TheBackShed.com

Forum Index : Solar : NIcd Charger from 250W solar array

Author

Message

Intellecta
Newbie

Joined: 07/05/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 22

Posted: 01:53pm 30 Oct 2016

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Dear Members.
have an interesting situation. Have a bunch of SAFT NICD batteries and wanted to get these connected to a charger that can connect to a bunch of 250W panels. Have two at the moment. Trying to find an MPPT type charger specifically for NICD with no success. Thinking of making my own and using a micromite to control the charge controller side. Any articles or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Tony Pugatschew

Downwind

Guru

Joined: 09/09/2009
Location: Australia
Posts: 2333

Posted: 01:41am 04 Nov 2016

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Do you have any information on the SAFT NICD batteries you have, like the voltage, Amps capacity and a link to the data sheet for your batteries.
What voltage is your panels?
How far from panels to batteries in the wire run?
What are you using the batteries for? (To understand the system requirements)

Sometimes it just works

Intellecta
Newbie

Joined: 07/05/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 22

Posted: 05:55pm 18 Nov 2016

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Dear Downwind,
Sorry for the delay. Did not see much activity so I went into sleep mode.

The saft batteries are sbl-214 nicd. http://www.saftbatteries.com/battery-search/sble-sbm-sbh-block-battery
Panels are 48V, 8A per unit
WIre run will be about 3 metres total from the solar panel junction to the batteries.
Batteries will be used for led lighting and small household use like a TV or computers etc. I am down in STrahan Tasmania on a bush block and don't need a microwave etc. Maybe useful to run a freezer or fridge but will probably opt for a gas based system for these.
Currently have the solar panels linked to some DINGO controllers but these don't have the specific NICD charging algorithms.
I was thinking of buck converting the 48v to about 14V and trickle charging the nicd that will be set up into series - parallel arrangements.
Hope this info is fine and thanks for your interest.
Best
Tony Pugatschew

solarwind

Regular Member

Joined: 03/02/2008
Location: South Africa
Posts: 51

Posted: 09:36am 19 Nov 2016

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Check out or download
www.saftbatteries.com/force_download/bb_io_en_1115_LR_0.pdf

This will give you all the specs like float, boost etc.

They are a nominal 1.2V per cell, so how many cells do you have?

You don't have success until you've tried it!

Intellecta
Newbie

Joined: 07/05/2016
Location: Australia
Posts: 22

Posted: 07:48pm 21 Nov 2016

Copy link to clipboard

Print this post

Thanks for the link.
Have 27 cells at the moment. Crazy number but these were given to me as a block.
Will look the charging needs.
Thanks again

Print this page

To reply to this topic, you need to log in.