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NEWS Powered by Optimate Solar Powered battery charger… from Bikewise. No more Eskom Required: The Optimate Solar - (6W panel/Charge Controller) Solar pulse charge system) 2Amps - 2 to 240Ah batteries - 4 stages The sales blurb: This is a 100% true desulphating charger – the only one of its kind in the world. The panel is a high density panel of exceptional quality. This is the only solar management system in the world that pulses a higher current which is the best way to achieve a good state of health for the battery and will certainly prolong the life of the battery. Perfect for maintaining large batteries as well that just need to be kept topped up. Tested By Eric Lawrenson… OptiMate Solar employs an innovative charging technology to charge and effectively maintain your 12V battery from a standard solar panel. OptiMate Solar converts the low power from the solar panel to high current pulses more effective for charging and maintenance of a 12V battery. The OptiMate charge controller is separate to the panel and can be placed close to the vehicle or battery so that charge and maintenance progress can be easily followed.” We were given a model TM524 Solar powered battery charging system to look at and investigate. This little system consists of a 6W solar panel, an inline controller unit, and a range of different cables to allow connection to batteries in a number of different ways. It is quite a clever little device in the way it works. You see, under normal circumstances a 6W solar panel is only capable of delivering a current of around 500mA (0.5A) into a 12 V battery under optimal sun conditions. But this little number makes use of whatever solar power is available (within reason) and stores it internally until there is enough power available to supply the battery with a 3 Amp - 5 Amp pulse charge of very short time duration, after which it stores power from the panel again until it is ready to supply another pulse. Obviously, the more sunlight that falls on the panel, the more frequently are the charge pulses going to the battery and the more efficient is the system. A benefit of this type of pulse charging system is the fact that it assists in desulphating the battery, a benefit not derived from regular constant voltage chargers. In measurements done, we found that the panel was supplying between 280m A and 380m A of current into the controller in bright sunlight, while this dropped down to around 55m A to 120m A in overcast conditions. In extreme cases where there is not enough power coming from the solar panel the controller shuts down and awaits more light before waking up automatically again. In conclusion: a very clever setup as mentioned before, and one that can be used very constructively off grid to charge a range of batteries. The kits are available with 3W, 6W (the one we tested), 12W, and 15W solar panels apparently. So, can this system be used to charge a big 105AH battery (the type typically used to drive 12V freezers etc?) - in theory yes, but it would take a while... and it is unlikely to charge the battery if there is a load on it. Can it be used as a charging system on a touring bike battery to supplement the power used at night to drive camping lights, cell and camera charger, etc. - Yes it can. Only thing to be aware of would be the packing requirement for the panel, it is a bit large, at around 50x40x20 cm for the one we tested. We still having a look at the DC-DC charge controller and can have some feedback on this one for the next issue. Prices range between R1200 and R1500. (011) 566-0333 for your closest stockist. Arai helmets distributed by www.bike-wise.co.za 12 DIRT & TRAIL MAGAZINE JANUARY 2016 1601 DT news.indd 12 2015/12/16 9:36 AM
Trade Enquiries Welcome Contact us for your nearest stockist Tel: 011 708 5905/06 Fax: 086 602 6391 www.facebook.com/hendersonracingproducts Henderson Racing EVS Dec15.indd 1 2015/11/20 8:27 PM 1601 DT news.indd 13 2015/12/16 9:36 AM
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