Jorge, I have had batteries in my sailboats for years, and I always
used a solar charger to keep them topped off between short sails,
depending upon a charger for extended use replenishment. To know your
battery state, buy Radio Shack's cheapest digital voltmeter that
reads DC Volts to the hundredths, then use this chart I made up which
gives you a fairly accurate idea of the percentage of charge
remaining. Since lead acid batteries have a cell voltage of 2.10
volts at full charge, you'll note that a fully charged 12 volt
battery (six cells) has 12.6 volts. If your solar charger ever
charges over 14.66 volts, get a regulator for it, or you will damage
it by overcharging.
TWELVE VOLT BATTERY VOLTAGES & PERCENTS
14.66 - MAX 12.60 - 100 12.50 - 90 12.40 - 80
12.33 - 70 12.27 - 60 12.17 - 50 12.07 - 40
11.97 - 30 11.87 - 20 11.50 - 10 10.50 - 0%
I hope this helps you out, perhaps others, too.
John Butler
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
M15 "Rejoyce"
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