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I just hit this for basically free. My idea is to let it charge up some power banks for free using the sun.

https://pic8.co/sh/Vjb9Hw.jpeg

https://pic8.co/sh/dv7NgW.jpeg

Do I need anything else? Some things I read mention getting a regulator to make sure it doesn’t go above 5volts. Is this necessary? Likely need to leave it plugged in for days or weeks for larger power banks like 20,000 mAh

Some people mentioned in low or no light and plugged in, it will actually draw power out of the device it is plugged in.

I don’t know anything about any of this. Looking for your wisdom.

I just hit this for basically free. My idea is to let it charge up some power banks for free using the sun. https://pic8.co/sh/Vjb9Hw.jpeg https://pic8.co/sh/dv7NgW.jpeg Do I need anything else? Some things I read mention getting a regulator to make sure it doesn’t go above 5volts. Is this necessary? Likely need to leave it plugged in for days or weeks for larger power banks like 20,000 mAh Some people mentioned in low or no light and plugged in, it will actually draw power out of the device it is plugged in. I don’t know anything about any of this. Looking for your wisdom.

(post is archived)

[–] • 2 pts

In one word, yes.

Solar panels are great for generating power, but they're highly dependent on the amount of light they receive. You need regulators. That prevents the panel from over charging your battery. It's even better if you have an MPPT controller that allows lower light levels to charge your battery.

Here's a good article about a cheap charging system for about $5. (diyfactory.medium.com)

[–] • 1 pt

Gotta be honest. I’m confused. I don’t think I need to add a battery to the mix.

As it is, I can plug the power bank into the solar panel and the solar panel charges it.

What I need to make sure of (I think) is that the solar panel doesn’t push damaging voltage to the power bank, and that the solar panel doesn’t discharge the power bank I’m trying to charge when it’s night time or cloudy.

Help?

[–] • 1 pt

Given the panel seems to have its output to a standard USB A socket, I would venture that it contains a 5V regulator in it already. At a mere 6 Watts of output, charging anything is going to need a lot of light and a good amount of time. Photovoltaic cells can draw current in low or no light situations, but if it does have a regulator on-board, the regulator will prevent reverse current draw. It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like the PV cell is amorphous silicon rather than crystalline silicon where amorphous has a lower output efficiency but is a little more durable over crystalline Si. The sunlight is free, but don't expect much from this cheap chinesium panel.

[–] • 0 pt

Whats the volts of the panel? In max sunlight while a load is attached? Generally to charge a battery you want a slightly higher voltage than the battery but not too much higher. A 12 volt battery could be charged using a 14v or 15v source for example. But you need to disconnect the battery when its full. A charge controller between the panel and battery can prevent overcharging. Look at the charging cable for the battery and find the volts it supplies to the battery to charge it, and then make sure the panel supplies that. Disconnect at night if you dont have a charge controller or a diode in series with the panel to prevent drainage.

But really at the electrical power you are messing with here its not a huge safety risk. Plug the shit in and see what happens :)

[–] • 1 pt

I’m a gambling man. I’ll go for it and see what happens after a few days. Thank you.

[–] • 0 pt

I have a small panel like this. It came with a chinese camelbak [pack]. I can't speak to how well it works though really since I haven't had to depend on it. I did test the output in the past, but I don't recall what my values/results were. Could look at it again.

I don't think its going to charge much at all in a matter of hours.. you would want a couple of 100w panels for that at least.

[–] • 0 pt

I’m not worried about hours. Can be days or weeks. I just think the idea of charging up my power banks for almost free (I’m $2.85 in right now) is cool.