BFL13 wrote:
Not clear what the 18v DC connects to--does it have battery clamps? How would it connect to a controller's input?
Says it has 3 AC outlets. So it has an inverter? It has all those adapters for your devices to go direct.
You would need a 7.5 amp eg, as a controller if this were a normal 100w 12v panel (has 6.3a ISC some of them) since in time it could get the battery up over 15v.
Suggest hands on view of this to see what connections it has --see the owner's manual--in the box (if it is not on-line somewhere) before buying.
I suspect that it already has some sort of charge "controller" built in since it mentions..
"The Massimo Solar Panel is your newest commodity to camping and hiking. Constructed from high-efficiency monocrystal silicon solar cells with efficiencies up to 23%, convert more solar power into usable energy. 5V USB and 18V DC dual outputs keep your USB/DC devices fully charged. This solar panel is environmentally friendly, practical, and convenient for emergency power supply situations. The Massimo Solar Panel comes with 10 adapters to charge phones, cameras, laptops, Massimo power stations and much more. Make sure you're prepared for the next adventure with the 100W Massimo Foldable Solar Panel. "The ten adapters look suspiciously like the same kind of adapters used on universal generic laptop power supplies which set the voltage and amperage output for the laptop you have.. 18V is pretty typical for most laptop chargers..
Adding an external charge controller to this panel without bypassing or rewiring to get around the built in 5V/18V device may result in pretty lack luster results.
