need advice for a secondhand solar panel that draws 18-19v without a load

Posted by James Cormican on June 04, 2009, 07:20:10 PM

Re: need advice for a secondhand solar panel that draws 18-19v without a load (Reply #5)
perfect!

i never would have guessed that one.  i would argue that foreign modules from buoys dont count for guess that module, but perhaps i am just a sore loser.

the first photo is all that i needed.  if you count all the little rectangles you will get 36.  36 cells in series = 12v nominal.

based on size that is likely between a 10 and 20 watt module when it was new.

that would mean that a relatively simple small controller should work fine for you.

here are some expamples.

http://store.altestore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/Morningstar-Charge-Controllers-Pwm/Morningstar-Sunguard-45A-12V-Pwm-Charge-Cntrlr/p793/

http://store.altestore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/Steca-Solar-Charge-ControllersPwm-Type/Steca-Solsum-6A-1224V-Charge-Controller/p1537/

http://store.altestore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Type-Solar-Charge-Contollers/Morningstar-Charge-Controllers-Pwm/Morningstar-Sunsaver-Ss-6-6A-12V-Pwm-Charge-Cntrlr/p803/

http://store.altestore.com/Charge-Controllers/Solar-Charge-Controllers/Pwm-Shunt-Solar-Charge-Controllers/Specialty-Concepts-ASC-Charge-Controller/Specialty-Concepts-ASC-12V-4A-Solar-Charge-Controller/p1480/

good luck,

ask anything else if you need to.  - one other thing, when wiring a charge controller, always wire controller to battery first, then solar to controller.

james
altE staff
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http://www.altEstore.com/

Tel: 877.878.4060 x107  or +1.978.562.5858 x107
Fax: 877.242.6718  or +1.978.562.5854
« Last Edit: June 04, 2009, 07:24:43 PM by James Cormican »
 

Posted by Tod Emko on June 04, 2009, 10:56:09 PM

Re: need advice for a secondhand solar panel that draws 18-19v without a load (Reply #6)
Ah, thank you! 

One more question, since there's no Radio Shack here in this small Ecuadorian village (and one internet page takes a few minutes to load when it's strong enough to detect Google >.<).  Do you also have fitting 12v power inverters and the cables (to go from the solar panel to the regulator, and from the regulator to the inverter and battery)? 
 

Posted by James Cormican on June 05, 2009, 11:43:25 AM

Re: need advice for a secondhand solar panel that draws 18-19v without a load (Reply #7)
from the module to the controller, 10awg (4mm^2) or 12awg wire should do fine.

the wires from the battery and inverter will depend on the size of the inverter. 

james
altE staff
AltE
"Making Renewable Do-able"
http://www.altEstore.com/

Tel: 877.878.4060 x107  or +1.978.562.5858 x107
Fax: 877.242.6718  or +1.978.562.5854
 

Posted by Thomas Allen Schmidt on June 05, 2009, 12:30:26 PM

Re: need advice for a secondhand solar panel that draws 18-19v without a load (Reply #8)
Interesting. Nice find. I took a look at the Zunibal web site... Very secretive, they sure don't want to share too much information about their products. I only saw two items that have what appears to resemble, but not exactly, your PV module; the "FOR-TUNA" and, the "TUNABAL 15."
 It would appear though that these two devices are equipped with battery and therefore a charge controller of some sort. I guess all of that didn't come with? The battery can't be but so big. Sealed drycell maybe, light weight (has to float.) I would guess the charge controller is a simple one, all electronic obviously. Maybe a simple shunt or load diversion type.
Best of luck to you building your system Tod.

http://www.satamatics.com/pub/news/action=article/cpr=cpr0005/vcpr=1/Zunibal_Signs_up_for_Satamatics_Global_Coverage.htm

http://weblog.greenpeace.org/pacific/archives/001698.html
 

Posted by Tod Emko on June 05, 2009, 11:12:25 PM

Re: need advice for a secondhand solar panel that draws 18-19v without a load (Reply #9)
Thank you all for your help!  I decided to go with the Steca Solsum 6A 12/24V Charge Controller.  Thomas, yeah there wasn't anything else usable we could get with the solar panel (eg the battery was completely dead and couldn't hold any more charge).  I feel pretty fortunate that the solar panel still works.  And a friend from the states is sending me this:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2194431

to use with the AltE charge controller so now all I gotta do is look for a soldering iron in this fishing town. Wink  
 
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