here I go reviving an old thread.
been lurking for years looking up stuff, this spring I was considering getting a couple panels and rig up a 24v system to run some power tools maybe the idea is to take 24v cordless tools and either make extension cords for them to run directly off the 24 v battery bank or maybe charge the individual tool packs, heck maybe I can use the original tool packs as dump loads? remains to be seen.
Anyway I see the circuit can be used as a dump controller OR lvd, not both if I am not mistaking, so if this was the route I was taking I should get 2 kits? to use one as a charge controller and one as an LVD?
I recon if I will be running power tools I could at times over discharge the bank as well as over charge it if not used.
so that being said I am a bit out of touch, I know some stuff as in 1 panel aprox 18 v good for charging 1 battery 12v, 2 panel in series 2 batteries in series, my understanding is those get connected directly while the circuit monitors the battery voltage.
question is what are the proper numbers for overcharge and over discharge for lead acid?, I see the board can be customizable to each liking just asking of what are common practices,
I have some recycled laptop batteries for example lipo is full at 4.2v, 3s makes 12.6 full I see 14.4v is common for lead acid as a dump point so in theory say I were to build a couple of those lipo packs for the tools, they like amps very much, they could be used as dump loads I reckoned, and charge off the excess, granted one would than have to be careful and make sure one of those tool empty packs is always connected as a dump load or something else is in its place.
anyway some input would be much appreciated, I am supposed to be shopping here shortly, granted I can get a commercial unit thou I don't know much about them nor weather they can also monitor lvd, I'm sure they are pricy and besides I like dealing with the little guy, and build stuff myself, this is simple enough I can understand