Using a solar charger with your solar energy system is an appropriate way of ensuring that you can move past the archaic methods of charging.
Solar charging provides you with an opportunity to charge your batteries without any hassle or problem, with an environment-friendly method.
Many people who use solar chargers have a question about whether they can use a 12V solar charger with a 6V battery.
The question is important to address as not using an appropriate charger with the battery can end up costing you a lot of money and also might lead to deterioration of your battery life.
In this article we would assess whether you can use a 12V solar charger with a 6V battery and what are the consequences of the same.
What is a Solar Charger?
In simple words, a solar charger is a complex device that can convert energy from the Sun, received through the solar panel into electricity.
The electric energy or electricity thus produced, can help charge batteries and power various devices that run on electricity.
One of the most crucial components of a solar charger is the solar panel that is attached to it. It helps receive sunlight and is the main source of the energy that runs the solar charger.
The electricity that is converted with the help of a solar charger is DC or direct current. Nowadays, solar chargers are popular and an obvious choice for powering various electric appliances.
You can find solar charges in all sorts of sizes and compatibility, there are small ones for personal or home use and large ones for commercial or industrial use.
Several off-grid systems can also be used with solar chargers, hence they are an environmentally viable option to be used.
How Many Watts is a 6V Battery?
To determine the watt of any battery, you just need to know about the electric current that draws inside it. There is a simple formula to know about the watt of any device.
However, these days the wattage of any device is already printed on the packaging or device. To calculate, you simply need to multiply voltage with the current in amperes.
The higher the current is, the higher the wattage would end up being as well.
What Size Solar Panel Do You Need to Charge a 6V Battery?
There is no clear answer as to what is the ideal size solar panel that you would need for charging a 6V battery. You need to consider several factors.
One of the most crucial things you need to consider is the capacity of the battery and the area in which you live – so that you can know the number of sun rays that you would receive.
Generally, experts recommend that solar panels should be 1.5 times the capacity of the battery to charge a typical 6V battery.
Hence, depending on the size and capacity of your battery, you might need a general 15-watt solar panel or higher to charge it.
You must consider other factors before choosing a solar panel with a battery, and speaking with an expert is helpful.
Can You Use a 12V Solar Charger on a 6V Battery?
Although using a high voltage is generally not a problem with charging an electric device, it may not be an ideal choice as it can lead to damage and trouble for you later.
It is a general rule that a higher voltage may affect the battery life and performance as well, resulting in the need for its replacement sooner than you would have expected.
There must be compatibility between the voltage of the source of charging and the battery voltage that is getting charged.
One of the most prominent side effects of charging the battery with a higher voltage output is that it would end up being overcharged and its internal components would get heated.
When you go to buy a solar panel or charger, you must enquire and try your best to get one that is compatible with the voltage output of your battery.
Is 12V more Powerful than 6V?
12V and 6V are not the same at all. There is a clear difference between the voltage of both these components.
A 12V battery or outlet can supply more electricity than a 6V device or battery. Nevertheless, the actual power supply would always depend on various other factors.
The output of the current, the in-built resistance, and capacity are some of the factors that help determine the power of any battery.
Thus, in some cases, a 6V battery can turn out to be more powerful than a 12V battery, but that is only possible in some rare cases.
How to Maintain Your Battery?
There are several steps involved in maintaining your battery properly. You can start by cleaning the battery regularly.
It is obvious that with time, the different ends of the battery may accumulate dust and dirt, which needs to be cleaned up.
Further, any battery is made of fluids, which need to be checked for the battery to function optimally.
This is also why you need to ensure that you keep the battery in a good storage condition and properly charged, or else the fluids might leak out of the battery and the battery would get damaged.
Similarly, you are not supposed to discharge your battery to the lowest end as it can lead to reduced battery life.
Conclusion
Therefore, although you can use a 12V solar charger with your 6V battery, it is not advisable until you face an emergency or cannot find access to an appropriate charger.
This can severely hamper the performance of your battery and also end up making it last for a much smaller duration.
The golden rule of thumb is to ensure that the output voltage of the charge should be as close as possible to the voltage rating of the solar battery that you use.
It is therefore important that you spend enough time in your research while buying the solar charger.
