solar panel voltage regulator

[twister]

I am building a solar panel voltage regulator to charge 12v batteries, using two 555 ICs. One is just a oscillator and the other is a monostable that I am using to vary the pulse from 0 to 99%.
I have already built one that just regulates a steady voltage, but the manufacturers say that a battery will last longer with a PM controler, because it supposedly desulfates the battery. I wonder if this is true or BS.
My questions are, does anyone know what frequency the manufacturers use? and what frequency would be best in your opinion and why?

 

[jackorocko]

You talking lead acid battery?

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/sulfation_and_how_to_prevent_it

To reverse soft sulfation you need an overcharge of about 200mA. Can read more in the link above.

 

[twister]

You talking lead acid battery?

http://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/sulfation_and_how_to_prevent_it

To reverse soft sulfation you need an overcharge of about 200mA. Can read more in the link above.

Thanks for that info.Yes, they are lead acid. My voltage regulator now is set at 13.8V. Doing that overcharge for 24 hours, would be hard to do since I use the battery power every nite, or on cloudy days.

 

[donkey]

there is also an item like this you can try, http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=NA1420&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=997#12
I have not had a chance to try it myself but thought i would show you in case you run into issues

 

[twister]

there is also an item like this you can try, http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=NA1420&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=997#12
I have not had a chance to try it myself but thought i would show you in case you run into issues

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. It's not cheap! I'll wait and let you try it out first and let me know how it works.

 

[twister]

You need solar panel?

Sure!