Home Improvement Articles - 3 Solar Panel Battery Wiring Samples
Depending on your needs, you may have to use some or all of the following tools and materials: solar panel(s), 12V "car battery" (deep-cycle lead-acid battery), diodes, insulated wire, wire cutters, pliers, wrenches, and screwdrivers.
Let's imagine that you bought a solar panel with a certain maximum output voltage and certain amperage. Now you need to hook it up to a battery. All batteries have specific amp ratings. You will need to determine how many panels will charge your battery adequately.
Once you do the calculations, you will need to either connect the panels straight to the battery, or use a diode in between. It is better to use a diode between your cell(s) and the battery, especially in the systems larger than 12V. If you do not use a diode, your battery may discharge at night. What diode will you need to use? You need a diode of the same (or more) amps as your panel.
3 Solar Panel Battery Wiring Samples
1. Connecting Solar Panel and Battery (Without a Diode):
- Panel's "plus" to battery's "plus". - Panel's "minus" to battery's "minus".
2. Connecting Several Panels in Parallel (for more power), and then to a Battery:
- Each panel's "plus" to other panel's "plus", and so on. - Each panel's "minus" to other panel's "minus", and so on. - The last panel's wires to the battery (follow the two steps from the 1st example).
To calculate the total amperage of your array, add the amp outputs together. Voltage stays the same.
3. Connecting Solar Panel, Diode, and Battery:
- Panel's "plus" to diode's "in". - Diode's "out" (the end with a black or silvered line) to battery's "plus". - Panel's "minus" to battery's "minus".
Notes about Solar Panel Battery Wiring:
1. Remember, going below the battery's voltage will not charge the battery fully.
2. Note that a diode will decrease the voltage.
3. Some lead-acid batteries may need a regulator providing certain voltage in order to leave them on forever, without an overcharge damaging the battery. Otherwise you will need to switch your battery off manually when it's fully charged.
When your solar panel starts to produce energy, this energy can either dissipate or be diverted into a battery for your future needs. Many people choose to use systems with batteries, which allow for a power backup. You can also use batteries for your outdoor equipment (golf carts, tractors, motor boats) and various portable devices (laptops, cameras, cell phones, electric fans).
However, remember that you don't necessarily need to use batteries in your home system. You can have the energy generated by the panels fed into the grid, thus eliminating the need for any batteries.
Jakob Jelling is the founder of http://www.solarpanelmanual.com which focuses on solar energy. Please visit his web site to learn more about solar panel battery wiring.
Related Tags: solar panel battery wiring, wiring solar panel batteries
Your Article Search Directory : Find in Articles
Recent articles in this category:
- Solar Power - A Sustainable Source Of Energy
Since time began, the sun was seen as a source of energy. Suprisingly only about 10% of solar energy - Why Leopards Are Becoming Extinct
On the flooded marshlands of Mombo in the heart of the Okavango Delta, Botswana, there are fertile f - The Different Kinds Of Bats
Most bats are found in warm places. Some are very strange: there are brightly colored, even spotted, - How Bats Find Their Way In The Dark
People have always been puzzled by how bats see small insects in the dark, and how they avoid bumpin - How Bats Live
Bats live together in caves or other dark places during the day. Just before dark, or before the sun - At Home With Mr. Burroughs
Youth still peered out at me in spite of his crowning thatch of silvery hair when I first met John B - Gas Fired Boiler Care Evaluation
Get Central Heating Cover And UnwindWhilst advanced heating boilers are reliable, at some point in t - Environment Articles - India's strength and investments in Nuclear Energy Markets
Indian Nuclear Energy Markets Indian Nuclear Energy Market: An investment opportunity of US$55 - Environment Articles - Wind Energy is the fastest growing renewable energy sector in India
Wind Energy Markets in India India is likely to generate almost five times more wind energy cap - Environment Articles - Ideas On Reusable Kids Lunch Boxes
If your kids are now in school, lunch boxes are what you need. Packing their lunch assures mothers a
Most viewed articles in this category:
- The Demand for Water and Water Privatisation
On TV recently you have Indian villagers complaining that coca cola had built a bottling plant in th - Solar Powered Lights
All of our energy comes from the sun. Solar powered lights offer a low cost and do not pollute the e - About Ethanol Distillation
Through the years, people have been used to oil price hikes, such that even when prices rise to a se - Simple Mold Removal Wihtout Cleaning Mold
Are you fighting with black mold and it keeps coming back? Use the correct methods for mold cleaning - The Business of Saving the Planet
On a sweltering day during the summer, I called my business partner Michael to ask why he thought it - Global E-Waste Dumping - How Does It Occur?
When people "donate" or "recycle" electronics and computers, they do so with good intentions, and th - Earth Friendly Composting
Earth Friendly Composting Municipalities throughout the United States require residents and busines - A Unique Overview of Yellowstone National Park
When it comes to national parks, it is hard to imagine a more famous one than Yellowstone National P - Save the Planet Article 2
This is the second article in a series that examines common house-hold products, how their manufactu - Air Testing In The Uk Building Trade
Part L Building Regulations 2000, which came into effect on 6th April 2006, is one part of the Gover