In order to charge a 12V battery, you will need at least 13.6 volts to charge it. The sun has unlimited energy and produces electricity at no cost! You will need a solar panel to power the battery. The wattage of your solar panel is based off the size and how much sunlight you are able to absorb. A 100W solar panel is more than enough for charging 12V batteries in full sun, but might not work in cloudy and darker areas, like the evening.
What are deep cycle batteries?
The deep cycle battery is a sealed liquid-filled battery that has a very large capacity for deep cycling. They are able to handle extreme amounts of discharge and charge cycles, which are vital in outdoor applications.
The term “deep cycle” derives from the need to keep the plates fully saturated with electrolyte in order for them to maintain their maximum energy. Because of this, they can be discharged up to 40% of their capacity and still perform well. Deep cycle batteries are more expensive than standard flooded batteries, but offer better performance for longer life cycles.
However, batteries used in cars are not deep cycle and should not be used even in devices that ask for deep cycle batteries. They need to provide short bursts of energy and are therefore different.
What is battery life?
The performance and life of a battery is based off how many cycles it can do. A cycle is defined as: “a fully charged/discharged sequence”. To help you out in terms of charging your battery, make sure to charge it fully every time you charge it. This will not only make your battery last longer, but also maximize its charging potential.
So now that you know how to calculate your solar power needs for charging 12V, what are the different panels that are available? First of all, keep in mind that energy efficiency is the most important aspect when deciding on a solar panel.
How do you charge batteries with solar panels?
Step 1: Choose your panel
First we need to choose the right solar panel, the more energy you are able to absorb, the better. You can learn more about panels here. If you use an inverter for charging your battery, you can choose a solar panel with a higher wattage.
Step 2: Calculate the size of your solar panel
Next we need to calculate the size of our solar panel based on the wattage and number of hours you are able to charge your battery.
Wattage = (hours of sunlight available) x (watt per hour)(2.8v)
Example: 3 hours of sunlight * 50 watt per hour * 2.8V = 80 watts, so you will need a 100W solar panel to charge in full sunlight. Remember the more wattage you have, the more expensive your solar panel will be. There are also smaller solar panels that fit your needs if you do not have a lot of space to install one.
Step 3: Choose a regulator or charge controller
A charge controller or regulator is used to manage the amount of electricity coming in from solar panels. This is necessary to keep batteries from being overcharged. They prevent the battery voltage from getting too high by turning off the solar panel when necessary. In this case, you will want to make sure that your regulator can handle your panel’s amperage output. If you had a 250W panel and it was producing 25amps, your regulator would also need to be able to handle 25amps.
Step 4: Buy a deep cycle battery
Depending on how much sunlight you are able to get in your area, you will need a deep cycle battery with a higher capacity.
Capacity = (current capacity of battery in amperes) x (number of cycles per day)
Example: If your solar power is producing 5amps, you will need a battery with at least 10 amps of capacity.
What are amp hours?
The amp hours (Ah) rating is the capacity of a battery, which tells how much current it can supply to power a device. For example, if a 12V battery has a capacity of 200 Ah, it can supply 20A (200/12) for 1 hour or 10A for 2 hours. This is also referred to as the output of the battery in amp hours (ah). Your deep cycle batteries will have a higher amp hour value than your standard car batteries.
Watts = Voltage x Current or P=VI
To calculate your solar array’s wattage you need to use this equation.
How many amps does a 100-watt panel produce?
Given that watts equal volts times amps, amps will equal watts divided by volts.
What are some uses for a 12 volt system?
A 12V solar panel setup can charge a multitude of small electronics like phones, tablets, GPS devices, and LED lights. It is also ideal for powering lights or a fan on your boat. If you are looking to power an appliance or an AC device in a vehicle that is running on battery, you will need at least 30A or more. One of our favorite uses for a 12V system is charging low voltage lighting in the off-grid camper setup! You can learn more about AC, DC, and low voltage systems here.
How long will it take to charge a battery?
The amount of time it takes to charge a battery is directly proportional to the battery’s capacity. To charge most batteries in a solar setup, you’ll need at least 3 hours of direct sunlight each day.
What are some common solar panel sizes?
Solar panel sizes come in several different categories: mono/monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin film and MonoPlus. Each size is useful for different applications or different wattages.
For example, a Polycrystalline Solar Panel is much cheaper than a 400 Watt MonoPlus but performs equally as well in low light conditions and at higher elevations.
So when buying your solar panel, you should consider the type of system you are installing for maximum efficiency and performance. Read more on the differences between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels here.
How do I calculate the max sun hours per day?
Depending on your surrounding weather (clouds, location, other environmental factors) and your daily usage, you’ll want to calculate a max number of hours of sunlight you can achieve each day. For example, if your area has significantly less sunlight than when in a sunny climate, you will need to buy more solar panels.
What are the best conditions to charge a battery?
There are many factors that can affect how fast a battery will charge. The most important factors are the size of your solar panels and the size of your battery bank. You can read more about how to calculate the optimal battery bank size here. If you have a full solar + low voltage AC setup, choose your best conditions based on average temperature and precipitation.
What are some common monocrystalline solar panel sizes?
The most common sized Monocrystalline Solar Panel is 100 watt panels. You can purchase these in either black or white depending on what output you want to achieve with your system. The Utilitech 100W Solar Panels have a very high efficiency rating as well.
What are common polycrystalline solar panel sizes?
The most common polycrystalline solar panel is the 400 Watt Polycrystalline Panel. These panels are more expensive than mono crystals, but they end up being more cost effective for certain applications.
You can buy these in either black or white depending on what output you want to achieve with your system. The Utilitech 4000 Watts Monocrystalline Solar Panel has a very high-efficiency rating as well.
Does the type of battery used make a difference?
Absolutely. There are three main types of deep cycle batteries used in solar system setups. Each will have their strengths and weaknesses and will be crucial to the success of your electrical system.
- Flooded lead-acid batteries – These are the most popular type of battery in solar systems simply because they are the cheapest and can be found almost anywhere. However, they will have to be fully charged once every 3-4 months to prevent sulfation from occurring on the negative plates. This is a fairly labor intensive process.
- Sealed lead-acid batteries – These batteries are maintenance free deep cycle batteries that will not require any additional charging. They are a lot more expensive and can be difficult to find at certain retailers.
- Lithium-Ion batteries – These types of batteries are relatively new to the market and they have been gaining popularity since they were introduced in 1991 by Sony. Many companies use this type of battery today due to its lightweight compared to other types of lead-acid batteries. Another big plus for lithium batteries is that they are better at charging and discharging.