THE Battery Technology Thread pt 2 (merged)

[Ferretlover]

Hello All! I'm new to the forum. LOTS of great info here!

I've been thinking about a solar battery charger as part of my preps. If the spam hits the fan, we will need loads of AAA, AA, C, and D cell batteries, at least for the short term, for flashlights, radios, etc. Does anyone have any experience or recommendations for a solar battery charger?

Or would it be more practical to have a larger solar panel charging a deep-cycle 12v and using an inverter to run an AC charger? A solar charger seems to make more sense than storing a truckload of Duracells. Thoughts?

[Fishman]

A reasonable charger can be purchased at most Boaters World or equivalent. Regular batteries are worthless if big problems arise, rechargables are the way to go. I have one cheap small battery charger from Major Supplies that does fair along with 12 volt chargers from boating stores.

[sciencegirl]

Speaking of solar panel battery chargers, check out this link. (link embedded -- skyemoor)

Has anyone tried one of these, if so do you think they are a good purchase. I have been thinking of picking some up.

[sciencegirl]

This link requires a postal code to see what I am taking about, if so use mine, hee hee

T5h3B8

copy and paste

[tsakach]

I have one of those solar AA battery chargers. It charges batteries as advertised if you have enough patience. This type of battery charger produces less than 1 watt, and the one I have produces around 0.6 watts in full sun.

Another small scale setup I experiment with is a 5 watt solar panel connected to a 12v nimh battery charger. For example, here is a good 5 watt mono-crystalline solar panel for $40:



5 Watt Black Frame Mono-crystalline Solar Panel and Battery Charger

Here is a battery charger designed to work with small solar panels:

Battpack Battery Charger (AC, DC)

This setup works much better than those small solar battery chargers - definitely worth the few extra bucks.

[bobaloo]

I have a couple of folding 5 watt panels I use with a standard 12v battery charger for AA and AAA batteries. The fold up to the size of a paperback book, about the same weight, then unfold to about 8" by 2' or so. I can hook them in parallel, they'll charge 4 dead AA batteries in about an hour or hour and a half of good sun.

Used to be able to get them from Northern Tool for $39, not sure if they still have them. Nice units, I've used mine quite a bit when camping.

[WisJim]

Check eBay for the little 3 or 5 watt PV panels that were used in VW autos on the way to the dealer. Typically sell for $30 or so each including shipping. Sometimes they are less, but watch the shipping charges. There are differences between the older and newer styles, so read the descriptions. I got a few of them at a good price and realistic shipping charges and they are useful as battery maintainers or charging small batteries.

[RedStateGreen]

I got this one, works pretty well.

[tsakach]

I got this one, works pretty well.

The specs indicate it outputs 0.75 watts (0.15 amps * 5 volts) which is better than most chargers of this type.

But for the $20 price, the 0.75 watt solar battery charger it works out to around $26.66/watt.

On the other hand, a 5 watt panel with charger runs about $66, which works out to about $13.20/watt. It has other advantages, such the capability of charging 12 volt lead acid batteries and microprocessor controlled charging.

[LittleBoPeak]

After doing some more research and thinking (wow, what a concept!), seems to me like the most practical thing is to get a larger panel (5+ watts) as mentioned above to charge a 12v battery and use that for all your DC stuff, including charging your AA and AAA's.

Thanks for the input, everyone.

[fraggie]

I myself have the Rc hobby , which meansi have a good (digital) batt charger. 220v AND 12v

all i need is a solar panel (atleast 3A) and i can charge any battery.(including car batteries) haven't tried phones and such yet, but i'll just add a cigarette lighter from a car for it.

charging amp is 100mah to 5A 1 to 10 cells

[Ferretlover]

It appears that we will start to see huge numbers of Li-ion Batteries in the next few years for PHEV's and BEV's
Now Nissan is not only going to make them but they will also introduce their own EV. I just want to know what other members think.
Nissan to mass produce Li-ion Batteries

[jlw61]

It appears that we will start to see huge numbers of Li-ion Batteries in the next few years for PHEV's and BEV's
Now Nissan is not only going to make them but they will also introduce their own EV. I just want to know what other members think.
Nissan to mass produce Li-ion Batteries

I think 2010 is starting to look like a long ways away. In the mean time I'm ordering my electric bicycle.

[kokoda]

Once again the Japanese are ahead of the game while US car companies sit around scratching their asses and wondering why nobody wants to buy there gas guzzlers.

[Electric_Economy_2025]

It appears that we will start to see huge numbers of Li-ion Batteries in the next few years for PHEV's and BEV's
Now Nissan is not only going to make them but they will also introduce their own EV. I just want to know what other members think.
Nissan to mass produce Li-ion Batteries

I think 2010 is starting to look like a long ways away. In the mean time I'm ordering my electric bicycle.

Yes it is a long ways away and I think some bad times will happen before that and even after that but I don't think it will be as bad as the DOOMERs want it to be.
Personally I feel that onces the transition starts people will change and adapted very fast even faster then I think it will happen. I think a power down does'nt mean the end of modern society, it means we will change our personal habits so that life goes on in a sustainable way and I think we can do it without billions of people dying.

[strider3700]

I think a power down does'nt mean the end of modern society, it means we will change our personal habits so that life goes on in a sustainable way and I think we can do it without billions of people dying.

I've taken the time to highlight the flaw in your plan. It is a nice dream though.

[Electric_Economy_2025]

I think a power down does'nt mean the end of modern society, it means we will change our personal habits so that life goes on in a sustainable way and I think we can do it without billions of people dying.

I've taken the time to highlight the flaw in your plan. It is a nice dream though.

Until it happens it's not flawed also most of the dieoff unforantely will happen to the worlds poorest if it does happen

[americandream]

I think a power down does'nt mean the end of modern society, it means we will change our personal habits so that life goes on in a sustainable way and I think we can do it without billions of people dying.

I've taken the time to highlight the flaw in your plan. It is a nice dream though.

Until it happens it's not flawed also most of the dieoff unforantely will happen to the worlds poorest if it does happen

I wouldn't be too sure about that. We've a lot further to fall in terms of our energy needs. They on the other hand, already live off the grass growing on the verges.

[Electric_Economy_2025]

I think a power down does'nt mean the end of modern society, it means we will change our personal habits so that life goes on in a sustainable way and I think we can do it without billions of people dying.

I've taken the time to highlight the flaw in your plan. It is a nice dream though.

Until it happens it's not flawed also most of the dieoff unforantely will happen to the worlds poorest if it does happen

I wouldn't be too sure about that. We've a lot further to fall in terms of our energy needs. They on the other hand, already live off the grass growing on the verges.

How much oil do we need to keep farming on the scale we farm now ? will there be some problems yes will people dies in America yes but I don't think it will be as bad as in thrid world or some first world countries, we have alot of resources here we can use them to live on and nothing else if needed. I Lived in the Philippines for a few years so I do have first hand experience of how things work in a third world country. They live off of other countries there would be a huge dieoff there if they lost their oil imports. would they rebound into a way of life like it was there in the 1900's faster then a First world yes because there are alot of simple living going on, the problem would be food supply everything else is manageable.

[The_Toecutter]

About fucking time. They probably now have a concept of how grim our situation is.

If only they did it 8 years ago...


In any event, once they do this, EVs will be very cheap to run. 18650s at only 500 cycles to 100%, could give cost parity at under $3/gallon gas if EVs are mass produced to bring pack costs down to $250/kWh. The Li Ion in development are far better than that! Li Ion in the Triumph GT6 would be awesome.