Solar Battery Charger
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Materials needed:
12 " X 10 " piece of plywood or board
Four solar garden lamps
Two AA rechargeable NiCad batteries
Diode
22 gauge wire
lead solder
Tools required:
Soldering iron
Digital multi-meter
Wire cutters
Wire strippers
Small Phillips head screw driver
Small slot head screw driver
Craft glue gun
Glue sticks
Open Solar Lid and And Remove Screws
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Remove the lid from the solar garden lamp and unscrew the screws.
Clip the Solar Panel Wires
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Before clipping the wires, please note the color of the wire that connects to the positive (+) side of the battery.
In the photo the color of the positive (+) wire is blue, the color of the negative (-) wire is white.
Using the wire cutters, cut the wires that connect the solar panel lid to the circuit board for each of the four solar lamps.
Ensure you leave enough wire to attached to the solar panel to solder additional connections.
Strip 1/4 " Off the Solar Panel Wires
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Using the wire strippers, strip 1/4" of the insulation off both wires to each of the solar panels.
Clip Wires From Battery Holders
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Using just two of the four battery holders, cut the wires that connect the battery to the circuit board. Be sure to leave enough wire to solder.to by cutting close to the circuit board..
Please note the color of the wire to the positive (*) side of the battery.
The color of the positive (+) wire is red in the photo.
Glue Solar Panels and Battery Holders to Board
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Using the glue gun, attach the solar panels (panel side up) and the battery holders (battery side up) to the board ensuring that the wires are exposed outside.
If there is not enough wire to glue first, then move to the next step and glue after soldering the wires.
Solder the Solar Panel Positive (*) Wires to One Another
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Using the soldering iron and extra wire, solder all of the positive (*) wires from the solar panels together.
In the photo the color of the positive (*) wires is blue.
Solder the Solar Panel Negative (-) Wires to One Another
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Using the soldering iron and extra wire, solder all of the negative (-) wires from the solar panels together.
In the photo the color of the negative (-) wires is white.
Solder Solar Panels Negative (-) Wire to Battery Holders Negative (-) Wire
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Using additional wire, solder the solar panels negative (-) wire to bothh of the battery holders negative (-) wire.
Solder Diode to Solar Panels Postive (+) Wires
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PLEASE NOTE: Attach the lead from the diode that does NOT have a black band around it to the positive (+) wire from the solar panel.
Solder the diode to the positive (+) wires from the solar panels.
Solder the Diode to the Positive (+) Wires to the Battery Holders
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PLEASE NOTE: Attach the lead from the diode that DOES have a black band around it to the positive (+) wire to the battery holders..
Solder the diode to the positive (+) wires to the battery holders.
Place Solar Charger Outside to Charge Batteries
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With up to two AA rechargeable batteries you can fully charge them in full sun within several hours instead of taking all day.
Use the multi-meter to test the batteries and remove them when fully charged. Be sure to use this charger only with rechargeable NiCad batteries only.
PLEASE NOTE: Proper disposal of rechargeable batteries is a MUST as they contain materials that are toxic to the environment.