- I am planning on making a Home Made Solar Panel and I would like to know a few things before I buy any parts because I am doing this more for the experience and fun of it.
- I would like to make my own mini off grid system which I will only use to power a room or 2.
My Questions:
1) Are the big bulky LEAD batteries really necessary? Because I don’t like the idea of a Huge Lead Battery in a room…
2) Are NiMH AA batteries attached in a (smaller) box a possible replacement? I really do prefer this way but I do have one concern: are the results the same (output)?
3) How much voltage and amperage can these NiMH batteries take to recharge securely? I hope the Solar Panels don’t damage the batteries…
I thank you all so very much in advance 
More Pages:
- Solar Lights: How Much Current Is Needed For Inverter? (8/26/2011)
- Solar Panel: What Solar Panel Is Needed To Charge Four 12 Volt Batteries? (2/25/2012)
- Solar Panel: How Can I Set-up My Small Solar Panel To Charge AA Solar-rechargeable Btteries? (5/22/2011)
- Solar Lights: Is A Resistor Needed And If So, What Size? (8/8/2011)
- Solar Lights: Where To Purchase Outdoor Power Supply Equipment Similar To Brunton Solo 2? (2/18/2012)
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
You say you are going to use the system to power a room or 2, but how much energy are you going to need to store and what appliances are you planning to use?
The lead batteries (usually from a scrapped submarine), are really the most reliable way to store power and they have a huge capacity.If you perform routine maintenance on them, they last for years, are very tolerant of deep discharging (if you aren’t able to recharge them for a while) and are robustly constructed.They have little or no self discharge, which NiMH’s have.A compromise would be a car battery or two, wired in dual, so they both charge at the same time.
NiMH batteries aren’t meant for long term energy storage. Even the largest size NiMH batteries (currently 11,000ma ‘D’ sized cells), won’t store enough for your energy needs.
If you are planning to use a computer, laptop or TV, you will at least a 12v car battery or two, plus an inverter. NiMH batteries won’t hold enough energy to power them for more than a few minutes.It is possible to run a laptop directly from a car battery using the appropriate car battery adaptor, as laptops tend to run on 18.5 or 19.5v DC (check the mains adaptor), 12v DC would not be enough.
The main problem isn’t amperage, but wattage.NiMH batteries will have different storage capacities despite that is printed on them:
A 1,300ma AA battery may only hold 1250ma, whilst another holds 1,320ma, there is a possibility of your NiMH batteries not getting a full charge, unless charged individually in a ‘smart’ charger.
Solar panels tend to come with a 12VDC output, which you can either use on its own or link together to increase the wattage, depends on the panel wattage.Again, NiMH battery rechargers, (those that take a plug in mains adaptor), can often use 12VDC directly through a car battery cord, (either included or a few pounds more), just make sure that polarity (+/-) is correct (usually – if it has no cooling motor).
The capacity depends on the amount of sunlight received, the condition of the battery and the efficiency of any conversion equipment you have.