Ok, so this is a small battery backup unit.
I want to just start small and see if I can get the idea working.
I'll buy this 20 watt solar panel with charge control
Then hook that directly up to a 12v 18ah sla or a 12v 35ah sla battery.
Then buy this converter to hook up things like lights, tv's, etc
Am I missing anything or is it that simple?
Also, to get a 12 volt cigarette lighter socket, could I just wire a simple cig socket adapter directly to the battery or should I use some sort of fuse and then wire this to the fuse:
And how do I monitor battery power so I don't kill the battery?
Best Answer
You have the basic concept down. Your challenge will be sizing.
It really all depends on your situation. I have an application with a fairly large battery (about 300 pounds, NiFe) that burns a 60 watt spotlight for 3-6 hours a weekend, then has all week to recharge. A 20 watt panel is plenty, even when laid horizontal and covered with plexiglas and dirt.