Re: [Paddlewise] Handheld VHF Radio

From: Tord Eriksson <tord_at_tord.nu>
Date: Sat, 9 Apr 2005 22:48:20 +0200
On Saturday 09 April 2005 21.53, Mike wrote:
> On 9 Apr 2005 at 11:57, Tord Eriksson wrote:
> > So jury-rigged chargers should be avoided (say a "12V" solarpanel
> > connected directly to a 12V charger, without any means of voltage
> > regulation);
>
> I would hope that any charger designed to plug into a car's cigarette
> lighter socket can handle a solar panel.  Car voltages can vary from
> 13.5V to 16V - they are only nominally 12V.  A close reading of the
> specs on the charger should tell you what it can handle.

A 12V solar panel can easily produce 18V without a big load -
and that can be too much for many 12V chargers, but as you say
car voltage is somewhere between 13.5 and 16V, when the generator is
charging :-)!

> I don't understand why more handhelds can't simply be plugged
> directly into a 12V power source and used without battery.  My GPS
> does that and (almost) every boat has 12V power on board.

Indeed, our GPS does that too! My Klepper has 12V, too (the bilge pump 
battery is a SLA (sealed lead acid) battery!

> Anyway, your comments on Li battery fires are interesting - I've never
> heard about that before.  Thanks for the advice.

Yeah, bit frightening actually! You'll find a lot about it
 if you do a search on the internet :-(!

Yours,

Tord
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Received on Sat Apr 09 2005 - 13:48:36 PDT

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