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Old 05-07-2012, 03:26 AM   #1
974door
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Default Solar panel help needed....

I have been reading through the forums about using solar panels to keep the accessory battery charged on their carts, but haven't been succesful in finding any technical info on which panel to get. I found this one at Harbor Freight. http://www.harborfreight.com/15-watt...nel-96418.html My question is will 15 watts be enough to keep 1 optima blue top charged? I am running a 1400 watt amp and head unit with many LED lights.
Next question, will I need a controller for the panel? And aso, is it possible to over charge using a panel?
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Old 05-07-2012, 08:52 AM   #2
sonicj
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

Quote:
Originally Posted by 974door View Post
My question is will 15 watts be enough to keep 1 optima blue top charged? I am running a 1400 watt amp ....
lets see.... 15 -1400 = -1385

nope, thats not enough.
-sj
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Old 05-07-2012, 10:00 AM   #3
DOOmsman
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

the panel puts out 15 and you are using 1500 watts, so it will need 100 hours of
sun for one hour of run time
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Old 05-07-2012, 05:58 PM   #4
974door
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

I am not using it to run the amp, just to keep the battery charged throughout the day.
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Old 05-07-2012, 06:31 PM   #5
sonicj
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

You are correct in thinking that the solar panel won't be running the amp directly, as the battery is being used as a buffer. The problem is, you are taking 1400W out of the battery and only putting 15W back in.

Realistically, your amp likely will not be consuming 1400W... But even if you are only pulling, lets say 100W, a 15W solar panel cannot keep the battery charged. It will offset the discharge by 15watts, but you will still have a net loss of 85W.
-sj
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Old 05-07-2012, 10:44 PM   #6
974door
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

I may be wrong in this statement, but 1400 is the maz amount of output the amp could put out, not the amount of draw it pull from the battery.
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Old 05-07-2012, 11:48 PM   #7
sonicj
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

You are right. But like I stated earlier, even if your amp, cd player and whatever else you are running only consumes 100W, putting 15W pack into the battery is not sufficient to keep the battery fully charged.

15W - 100W = -85W

In order for the panel to keep battery charged when your stereo pulls 100W, you would need a 100W solar panel.
-sj
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Old 05-08-2012, 03:29 AM   #8
974door
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

I guess i need to start by figuring out what my wattage draw will be.
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Old 05-08-2012, 07:04 PM   #9
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Cool Re: Solar panel help needed....

Quote:
Originally Posted by 974door View Post
I guess i need to start by figuring out what my wattage draw will be.
Yes figure the watts first then buy a panel to work with it.

The 2 panels I have on the 04 and Monster cart are 5 watts. A normal radio pulls about 5-6 watts.
I do have to charge the battery every so often to build it up but for day use at the beach it charges all day. I charge it about every other night when riding a lot at night but do much night riding.
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Old 05-08-2012, 09:40 PM   #10
974door
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Default Re: Solar panel help needed....

I am fine with have to charge it every night, i ust want something to help make sure it last all day while riding around.
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