Hi Dave, At 10:44 AM 3/26/2010, you wrote:
Is the answer here (at least the one that NABCEP intends) just that the VMP of a "12V module" is higher than the voltage of a 12V battery? With the higher voltage it will charge the battery with its corresponding current based on the I-V curve. The objective reads "Explain why PV modules make excellent battery chargers based on their I-V characteristics
This may be the answer they want. The "Objectives" deals with the 5 key points on the IV curve, Vmp, Imp, Voc, Isc and Pmp. From a study of the curve, the obvious "excellent" load is one that takes power from Pmp, which direct battery charging doesn't do. When I draw the curve, the Vmp of the module is above the resulting voltage on the curve.
What you say about the power loss not being released as heat in the batteries, just not produced, makes sense to me. I've never seen any real documentation about what happens to the power not gained in a non MPPT battery charging system.
We can definitely agree that "excellent battery charger" is an exaggeration. Thanks, Drake Drake Chamberlin Athens Electric OH License 44810 CO License 3773 NABCEP TM Certified PV Installer Office - 740-448-7328 Mobile - 740-856-9648
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
