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Forum Index : Electronics : Battery discharge
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dazler Newbie  Joined: 21/10/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 37 |
Hi all, My F&P windmill is charging my 12v battery through a solar regulator to 12.6 approx, but about a week later the battery drops back down to 12.1. The regulator sits on 2v on windmill side. My question is; Is this volt drop normal in the battery, or should the windmill connect straight to the battery instead of through a solar regulator? You can see this on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OmUUDX6BjQ |
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GWatPE Senior Member  Joined: 01/09/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2127 |
If you only charge the battery to 12.6, then the battery is not being charged properly anyway. Batteries will certainly have a short life if charged this way. Has the battery voltage been above 13.8V? Gordon. become more energy aware |
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| dazler Newbie Joined: 21/10/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 37 |
No Gordon, i keep using the power it makes, but if left alone it will not get much higher. 
daz ps: guys, put your F&Ps up on youtube so we can all see your mill. |
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Gill Senior Member Joined: 11/11/2006 Location: AustraliaPosts: 669 |
daz, What you've described sounds about right. I'm afraid it's a waste of time going through a solar regulator. As you say you are using power at a rate that does not allow the battery to fully charge then I would not run any regulator at all. Just keep a voltmeter handy to check the battery from time to time especially when not drawing from the battery and in very windy weeks. If the battery does fully charge then shut down the mill until you use up a good bit of the power then restart the mill again. But do use the solar regulator for solar panels ONLY. Should the battery charge up and the regulator cuts in there is a chance it will damage your mill. You are better off without it. Sorry mate I refuse to go and see any youtube stuff. Without broadband it takes forever until I get fed up and close it down. If it's truly good or important a picture will always end up here. was working fine... til the smoke got out. Cheers Gill _Cairns, FNQ |
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