Solar emergany charger

wayneh

Joined Sep 9, 2010
17,496
You can allow the solar panel to stay connected - thru the diode - to the batteries at all times without the switch. The diode cures the reverse-current problem.

The top switch could also be eliminated. You don't gain anything by having 2 "packs" instead of one EXCEPT if the batteries are not the same. In that case you would want to parallel them with similar mates and keep them separate from unmatched cells.

You should measure the charging current into fresh batteries when you get it working, to see how urgently you need to address the overcharge issue. I'm not convinced the panel will be able to overpower the batteries, but let's see.
 
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