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Solar Sequencer
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JohnG
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Solar Sequencer

This device uses a single 15 watt solar panel to charge up to three lead acid automotive type batteries, keeping them isolated from each other - not in parallel. It is based on a BASIC STAMP BS1 and all of the parts are available from Jameco.  I use this device to charge the battery in my truck, which is parked in a garage that has no AC power. It also charges a battery to power a garage door opener and a 12 Volt light. The July issue of Nuts and Volts Magazine will have an article about this project.

COMMENTS

user
SulTech (Feb 17, 2013)

Good idea, i had such an idea a few years ago using a 4017 chip and some hex fets / cmos 555 timer. The only draw back was it takes longer to charge three batteries then it would if ...one was directly hooked to solar panel, (think , amp hours). But there is some self charging effects going on with this type of pulsing setup to.. All in all a great project and valuable to learn about the (stamp) chips.......

user
wdp2000 (Dec 13, 2012)

How is charge controlling handled? Would it be a better idea to install a charge controller with power point tracking in front of the solar sequencer?

user
offgrid (Jun 25, 2012)

You haven't said what this will cost, and how many parts it has, but if it's more than a few bucks, there are numerous analog solutions already available. Also you haven't mentioned properly charging a lead battery, using bulk, absorption and and float modes. Will it equalize a battery, or is it only for sealed types? Does it temperature compensate or is for warm batteries only? Lots of questions...but that is a start... Tim

user
JohnG (Jul 01, 2012)

Cost is one thing that none of the submitted projects mention, or even estimate. The components will cost about $40 not including a printed wiring board or kitting costs. Most of the parts cost is the BS1. This project doesn't do any special charging techniques or temperature compensation, it switches the solar panel output to the batteries in sequence, one at a time.

user
McGraw (Jul 11, 2012)

ya know if u want to save money on parts and the all the basic stamp does is switch outputs why not just use a simple decade counter and external oscillator? that would be 1/10 the cost

user
Ronald (Jun 05, 2012)

This is a good example of livinf off the grid. I use solar panels every field day in ham radio. Any one that has a motor home, boat trolling motor battery in storage lots could keep their batteries topped off. Not all storage lots have convenient power or power for free. Ronald

user
gatech (May 17, 2012)

Your description makes this sound like you might be the only one with a use for this device. Can you rephrase it to show that it's more generally useful?

user
gatech (Jun 18, 2012)

Hmm, 32 votes so far. Clearly I was wrong about the description being inadequate...

user
Luther (May 16, 2012)

How is this better than a solar panel with peak power inverter that displaces power used and purchased. A cheap 13.6 volt sw mode supply could sub for your solar farm and the output Mux or stepping switch part will work on that output.

user
JohnG (May 17, 2012)

The problem with running a garage door opener with an inverter is that the standby current used by inverters is around 0.5 amp. The garage door opener I use is a Craftsman/Chamberlain belt drive with battery backup (Sears Item# 00953918000 | Model# 53918). It is designed to run on 12 V dc and I just run it from a car battery all of the time since my garage has no utility power. The standby current for it is only 40 mA. I intend to include instructions on how to hook it up and get it to work in the kit instructions. The only drawback to the garage door opener is that it is not cheap. But purchasing a lower end 120 VAC opener and an inverter capable of 373 watts (1/2 horsepower) plus motor starting capacity is likely more. The real application of this project is to charge 3 batteries of different sizes and capacities from a single solar panel. The side benefit is being able to use a garage door opener, light and eventually a fan in a building with no access to utility power.