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Update solar info page

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Wookey 2017-12-07 02:56:44 +00:00
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handbook/solar.html
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<H1>Solar Power</H1>
<H2>Summary</H2>
Since 2003 the bivy site at the stone bridge has had a number of solar panels and a car battery, which are mainly used for charging homemade battery packs, drill and AA/AAA batteries. This document is unfortunately written from memory, so someone with some electronics knowledge and a multimeter should set things up, so they can spot the errors and omissions in this document.
<p>Since 2003 the bivy site at the stone bridge has had a number of solar panels and a car battery, which are mainly used for charging lamp battery packs, drill and AA/AAA batteries (and phones). Much bigger flexi solar panels arrived in 2007 and a second, larger, battery around the same time (2009?).</p>
<p>The system is actually two independent systems running in parallel.
<ul>
<li>The Big system uses the three big solar cells on the big wooden frame the big battery and the cable with the (hopfully) obvious connectors on it</li>
<li>The Little system uses the four small aluminium framed solar cells and the smaller battery and the cable with the banna plugs on one end</li>
<li>The Little system uses the four small aluminium framed solar cells and the smaller battery and the cable with the banana plugs on one end</li>
</ul>
</p>
@ -31,27 +32,27 @@ Since 2003 the bivy site at the stone bridge has had a number of solar panels an
<LI><b>Three big floppy solar panels</b></LI>
<LI><b>A <u>massive-fuck-off</u> wooden frame, to mount the big floppy solar panels on</b></LI>
<LI>2 x Charge-Discharge and Power Distribution boxes</LI>
<LI>Lead-acid 12V Car battery ~40Ah</LI>
<LI><b><u>Another </u>Lead-acid 12V Car battery</b></LI>
<LI>Lead-acid (Gel) 12V battery ~40Ah</LI>
<LI><b><u>Another </u>Lead-acid (Gel) 12V battery</b></LI>
<LI>Multimeter</LI>
<li>Car cigarette lighter to USB distribution board</li>
<li>Random other bits that may or may not be usefull</li>
</ul>
<H3>Setup of big solar panels</H3>
<p>The three big solar panels are bolted to the big wooden frame using spare non structural bolts on the frame (ie not on a joint). The panles have to be overlaped to fit. This whole frame is then lashed to the stone bridge using the 4 spits just above the animal hole. The cable with the connectors that fit these panles is then run through the small gap in the animal hole end wall and up to the back of the bivi. The solar pannel cable is then connected to the solar input on the "bent plastic" charge regulator. The big battery is connected to the battery connectors of the "bent plastic" charge regulator</p>
<p>The three big solar panels are bolted to the big wooden frame using spare non structural bolts on the frame (ie not on a joint). The panels have to be overlaped to fit. This whole frame is then lashed to the stone bridge using the 4 spits just above the animal hole. The cable with the connectors that fit these panels is then run through the small gap in the animal hole end wall and up to the back of the bivi. The solar panel cable is then connected to the solar input on the "bent plastic" charge regulator. The big battery is connected to the battery connectors of the "bent plastic" charge regulator</p>
<H3>Setup of smaller solar panels</H3>
<p>In 2014 the smaller panels were perched on the stone bridge above the big panels as no frame emerged from Tramgold! The solar panels are connected to the circuit to it in parallel to give ~12V input (i.e. connect all the red and all the black solar panel banana plugs together, to make a long red stick and a separate long black stick). Then plug the two banna plugs on the end of the long cable into the end of the stick and insulate the two exposed ends of the sticks (we don't want them connecting!!). Now run the cable for this the same route as the big pannel cable. Connect the far end of this cable to the solar input on the project box charger and connect the small battery to the battery terminals of this box</p>
<p>In 2014 the smaller panels were perched on the stone bridge above the big panels as no frame emerged from Tramgold! The solar panels are connected together in parallel to give ~12V input (i.e. connect all the red and all the black solar panel banana plugs together, to make a long red stick and a separate long black stick). Then plug the two banna plugs on the end of the long cable into the end of the stick and insulate the two exposed ends of the sticks (we don't want them connecting!!). Now run the cable for this the same route as the big pannel cable. Connect the far end of this cable to the solar input on the project box charger and connect the small battery to the battery terminals of this box</p>
<H2>Waterproofing</H2>
All the circuits should be covered with plastic sheeting (There should be a cut open inglesport bag for that purpose). The sheeting is held down by medium sized rocks all around its perimeter and the liberal application of gaffer tape to hold it all togeather.
<H2>24V drill battery charging</H2>
To charge 24V drill batteries, the four solar panels should be connected together with two pairs of serially connected solar panels connected together in parallel. Crocodile clips can then be used to connect to the battery terminals. Note that the battery will not stop charging, and may damage the battery if left to over charge.
To charge the (now rarely-used) Bosch 24V drill batteries, the four solar panels should be connected together with two pairs of serially connected solar panels connected together in parallel. Crocodile clips can then be used to connect to the battery terminals. Note that the battery will not stop charging, and may damage the battery if left to over charge.
<H2>Putting the battery away</H2>
Store the battery full, this means that you should stop discharging the battery a few days before it is to be put away to allow it to charge. Grease the battery terminals, and place the battery where it will stay dry, do not cover with anything that may get soggy and short the battery (e.g. cardboard box).
<H2>Putting the (Lead-acid) batteries away</H2>
Store the batteries full, this means that you should stop discharging the batteries a few days before they are to be put away to allow them to charge. Grease the battery terminals, and place the batteries where they will stay dry, do not cover with anything that may get soggy and short the battery (e.g. cardboard box).
<H2>Thanks</H2>
On behalf on anyone using the system, thanks go to Earl Merson who provided most of the equipment, and more importantly carried a car battery up the hill. More thanks go to whoever carries it down again should it ever become knackered.