Hello,
I’m seeking a solution for charging a 12 volt lithium ion battery while traveling for several weeks at a time. I’ll have this requirement in a tropical location (@15 degrees north) which has no generator/power grid. The selection criteria, in order of importance, are:
1. Effective (It must be able to recharge the battery without damaging it, given a full day of full sun)
2. Portable (ideally foldable for a knapsack, but otherwise small enough to fit a standard size airline-checkable suitcase)
3. Durable (it needs to travel well without undue precaution for breakage, heat or water damage,)
4. Affordable (both in terms of $/watt and operational lifespan. While it won’t be used often, it must be ready to go after storage for 6 months at a time. In the end, if it is still cheaper to transport the battery to a place with electricity grid to recharge every few days, the solar benefit fades)
The battery the system will charge is used to power a medical device called a CPAP machine. (This is not a life support device.) It may also be used to power other 12V consumer electronics such as camera and cell phones batteries.
Battery characteristics:
222 Wh, 18.5Ah
Output voltage: 12v
Output current: 8A max
Charge current: 2500mAh
In/out Connectors: cigarette lighter (female) & barrel plug (female)
Built-in overheating/thermal runaway protection circuitry
(see http://www.batterygeek.net/v/vspfiles/Super_CPAP_Battery_Pack_222Wh.asp for manufacturer’s description)
The battery generally will need to be recharged every 3 days.
Will a straight Sunlinq foldable panel work? Has anyone actually used it straight to a Li-on battery? What about the need for charge controllers, or inverters? Please advise on what options you might suggest, along with any connectors/cables you'd get to do it with.
I appreciate the time and expertise of the group, and your consideration of my (uninformed) question.
