[Elecraft] KX3 and Solar Panel

[Matt Zilmer]

There is also the CirKits SCC3 solar charge controller.  It scales
from 20A to 60A pretty easily.  I use one for the shack solar to
charge an Optima AGM battery.

The SCC3 is a kit, quick and fun to build.  You have to supply your
own housing though.

http://www.cirkits.com/scc3/

73,
matt W6NIA


On Tue, 28 May 2013 00:01:26 -0800, you wrote:

>Lee,
>
>Most solar panel mfrs assume you are charging a battery which holds 
>down the voltage or that you are using a solar charge controller 
>which regulates the current.
>
>I understand that you wish to leave the "heavy" battery at home.  But 
>a small 4 AH 12v gell-cell is not that heavy and will regulate the 
>solar panel to an extent.  Under load of a battery the solar panel 
>voltage drops.  You do not have a heavy enough load on the solar 
>panel when in receive mode in your present set up.
>
>Many large solar panels (60w) will provide up to 22v open circuit, 
>but drop down when under load.  To cause a charging current to flow 
>into a battery the voltage has to be a few volts higher than the 
>resting voltage of the battery.
>
>Another solution is to build a voltage regulator that will hold the 
>voltage at 13.8v.  The regulator has to be rated for at least the 
>current of your rig in transmit.
>
>73, Ed - KL7UW
>
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