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Many people are aware that solar chargers are a good alternative to non-renewable sources of energy, but not everyone is familiar with how easy they are to build. The purpose of this piece is to outline important information about different types of solar battery chargers, including how to put together your own.

Generally speaking, a battery charger is a power supply that sends electricity of a specific voltage to a battery. All you need to do is connect the battery to the charger, wait for it to fully charge, and then take it out. A 15-18 volt power supply may be used to recharge a 12 volt battery. However, this kind of battery charger poses the risk of overcharging.

An overcharged battery’s life is likely to decrease. In the event that you seriously or repeatedly overcharge a 12 volt battery, the battery can be damaged so much that it will no longer hold a charge. However, there is a device called a charge controller that will ensure that the necessary voltage is used and prevent the battery from being overcharged. If you’re using a 12 volt solar charger, you’ll probably want to be able to leave it connected throughout the day while the sun is shining, and thus a charge controller is a must.

The most common type of charge controller for 12 volt batteries is a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) charge controller. In basic terms, a PWM charge controller works by flipping a switch on and off very quickly. In this respect, the switch is mostly “on” when it first starts charging. As electricity is transferred to the battery, the amount of time the switch spends “off” increases, until the battery is fully charged, and then the switch remains off permanently. A microprocessor chip handles the charging process. In other words, you can leave this type of charge controller plugged into a battery all day long if you like, since it will only transfer power to the battery when needed, without the danger of overcharging. This is known as “trickle charging,” and it is handy when there’s a battery that you don’t necessarily use constantly, but would to make sure that it’s charged when it does need to be used. If you’re using a 12 volt solar charger, it’s useful to have this feature. 12 volt batteries for boats and RVs are often charged in this way, for example.

With these basic components, you can build a 12 volt solar charger. What differentiates a 12 volt solar charger from a normal battery charger is the power source. Solar battery chargers generate power through the use of a solar panel rather than through a wall outlet. Building your own DIY solar panel for use in a 12 volt solar charger is becoming more common. To learn more, check out DIY Solar Panels.

Usually, solar panels used on houses contain 1/2 volt and 3-4 amp solar cells. Since a 12 volt battery charger requires about 15-18 volts of electricity to use, it’s necessary to connect several of these cells to generate enough power. Small solar panels do come in many different voltages. The charger will work properly when you match the voltage of the solar panel to your charge controller. The correct voltage is indicated by the voltage rating, which is displayed on every charge controller. A solar panel of 15-18 volts is usually the best choice if you can’t use a charge controller for whatever reason. However, if you are using a charge controller, it’s important to use the appropriate voltage. You can build your own 12 volt solar charger with the help of GreenDIYEnergy. To read my article about it, take a look at GreenDIYEnergy Review.

The method for wiring the solar panel to the charge controller depends on certain factors within the controller. Identify the type of connector used on your charge controller, and solder one onto the solar panel. If you aren’t using a charge controller, use the type of connector that’s on the battery instead. Spring loaded clamps work well with most larger 12 volt batteries. You do have the option of using electrical tape as an alternative to soldering, but soldering is a more permanent solution, and, in this case, it’s a very easy procedure. You won’t require any special tools other than a decent soldering iron and solder, which you can get cheap at places like Radio Shack. All you have to do is twist the wires on either side together, applly the soldering iron to the wires, and touch the solder to the wires until it melts. As long as you take care not to burn yourself, and remember to heat the wires and not the solder itself with the soldering iron, it’ll be no problem. Another guide to building your own 12v solar charger that I recommend is Homemade Energy. If you’re interested, visit Homemade Energy Review.

It’s really as easy as that! Then, you can build your own 12 volt solar charger. A 12 volt battery is the first component. Then, you’ll want a charge controller with the same voltage as the battery. Next, you’ll require a solar panel that also has the appropriate voltage for the charge controller – you can build one yourself or buy one. The last step is to connect all the parts – connect the solar panel to the charge controller, and the charge controller to the battery. Once you’ve done this, you’ll have permanent, free power! This will save you money, reduce your emissions, and let you do your part in reducing dependence on foreign oil.