[Paddlewise] solar panel/charger advice?

Hi Paddlewisers,

Ib^Ym back on the list after a couple of years hiatus. Ib^Ym hoping I can pick the brains of anyone on the list whob^Ys up on things electrical. 

As a winter project, Ib^Ym trying to put together a variation on the solar battery charger system described by Rob Walker in his article in the December 2003 Sea Kayaker magazine. His design calls for using a Morningstar SunGuard Charge Controller (http://www.nwpwr.com/products/Charge_Controllers/sunguard.htm)

In Robb^Ys system, 10 AA batteries are charged in a series to trigger the 14.1V pulse point of the charge controller. 

Ib^Yd like to have a system that can charge fewer than 10 batteries at a time. I donb^Yt want to have to track depletion rates (which is necessary in the 10 batteries system to avoid having less depleted batteries start cascading their charge into more depleted batteries). I use pairs, threesomes, and foursomes of batteries in different appliances, and Ib^Yd like to be able to charge those sets together so as to have them all with the same depletion/recharge histories. I also want to be able to charge AAA as well AA batteries. Ib^Yd also like it to be a b^\smart systemb^] that wonb^Yt overcharge or drain batteries left in it, but which will trickle charge them to keep them topped up. In other words, an b^\idiot proofb^] system.

I have the Powerflex 5 solar panel from ICP Solar Technologies 
(http://www.icpsolar.com/ssfamille.php3?id_rubrique=11)
Its specs are:
Rated power: 5 watts
Operating Voltage (V) 16.5
Max. Current (Amps) 0.3
Open Circuit Voltage (V) 23
Ib^Ym going to get the optional 12-volt female cigarette adapter for it. 

And I have a couple of home battery chargers and their optional 12-volt male cigarette adapters.

One is the Rayovac 1-Hour NiMH Charger
(http://www.rayovac.com/products/recharge/index.shtml)
The specs on the AC transformer for this unit (which is left behind when you use the 12-volt cigarette plug) are: Output 12VDC 1.5A

The second battery charger is the Brunton Battjack:
(http://www.brunton.com/catalog.php?item_id=279&subcategory_id=40&category_id=8&old_item_id=279&old_subcategory_id=40&old_category_id=8)
I donb^Yt have the AC transformer for this unit, but the specs on the back of the battery holder are:
Input: 12V, 500mA
Charging Current: AA-500mA AAA-220mA
Discharging Current: 180-240mA

Any thoughts on whether one or the other of these chargers would work better plugged into the 12-volt female cigarette adaptor of the solar panel? Should I still have the Morningstar SunGuard Charge Controller wired into the line? Will it work, or will having fewer than ten batteries fail to trip the pulse controller?
Also, the solar panel has a built-in diode (which I gather is to electricity what a one-way flapper valve is to water) to prevent reverse current and battery drain at night. Will the circuitry from the Rayovac or Brunton battery holder/chargers interact with this diode and/or the Morningstar SunGuard Charge Controller in weird ways to prevent the system working?

Any and all help appreciated. Youb^Yre dealing with an electrical novice here. 

Cheers,

Philip T. 


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