I bought this in 2001 to play at maintenance charging a battery (car, I
think).

I never got very far with it (as far as I can remember) and it has been in
the box for a long time.

https://12volt.com.au/General%20Html.../FLX%20Panels%
20Spec%20Sheet.pdf

seems to be for that model.

It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied cigar
lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power bank? Or, for
that matter, a mobile phone?

I note that the operating voltage is listed as 16.5 volts, which seems a
little high for a battery maintenance charger, so does it need some kind
of voltage regulator in front? If so, what?

I looked up charge regulators and found cheap stuff like
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Controller-...n-Temperature-
Compensation/dp/B01J5A6X92/
and
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligent...nt-protection-
regulator/dp/B071ZZ2S84/
which have some interesting reviews.

However these might rely on a 12V battery being present.

Hmmm... V * A = W; A = W/V.
Assuming it is chucking out 16V then power output might be:
A = 5/16 or 1/3 of an Amp charging rate.


Anyway, is there a recommended solution to turn this panel into a solar
charger for small devices?

I'm thinking for camping where there is no mains hookup.

Cheers



Dave R

--
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David formulated on Saturday :
It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

No, that simply means it will not discharge a battery, when it is
unable to charge it (in the dark).


Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

You probably wouldn't need a charge regulator to use it to charge a 12v
car battery, its output is quite small at 0.30 amps.


For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied cigar
lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power bank? Or, for
that matter, a mobile phone?

A 12v to USB cigar lighter adaptor will include a 5v regulator.

On Sat, 11 May 2019 13:22:21 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

David formulated on Saturday :
It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

No, that simply means it will not discharge a battery, when it is unable
to charge it (in the dark).


Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

You probably wouldn't need a charge regulator to use it to charge a 12v
car battery, its output is quite small at 0.30 amps.


For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied cigar
lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power bank? Or,
for that matter, a mobile phone?

A 12v to USB cigar lighter adaptor will include a 5v regulator.

Thanks.

The remaining question is "Is it safe to feed 16.5V into an adapter?".
I am assuming that it can cope with 14V+ as that is what an alternator
allegedly pushes out, and I assume that this gets as far as the cigar
lighter socket.

Cheers


Dave R


--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 7 Pro x64

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On Saturday, 11 May 2019 13:26:44 UTC+1, David WE Roberts (Google) wrote:
On Sat, 11 May 2019 13:22:21 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
David formulated on Saturday :

It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

No, that simply means it will not discharge a battery, when it is unable
to charge it (in the dark).


Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

You probably wouldn't need a charge regulator to use it to charge a 12v
car battery, its output is quite small at 0.30 amps.


For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied cigar
lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power bank? Or,
for that matter, a mobile phone?

A 12v to USB cigar lighter adaptor will include a 5v regulator.

Thanks.

The remaining question is "Is it safe to feed 16.5V into an adapter?".
I am assuming that it can cope with 14V+ as that is what an alternator
allegedly pushes out, and I assume that this gets as far as the cigar
lighter socket.

Cheers


Dave R

Modern cars disconnect the cig lighter socket when the engine isn't running, so that won't work. 5w is such a low charge rate that it can be left on indefinitely, albeit not ideally.


NT

On 11/05/2019 15:35, wrote:
On Saturday, 11 May 2019 13:26:44 UTC+1, David WE Roberts (Google)
wrote:
On Sat, 11 May 2019 13:22:21 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
David formulated on Saturday :

It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent
reverse current flow.

No, that simply means it will not discharge a battery, when it is
unable to charge it (in the dark).


Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

You probably wouldn't need a charge regulator to use it to charge
a 12v car battery, its output is quite small at 0.30 amps.


For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the
supplied cigar lighter socket should that be all I need to
charge a power bank? Or, for that matter, a mobile phone?

A 12v to USB cigar lighter adaptor will include a 5v regulator.

Thanks.

The remaining question is "Is it safe to feed 16.5V into an
adapter?". I am assuming that it can cope with 14V+ as that is what
an alternator allegedly pushes out, and I assume that this gets as
far as the cigar lighter socket.

The nominal open circuit voltage will plummet as soon as any real power
is taken. The purpose of a charge controller is to maximise the power
delivered to the load and protect it from overcharging. But for a 40Ah
battery it will barely notice 300mA peak charge rate which is C/100.

Modern cars disconnect the cig lighter socket when the engine isn't
running, so that won't work. 5w is such a low charge rate that it can
be left on indefinitely, albeit not ideally.

It might well be broadly comparable with the average modern cars daily
discharge rate when averaged over 24 hours and UK weather. A lead acid
40Ah in good condition self discharge rate is around 1W or 5% lost
charge per month. Batteries that are on their last legs won't start a
car if it is left unused for more than a couple of weeks.


--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 11/05/2019 15:35, wrote:
8

Modern cars disconnect the cig lighter socket when the engine isn't
running, so that won't work. 5w is such a low charge rate that it can
be left on indefinitely, albeit not ideally.

Mine doesn't, I run the dash cam 24x365 from one of the sockets.

And also some kind of over current drain protection as well.
Brian

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Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"Harry Bloomfield" wrote in message
...
David formulated on Saturday :
It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

No, that simply means it will not discharge a battery, when it is unable
to charge it (in the dark).


Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

You probably wouldn't need a charge regulator to use it to charge a 12v
car battery, its output is quite small at 0.30 amps.


For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied cigar
lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power bank? Or, for
that matter, a mobile phone?

A 12v to USB cigar lighter adaptor will include a 5v regulator.

I'd imagine it would be OK assuming the device does not run hot already, and
most these days do not, it was the old series regulated ones that used to
get hot and hence waste a lot of the heating up the heat sink!

Brian

--
----- --
This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please
Note this Signature is meaningless.!
"David" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 11 May 2019 13:22:21 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:

David formulated on Saturday :
It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

No, that simply means it will not discharge a battery, when it is unable
to charge it (in the dark).


Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

You probably wouldn't need a charge regulator to use it to charge a 12v
car battery, its output is quite small at 0.30 amps.


For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied cigar
lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power bank? Or,
for that matter, a mobile phone?

A 12v to USB cigar lighter adaptor will include a 5v regulator.

Thanks.

The remaining question is "Is it safe to feed 16.5V into an adapter?".
I am assuming that it can cope with 14V+ as that is what an alternator
allegedly pushes out, and I assume that this gets as far as the cigar
lighter socket.

Cheers


Dave R


--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 7 Pro x64

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
https://www.avast.com/antivirus

David wrote:
I bought this in 2001 to play at maintenance charging a battery (car, I
think).

I never got very far with it (as far as I can remember) and it has been in
the box for a long time.

https://12volt.com.au/General%20Html.../FLX%20Panels%
20Spec%20Sheet.pdf

seems to be for that model.

It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied cigar
lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power bank? Or, for
that matter, a mobile phone?

I note that the operating voltage is listed as 16.5 volts, which seems a
little high for a battery maintenance charger, so does it need some kind
of voltage regulator in front? If so, what?

I looked up charge regulators and found cheap stuff like
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Controller-...n-Temperature-
Compensation/dp/B01J5A6X92/
and
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Intelligent...nt-protection-
regulator/dp/B071ZZ2S84/
which have some interesting reviews.

However these might rely on a 12V battery being present.

Hmmm... V * A = W; A = W/V.
Assuming it is chucking out 16V then power output might be:
A = 5/16 or 1/3 of an Amp charging rate.


Anyway, is there a recommended solution to turn this panel into a solar
charger for small devices?

I'm thinking for camping where there is no mains hookup.

Cheers



Dave R


At only 5w output a good proportion of that will be running the charge
module itself leaving hardly anything over to charge any battery, it will
only be giving 5w in really ideal conditions which will be rare in the UK.

GH

On Sat, 11 May 2019 07:35:17 -0700, tabbypurr wrote:

On Saturday, 11 May 2019 13:26:44 UTC+1, David WE Roberts (Google)
wrote:
On Sat, 11 May 2019 13:22:21 +0100, Harry Bloomfield wrote:
David formulated on Saturday :

It claims that there is a blocking diode included to prevent reverse
current flow.

No, that simply means it will not discharge a battery, when it is
unable to charge it (in the dark).


Does this mean that I don't require a charge regulator?

You probably wouldn't need a charge regulator to use it to charge a
12v car battery, its output is quite small at 0.30 amps.


For example, if I plug a USB 12V charge adaptor into the supplied
cigar lighter socket should that be all I need to charge a power
bank? Or, for that matter, a mobile phone?

A 12v to USB cigar lighter adaptor will include a 5v regulator.

Thanks.

The remaining question is "Is it safe to feed 16.5V into an adapter?".
I am assuming that it can cope with 14V+ as that is what an alternator
allegedly pushes out, and I assume that this gets as far as the cigar
lighter socket.

Cheers


Dave R

Modern cars disconnect the cig lighter socket when the engine isn't
running, so that won't work. 5w is such a low charge rate that it can be
left on indefinitely, albeit not ideally.


NT

For clarity, I'm not proposing to plug it into a car.
I was using the car cigar lighter socket as a comparison with the solar
panel feeding a directly connected cigar lighter socket.

The solar panel will work a 12V USB charger when fitted into the cigar
lighter option on the output lead from the solar panel.

Testing suggests that about 300mW is the output.
Testing also suggests that this will struggle to keep up with the
discharge rate of a modern mobile phone whilst "doing stuff".
It did give a marginal increase in battery charge to a phone which was
turned off.

On the basis of that testing I won't be carrying it around to act as a
backup charger when away from the mains.

Given that it is around 18 years old, I am reasonably sure that there is
better technology around these days.


Cheers



Dave R


--
AMD FX-6300 in GA-990X-Gaming SLI-CF running Windows 7 Pro x64

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