Charging a small SLA (sealed lead acid) without a charge controller will destroy the battery. This will happen at a voltage of > 2.40 volts per cell (so 14.4 volts total), and a solar panel is capable of producing much more than that. When this happens, the SLA will start to outgass (hiss), and it will start to heat rapidly. The problem is actually much worse for smaller SLAs because they charge quickly and it takes a smaller amount of charge current to cause the problem.
A charge controller is definitely the way to go. BuddiPole offers a very small one that is uses PowerPole connections. http://www.buddipole.com/sobaco.html 73, Bob, WB4SON ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
