Path: ...!3.eu.feeder.erje.net!feeder.erje.net!weretis.net!feeder8.news.weretis.net!fu-berlin.de!uni-berlin.de!individual.net!not-for-mail
From: rbowman <bowman@montana.com>
Newsgroups: alt.home.repair,rec.autos.tech
Subject: Re: Solar car battery charger
Date: 4 Nov 2024 07:00:37 GMT
Lines: 17
Message-ID: <lor9olFdl7cU1@mid.individual.net>
References: <vg9k94$10m9$1@neodome.net>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit
X-Trace: individual.net XllLsPYJHwOzlUy6fdqKzgHXINAkWp5XN0BouRXO/W3k+H4Kp/
Cancel-Lock: sha1:znlxRIYF3lA1upM0GwUfo/KNcWU= sha256:IyQuSWdpI5iPlCNUZxlba6/LPuuPcOp3JINJEGcffbM=
User-Agent: Pan/0.149 (Bellevue; 4c157ba)
Bytes: 1578

On Sun, 3 Nov 2024 21:58:11 -0700, Charlie wrote:

> What kind of panel do you think I need?
> And does it need some kind of control module to charge a car battery?

You can  cheap out and skip the control module if you keep an eye on the 
voltage. A little overcharging probably won't hurt not the greatest 
batteries. Just check the electrolyte levels and keep them up. Put a 
blocking diode in series with the panel.

https://www.homemade-circuits.com/how-to-make-solar-battery-charger/

Some cheap circuits if you know anything about electronics. Solar panels 
have a nice feature. They are current sources. Short them out and the 
voltage goes to zero and the current limits to the short circuit current. 
Obviously you want a blocking diode since shorting a lead acid battery 
usually is a little dramatic.