Electrical guru's

[rather-b-fishin]

Got a question, will a 12v solar panel safely charge a 6v battery without using a transformer? I'm having a hard time finding a solar panel for my external camera battery. I'm using a 6v 42ah battery and was recommended a 10watt panel.

[2014FusionM]

Got a question, will a 12v solar panel safely charge a 6v battery without using a transformer? I'm having a hard time finding a solar panel for my external camera battery. I'm using a 6v 42ah battery and was recommended a 10watt panel.

I believe you will have to have a transformer. I think it will fry your battery.

[kcmarullo]

I would use an inline voltage regulater,

[Matt_C]

I would use an inline voltage regulater,

^^^^ this. Can't use a transformer on a DC circuit.

[hpdrifter]

^^^^ this. Can't use a transformer on a DC circuit.

beat me to it.

[hpdrifter]

http://www.robotshop.com/en/dc-dc-po...erter-25w.html

you could use something like this.

[14JKURX]

Here you go.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/12-watt-6v-solar-panel-RV-or-boat-robots-projects-mono-solar-cells-battery-chg-/281498692258

[fishingsetx]

beat me to it.

Me too! Why not just get a 6v panel and a charge controller?

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

[stickbowcoop]

If you insist on using a 12V panel, a DC-DC converter is usually more efficient than a voltage regulator. But it seems a 6V panel is a better solution to avoid adding extra components to your circuit.

[T-roy66]

I'm pretty Bucees,Academy and Cabelas all sale 6 volt solar panels.

[rather-b-fishin]

Ive read a lot of issues with using the voltage regulator and it sending the 12 volts to the camera and frying it. And im not sure the cheap 6V panels will keep the battery charged when its taking 1k pics a week. But that's why I called on yall fellas to help me out! I do like that panel 14JKURX posted the link to ebay.

[fishingsetx]

Any idea what the ma draw is on the camera? What kind of life are you getting fight now with what batteries? A 42 Ah battery and a 10w panel sounds like overkill to me.

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

[rather-b-fishin]

Any idea what the ma draw is on the camera? What kind of life are you getting fight now with what batteries? A 42 Ah battery and a 10w panel sounds like overkill to me.

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain

Im not sure as im trying to get it set up to put out. But its a Spartan gocam and HCO recommended that size battery and panel. To be honest I think that's why most people use the 12v system because 6v is not as common. I don't want to be swapping out batteries ever month and all that crap. Id like to put it out and leave it for a year.

[rather-b-fishin]

Ok how does a 12volt 10 watt solar panel, with a 12dcv to 6dcv converter and a 6volt 36Ah battery sound?

[fishingsetx]

Im not sure as im trying to get it set up to put out. But its a Spartan gocam and HCO recommended that size battery and panel. To be honest I think that's why most people use the 12v system because 6v is not as common. I don't want to be swapping out batteries ever month and all that crap. Id like to put it out and leave it for a year.

Dont know about your specific camera, but with a battery that size on mine, i could probably get 18 months minimum! From what ive read, anything over 2W per 40 aH will need a charge controller. Ebay has a 6V, 15w panel for $30 and you can get a charge controller from amazon for $10. I have no idea on the quality though. Id be leery of step down converters due to the increased drain on the battery.

Just doing a quick calculation, the gocam takes 12 aa batteries and the reviews say 3.9 months on lithium batteries. That shoukd be 3 banks of 4 in parallel to make 6v and 9000 mah. At that discharge rate, a fully charged 42aH battery should last 18+ months under normal usage. Id say probably closer to 12 months. If you add even a small solar panel, you should be able to extend that significantly. A 5w panel running for 8 hrs a day will replace over half of the days usage (24 hr usage). That is probably why they recommended a 10w to fulky recharge the battery.

Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain