[=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=]
[<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>><<>]
[=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=]
Stardate: 20210527.1715
Location: xiled rumination concentrator
Input Device: Fujitsu Lifebook P1610 running antiX 19.3
Audio: Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong Sings
Visual: antiX default desktop, xrc interior
Emotional: mildly hyper from coffee and donut snack
[=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=]
I have been rebuilding this portable battery charger/solar system
that I first built several years ago. It is pretty simple and this
is on the 5th version of the charger. I keep wanting to change it.
This round, I decided to make it smaller and keep the batteries
separate. Previous versions were bigger, heavier, and bulkier. The
4th version was built inside a medium-sized plastic ammo case. The
case for this version is an Apache case from Harbor Freight, similar
to a Pelican case, but much cheaper. I was not fond of the last
one I put together. It was functional, but messy.
The guts from version 4 was basically put in the new case, along
with a repurposed food constainer that I used to mount the
components. I was going to use a spare piece of acrylic sheeting I
had in my scrap pile, but decided to go with the food container.
The acrylic sheet would have been more involved.
Since I am keeping the batteries separate, this version is much
lighter and portable. The charger has 2 analog panel meters for
measuring volts and amperes. There is a 12 volt cigarette lighter
socket for the load, an ON/OFF switch also for the load, +/- banana
jacks for the battery and +/- jacks for the solar panels. Here is
a crude diagram:
_______________________________
| ___________ ___________ |
| | | | | |
| | \\|// | | \\|// | |
| | * | | * | |
| | Volts | | Amps | |
| |_________| |_________| |
| _ |
| / \ ON O + O |
| 12V Load || O - O |
| \_/ OFF Batt. Panel|
|_____________________________|
Separating the controller from the batteries will allow me to keep the
charger more modular and charge other 12 volt batteries without
configuration changes. The DC charge controller I'm using is a
Velleman SOL4UCN2, which I've used since version 1.
I charge quite a number of things at home. Yeah, I'm a gadget freak.
My family also has their own rechargables and we try to use the
energy that has been harvested from the sun for these devices. We
do not currently have an installed solar system at home, only the ones
that I cobbled together, which are pretty small. We have one in the
guest room and this portable one that charges the larger batteries,
which I use to charge the smaller power banks and devices. There is
also the charging cart [1] that I phosted about awhile back that has
been added to the battery rotation. The cart is used for the legacy
devices and is using solar power where applicable. I try to stick
to DC power and not use inverters since it is not so efficient.
Eventually, I'd like to add solar power to the xiled rumination
concentrator, but it might be challenging with the $15 TV from
Goodwill. I think it is rated at 100 watts. I'll have to run some
tests. I do have a UPS and a car jumpstarter battery attached to
the devices in the xrc, but they are tethered to the grid. It will
be a good exercise in power distribution and conservation from a
smaller scale.
Here are some pictures since my crude diagram probably didn't do any
justice in visualizing the project and my words are so limited:
(IMG) Version 4 of charger in plastic ammo container.
Most of these parts will be migrated over to the new case.
(IMG) Parts from old charger and parts for new case.
Apache case is from Harbor Freight or "Horror Fright" (as tob
likes to call it.)
(IMG) Cutting food container down to size with rotary tool.
(IMG) Using RC car body reamer for banana jack holes.
(IMG) Soldered wires to banana jack.
Melted gash on wall of food container was from me not paying
attention to what my soldering iron was resting against.
(IMG) Food container-mounted banana jacks attached to charge controller
(IMG) Inside of charge controller
(IMG) Added external switch to charge controller.
Switch is to turn ON/OFF the load. I kept the original switch
on the controller. A green LED illuminated on the controller
when the power switch is on. The LED can be seen through the
food container.
(IMG) Assembled charging box. Ain't purdy but good enuff.
(IMG) Devices added to charging box to test load.
5 devices attached to 12V to 5V USB power strip. Devices are
neck fan, bluetooth speaker, Sharp Zaurus C3100, Treo 680, and
Gemini PDA.
(IMG) Analog panel meters showing load testing.
Volt meter is at 12.5 volts and ammmeter is at 1.6 amperes.
I cracked the plastic when I mounted the power switch so I put
tape behind the cracks.
(IMG) 12 volt 5Ah test battery.
One of my final purchases from Radio Shack's fire sale.
I grabbed a few of these SLA batteries of different capacities
for cheap. So far, only one has died.
(IMG) Testing solar system charging.
Attached are 2x ICP Solarflex 5 watt flexible solar panels and
1x ICP Solarflex 20 watt flexible solar panel. Analog voltage
panel meter shows a little over 12 volts of power from the
attached 12v 5Ah battery.
(IMG) Charger with labels and decals.
(IMG) Alternate view of charger with labels and decals.
(DIR) [1] 20190113_charging - Ghetto Charging Cart
[=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=-=x=]