Joule Thief

[dasimpson]

from my notes
1.2v = 2-2.5v
2.4v = 3.5-4v
3.6v = 5-6v
6v = 7.5-9v
7.2 = 9.5-10.5
9v = 10.5-11.5v
12v = 13.2â€"14.4 V
in series you will always find one battery will fully discharge befor the other.
this is to do with internal resistance so it is very easy to kill one battery while the other stays charged.
this is what i have found from my solar garden light that is

another note is you dont wont to run the rechargable batterys below 1 volt discharge any further then that and they can be damaged

charge voltage might be slitly out but got them as close as i can
i tend to find the fully charged voltage reading then add a volt

[freepow]

Thanks for the Information !

I have some  0.5v @ 3.5 Amps solar panels,  I want to connect them to make about  4.5 - 6v but at only an output of  1 Amp...

Can you actually bring down the Amps of the solar cell without dropping the volts to much,
what can I do ??

[dasimpson]

i was looking at some 0.5v 8amp cells my self
i was thinking of doing 10 in sereies for 5 volt 8amp for usb charging or 5 in series for 2.5 volt 1.2volt battery charging.
i was just going to lay them horizontel with a slit tilt for rain to run off on my wall so they would not be getting full sun this should bring the ampage down but also resisters inline should also drop it to were you wont it.
i think my self 5v at 8 amp be better i could then use 1.2volt battery charger or anything else that might work on usb

Thanks for the Information !

I have some  0.5v @ 3.5 Amps solar panels,  I want to connect them to make about  4.5 - 6v but at only an output of  1 Amp...

Can you actually bring down the Amps of the solar cell without dropping the volts to much,
what can I do ??

[freepow]

@ dasimpson

My cells put out about  3.5 Amps, however I want to reduce to  1 Amp, because I want to recharge a "D" battery rated at  10 Amps, so charging at 10% = 1 Amp per hour approx.

But what sort of resistors would I need to go from 3.5 A down to about 1 Amp ?
Do I have to have big resistors like 20 watts or something ??
Because I am going to have it at say 6v 1 Amp solar panel.

[dasimpson]

i would say the higher wattage is best but you also have to remember it wont put out 3.5 amp for all the light hours so if you add resistance at 12 noon or there abouts were the panel is at full output when it tapers off later in the day it may nut put any current out at all because of the resistance

the other option if you can is to cut the panels down to 1 amp panels.
you would do this at 12 noon cover the panel in direct sunlight till you get a reading of 1 amp mark a line the cut them along that line each cell will only put out 1 amp this will also give you many more cells fo other projects

@ dasimpson

My cells put out about  3.5 Amps, however I want to reduce to  1 Amp, because I want to recharge a "D" battery rated at  10 Amps, so charging at 10% = 1 Amp per hour approx.

But what sort of resistors would I need to go from 3.5 A down to about 1 Amp ?
Do I have to have big resistors like 20 watts or something ??
Because I am going to have it at say 6v 1 Amp solar panel.