landyacht318 wrote:
If solar is to be the primary recharging source, increase the ratio of solar wattage over battery capacity, is my recommendation. I think that many get a large capacity bank and then just enough solar to replenish what they use, and pay no attention to the minimum bulk recommended recharge rates of the battery manufacturer.
Battery may not have any minimum recharge current specified. My AGM have only maximum recommended current 35%C, and says nothing about minimum. Many flooded batteries have maximum recommended current lower yet, at 25-30%C. If there is also a minimum current specified, say, 18%C, it's going to be next to impossible to keep current between 18% and 25% at all times while on solar.
Yes, getting more than 1W of solar per 1 AH of battery makes sense. As long as the maximum current is within the battery specs. I think the OP said that they want a portable panel, which makes most of this debate moot.
