Well, I'm finally generating some solar electrons into my batteries. I've got 3 sets of HF solar panels, with 2 sets deployed at this point.
I have an old ICP 7A charge controller in use for right now, until I get the charge controller I bought from Ghurd built and tested. I have a 33Ah wheelchair sealed battery on the bottom shelf, and a couple of jumper batteries jacked in. The terminal strip jumpered with copper sheet is my main DC bus for the moment. The pigtail socket and light bulb laying below are my test/dump load.
Better/closer image. I have all of my amateur radio euipment converted to Anderson powerpoles, so it was logical to extend them to the solar power system. Also have a Watts Up connected between the solar panels and the batteries.
This image shows the results of a cloudy day with over 10Ah into the batteries. The Peak Watts were 62W and this was shot at 4:00pm or so, so I did have some periods of hazy sunlight.
I will not deploy my third set of panels until I get Ghurd's charge controller built and get to Sam's for a set of 6V golf cart batteries. I am running a 2 meter mobile radio 24/7 from this setup, and occasional use of my IC706 HF(not Harbor Freight) rig.
My old ICP controller will not handle over 7A, so I'm afriad the third set of panels would overload it.
