Charging lithium batteries with solar
I've got lithium camera batteries and a lithium jump starter battery pack. All charge via 12v auto circuits, i.e. they have their own chargers, they aren't bare batteries. They all work up to at least 13.8v, which is what is going into my house or vehicle batteries via the alternator.
My question is how to charge them with a 27W, 18v max solar panel. It puts out 18v at best. If I attach a Morningstar Sunguard solar controller, it can't sense anything at the end, hence it doesn't go on. I have tricked it by attaching a 12.7v battery and then disconnecting it, but that's obviously not a good solution. Once on, it runs at 13.8.
I also have a DC power converter; it will take the voltage and output 12.25 to 12.5v. This works too, but I'm wondering if it would be better to get something that could output a bit higher voltage, like 13.8. I've noticed when using house power to charge these batteries all of them cut out at some point, so I assume the overcharge protection is working on all of them. I can get bare buck converters on eBay for about $10 complete with LEDs for voltage.
Does this make sense? Will I blow up?
Rob
My question is how to charge them with a 27W, 18v max solar panel. It puts out 18v at best. If I attach a Morningstar Sunguard solar controller, it can't sense anything at the end, hence it doesn't go on. I have tricked it by attaching a 12.7v battery and then disconnecting it, but that's obviously not a good solution. Once on, it runs at 13.8.
I also have a DC power converter; it will take the voltage and output 12.25 to 12.5v. This works too, but I'm wondering if it would be better to get something that could output a bit higher voltage, like 13.8. I've noticed when using house power to charge these batteries all of them cut out at some point, so I assume the overcharge protection is working on all of them. I can get bare buck converters on eBay for about $10 complete with LEDs for voltage.
Does this make sense? Will I blow up?
Rob
