my machines are often left unused for long periods of time, so i often have problems with the batteries going dead on me to combat this i mounted a solar panel on top of the cabs to keep them alive only thing i cant seem to get around is how to make a 12v solar panel charge 2 batteries that are on a 24v system other than disconnecting them and putting them in parralel anyone else using solar panels? how do you have yours set up?
I have never used any but always been interested in solar or wind. I thought I saw something about 24 volt but can't bring to mind where I seen it. I wanted to play with solar to run my battery back up on my wood fired hot water furance,the electric went off a few years back when we weren't home and the pump keep pumping but the heat exchanger wouldn't cool fast enough because there wasn't any fan. It was cherry red when I walked into the garage scared the crap out of me ! Two days later it was so hot yet I couldn't put water back in it because it would turn to steam and blow back like a bomb. The water refill wasn't working probably one reason it got so hot. But for sure I don't want to do that anymore !
I did work at an army base and all the humvees and other initials had a small solar cell in the front windshield... I asked but I've forgotten what it was used for
Just get a 24 volt panel or get 2 smaller in size 12 panels and wire in series for the 24 volt.
I never did try them for charging batteries on equipment.We use solar / batterie powerd chargers on electric livestock fence.They seem to work good as long as the sun is shining.To answer your question about using the 12 v solar panel to charge a two batterie 24 volt system,I would use two 12 v solar panels ,one for each 12 v batterie.Thats the only way I can see to charge the system without disconnecting them & going parralel.
Disconnect both batterys,connect the two positives to the positive wire then connect the two negatives and bobs your Uncle.
Will sending only 12v to a 24v battery setup hurt anthing?
Solar Panel. Hello. Part of the "Keep alive" for the AN/PRC-148 http://secure.thalescomminc.com/cart2/tcDesc.asp Earlier vehicles and equipment used radios that were massive. http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/army/fm/11-43/c4a.htm But the earlier radios used a nearly mechanical encryption, so no need for battery backup. The early radios were so large in fact that equipment had to be task built sometimes to support the radio(s).
If both batteries are disconnected then on their own they are 12volt only when they are connected pos to neg do you get 24v so if you disconnect both batteries and connect them pos to pos you will get 12v only. Simples!
parallel vs series. Hello. Yes, you can disconnect two 12 volt batteries that are in series and connect them in parallel. But there are 2 clear problems with this. The first is the fact that your 24 volt load is now disconnected, and you must disconnect and reconnect every time. The second issue is one of charge time, solar cells produce a little bit of power over a long period of time and produce maximum power with maximum light. So the only effective charging would be in daylight. By placing the batteries in parallel, you have what is in effect one battery that is 2 times more capacity, even less of a charge rate. 2 solar panels in series is the best solution all around. Used solar panels like the ones AT&T was taking out of service are perfect. They are rated at 32 volts open circuit. With a diode in series you will have the perfect setup. http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=A10085&variation= Remember, you will need to fabricate some sort of brackets, AT&T had the things mounted on poles to power telephone repeaters. With full sunlight in South Texas you will get around 200 milliamp of charge into a 24 volt circuit, right about what you want for a float charger. The AT&T things go for around $30 here, of course, used.
Superant , This would be such a easy thing to do and wire up. First get a panel or 2 panels than would physicaly fit where you want them to go. Probably each one no larger than a foot square. Probably would mount them on the roof or somwhere they would not get rubbed off by limbs etc. If one panel of 24v output- Just wire the neg to ground and run the + to the + 24 volt of the machine. Probably to the + side of the 24v battery or battery bank. Do not connect to 24volts that is swithched off when you shut down the machine. The wire can be small such as #20 or 22 gauge. But it must be auto or truck type wire so as not to rub raw over time. You can fuse if you like but is probably not necessary. If you do fuse place it near the battery. A 2 amp would be fine. If you have to use 2 panels then wire the + of one to the - of the other. The other 2 open leads are the same as the 2 leads for a single 24v panel. then wire as above. If you are roof or mounting area does not have ground readily available, just run a ground wire from the panel to some convient grounding point. I have not googled or looked on ebay, but a 24 volt panel should be there. A couple tenths of an amp should do what you want. More amps would mean a panel that is physicaly too large
Power, Power more Power! This is really easy, just buy a 24 volt charger! They are a little more money but this is really the best way. They are available from the marine, and many more!! Good luck! Paul
All of the military dozers, graders, and loaders we rebuild have them on them. They work pretty good.