday guys get the worm) that has a nice output and looks like it might work on some stuff I have 'tube' ready. Talk about karma! I had planned to use something like it for a constant circulation fan/auxillary air pump application in my truck/camper shell unit but now it will do triple duty. Great big thank you. This calls for another DIY project page/illustration. Up to 280 pages now! JapanRon [signature]
08-21-2004, 03:45 PM
Hey JR, that sounds like a good buy. I'm still looking for a slightly larger one myself.
FYI......Many of the solar panels cannot be used as a stand-alone power source. They are better when used in parrallel with a battery. That give the battery a chance to be used as a collector for the energy that is being produced by the unit.[url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][cool][/url] I actually use an auxillary pump on my FC4. It is connected to a pressure differencial switch which allow my unit to maintain 5psi (recommended by manufacturer) with a tolerance of +000lbs and -.05lbs. It is designed for auto inflation in colder climate. You know how the tube starts to get soft in cold water[url "javascript: addTag('pirate')"][pirate][/url]. My little gismo autofires the air pump and h[url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][/url]elps to maintain propper pressure once it detects 1/2 lb difference.[url "javascript: addTag('cool')"][cool][/url] [signature]
08-22-2004, 02:39 AM
Hey there TubeN2,
The panel is rated at 10 Watts and has a battery pac set at 12V @ 8 amps. Adjustable switch for voltage from 3 to 12 volts. Missing some cables and tip selection but I'll figure it out! JapanRon [signature] |
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