wrcsixeight brings up a good point. you need adequate charge rate ... C/10 - C/20 is a good guideline - charge current being basically 1/10 - 1/20 of the AH capacity... a 200 AH batt wants 10-20 amps... a 100AH batt wants 5-10 amps.
the sharp panels you mentioned sound quality, though with a charge controller you need to be able to remove the blocking diode, since it adds a wasteful voltage drop.
a voltage-tracking controller WILL gain you better output. Up front I'd probably invest MORE in the panels and start with a cheaper controller. I think the gains, tops, for a tracking controller are maybe 30% at the absolute MOST.
Focus on the panels, a clean install, nice HEAVY copper from the panels (especially at 12V) for minimal loss. pay attention to your latitude and try to get them angled south for best pickup.
golf cart batteries are excellent but possibly oversized? you can get a pure deep cycle marine battery that is not a hybrid, good for ~80% depth of discharge. Trojan makes good ones. Just make sure it says marine deep cycle and doesn't say hybrid, combo, starter, or list cranking amps. Group 31 (?) are huge and can be had reasonably even at wal-mart.
read up on alastair cooper's DIY desulfator circuits.
this is a dangerous bug and can get quite addictive.
windpower is awesome. http://www.windenergy.com/products/air/air30
I built my own that, as a first try, would pull 3-5 amps in a decent winter breeze. it was fun to do but scary in a storm b/c it didn't self-furl and the sucker would SPIN. i'd have to go go out there and short it out so it could never spin up to efficient prop speed.
as an alternative to a charge controller, you can use just the blocking diode and make a "dump regulator." you set it to 14v or so and when it reaches that voltage it turns on a dummy load (lamp, fan, etc.).
order back issues or a subscription to homepower magazine. go back far enough and you'll see the system i published...
the sharp panels you mentioned sound quality, though with a charge controller you need to be able to remove the blocking diode, since it adds a wasteful voltage drop.
a voltage-tracking controller WILL gain you better output. Up front I'd probably invest MORE in the panels and start with a cheaper controller. I think the gains, tops, for a tracking controller are maybe 30% at the absolute MOST.
Focus on the panels, a clean install, nice HEAVY copper from the panels (especially at 12V) for minimal loss. pay attention to your latitude and try to get them angled south for best pickup.
golf cart batteries are excellent but possibly oversized? you can get a pure deep cycle marine battery that is not a hybrid, good for ~80% depth of discharge. Trojan makes good ones. Just make sure it says marine deep cycle and doesn't say hybrid, combo, starter, or list cranking amps. Group 31 (?) are huge and can be had reasonably even at wal-mart.
read up on alastair cooper's DIY desulfator circuits.
this is a dangerous bug and can get quite addictive.
windpower is awesome. http://www.windenergy.com/products/air/air30
I built my own that, as a first try, would pull 3-5 amps in a decent winter breeze. it was fun to do but scary in a storm b/c it didn't self-furl and the sucker would SPIN. i'd have to go go out there and short it out so it could never spin up to efficient prop speed.
as an alternative to a charge controller, you can use just the blocking diode and make a "dump regulator." you set it to 14v or so and when it reaches that voltage it turns on a dummy load (lamp, fan, etc.).
order back issues or a subscription to homepower magazine. go back far enough and you'll see the system i published...
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