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Solar car battery charger
The standard car battery is a flooded lead-acid type that produces just over twelve volts. Charging requires a voltage slightly higher than this, between thirteen and fifteen volts. Two other types are the sealed lead-acid (SLA) and absorbed glass mat (AGM), both of which have similar charging voltages to the common flooded type. The self-discharge rate is the amount of charge a battery loses when it is not being used. For example, a flooded lead-acid battery loses about three percent of its charge each month. At the very least, a solar car battery charger must produce an average charge equal to the self-discharge rate, otherwise the battery will slowly go flat. Faster charging requires higher voltage and current, which requires a larger solar panel.
The solar panel can be any type but will usually be crystalline silicon. These panels are expensive and bulky because they need a strong rigid frame to prevent the cells from cracking. Solar panels have no moving parts to wear out, and they are strongly resistant to damage and corrosion, which allows them to last more than twenty years. Second-hand panels should be considered because they will usually be in a good condition even after many years. There are solar panels made specifically for trickle-charging car batteries, with a power output that matches the self-discharge rate of the battery. However, a larger panel will be needed if the battery is used and not recharged by the car alternator.
Solar regulators are small electronic boxes connected between the solar panel and battery that control the charging current. They measure the voltage coming from both the panel and the battery, and shutoff the current when the voltages exceeds preset limits. Their main role is to prevent the battery from overcharging, but the more advanced models can also adjust the current to better suit the battery's charging profile. This helps maximize the charge and extend the life of the battery. Regulators can also stop the battery discharging back through the panel at night, although most solar panels have blocking diodes that stop this anyway.
The solar panel needs to be installed in a location that receives direct sunlight for several hours each day. Small panels used for trickle-charing can be placed on the dashboard but larger panels used for quick charging need to be mounted externally. The usual location is on the car roof, or on top of a trailer or caravan. A solar panel can also be used to reduce wind drag by mounting it forward of a trailer, with the back edge higher than the front. Solar panels produce large currents so automotive hookup wire and a fuse should be used.
Current solar car battery chargers use expensive and bulky solar panels, but thin-film technology promises to reduce their cost and weight in the future, and may even allow them to become part of a vehicle's paintwork. While these chargers are well suited at maintaining a battery that is already fully charged, they require considerable sunlight hours to replenish a battery after heavy use. However, they provide a reliable source of free energy for charging, and are considered standard equipment for long trips in remote areas.
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