Of course it works 'anyway' !
Always trust the text.
Never trust the resistor colors in photos. Especially digital photos, that have been manipulated, then rendered, then being viewed on a monitor that is not exactly the same as every other monitor on the planet.
R5 (documented as 8.2K) can be anywhere between 1K and 1M for most applications. 500 ohms to 10M is probably just as good, usually.
Some rare operating conditions would be better served with a higher or lower R5 value.
8.2K seems like a nice place to split the difference.
The only time it is wasting power is when the dump load is supposed to be wasting power.
"First, rather than running the MOSFET.... "
Yes, that can be done under certain conditions, and they almost always are related to solar.
Usually with solar, there is no power resistor required.
It is best if the solar follows the limits I specify for the max amps, in this case that would be the panel's Isc.
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http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww20/ghurd1/Sketches/NoLoadSlrKit.jpg )
"Second... shunted the dropping resistor"
Not sure I follow that.
I expect this statement will confuse many people, but the Yellow LED and "a small piezo buzzer (with built in oscillator)" can both be in series with the R2 resistor.
If your "small piezo buzzer (with built in oscillator)" is as obnoxious as mine are, it will be just as annoying as always.
"third"
I agree. A lot!
Many people do not consider 18ma as being a consequential draw, or as being sufficent to reduce the LEDs hours of usable life.
But I think the amp draw on that one is usually closer to 3.2ma.
In tiny systems, I think R1 can go to 10K and still have LED1 be bright enough. "bright enough" depends on the viewing conditions and who is looking at it at the time.
"When there's surplus power, it audibly clicks (the faster the clicking, the more surplus is available)"
That audible clicking will reverse as the battery becomes more fully charged, if the battery is a battery.
And I have a gut feeling your test battery is a cap.
For example, if the battery is charged so much it is beyond the set point voltage of the controller (which can not happen if the dump load is suitable to the charging apparatus), then the clicking will be only one click indicating the dump load is dumping all the amps it can but the battery is still over voltage.
A self-driven Piezo would be going "Screeeeeeeee...".
"as the goop that is holding it all together dries "
Dude! Ever heard of 'high temp hot glue'? It is 'dry' before the blisters on your fingers have fluid in them.
"As I was playing with it, all kinds of things came to mind!
"
Yes. That frequently happens.
"Hi5 on the design"
Thanks!
And thanks for an honest review.
G-