There are constant voltage chargers and there are also
constant current chargers. The solar panel is a constant
voltage charger and is thus self-limiting. It is rated at
750 milliamps at 14 volts, so it will not over charge a
lead-acid battery that is also being used on a daily basis
to charge laptops, cellphones and other small devices,
perhaps with the use of a solid state inverter.
A generator is the nicest thing, but unless they are flying
a Cessna Caravan or a King Air, the weight of the generator
might be better used for extra shoes, socks and sun
protection. A cheap lead-acid battery can be purchased when
they arrive at OSH and given away when they leave.

Carriage of a lead-acid battery in the aircraft is
considered hazardous material, it can easily damage the
aircraft structure by concentrate weight or acid spills.
Carrying a generator is also a problem once it has had fuel
in the tank.

Let's take a vote, is Matt an a-hole or am I an idiot?


Matt, I don't think you actually read what I wrote, I
mentioned both lead-acid (wet cell) and dry cell batteries.
The OP was talking about a dynamic system that would be in
nearly full time use keeping their portable electronic world
alive. I actually think that the 3/4 amp solar cell would
be hard pressed to keep the charge up in a lead-acid
battery. In any case they would need to charge the battery
during the day and use the charged battery over-night to
charge their devices.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"Matt Whiting" wrote in message
...
| Jim Macklin wrote:
|
| Most small solar panels have low amperage and will not
over
| charge a wet cell battery. If they were used to
directly
| charge a dry cell battery, such as a C or D cell they
might
| over charge, but a wet cell battery with an AHr rating
of 25
| amps can be charged indefinitely at a rate of 2-3 amps
and
| you will be using the battery to run an inverter to
power
| various other loads.
|
| Your understanding of electricity is only exceeded by your
understanding
| of stall dynamics. It would take in increasing voltage to
maintain 2
| amps into a wet cell battery as it becomes charged. If
you maintain
| that rate for more than 12-13 hours, you will soon ruin
the battery.
| The good news is that most chargers (and certainly a PV
cell) maintain a
| roughly constant voltage so that the amperage tapers off
as the battery
| approaches full charge.
|
|
| Matt