Originally Posted by
prathmann
I'd be cautious about removing the frame from the panel. Such panels can be rather fragile and should be properly supported if transported on a trailer. And you'll want an adjustable support so the panel can be oriented to face the sun.
Sounds like you're planning on taking the DC output of the panel, converting it to AC with an inverter, and then using a charger that turns it back to DC. Should work, but you're losing some efficiency at each step compared to using the DC from the panel to directly charge the battery pack.
Yeah, I know about the loss of effiecencys going from dc/ to ac/ back to d/c...
but I dont think I can take 3 or 4 , 12 volt panels and wire them so they would charge the lifepo4 battery directly....I think the lifepo4 battery needs a special charger , and using direct d/c volts from a solar panel may not be suitable for lifepo4...
now if it was just lead acid batterys..then its no problem...
the lifepo4 is 48 volt... but it needs at least 58.4 volts D/C/ input to charge it fully...
most 12 volt solar panels put out a max around 21.4 volts open circuit in full sunlight and about 18 volts under load...this means it is possible to genrate enough voltage from 3 solar panels wired in series...which should put out a 54 + volts on a average spring/summer day....so that would be a workable setup..BUT..you still have the problem that the lifepo4 battery may not like being charged up directly from solar d/c panels...