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Get Powered Up! Certified Energy Manager Jeff Yago answers your alternative energy questions



Wondering about a great new energy-saving device
you found on the Internet? Then CLICK HERE!


Sorry. Jeff no longer answers questions online.
This will remain as a searchable
resource for all BHM website visitors.

Archive for the ‘Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)’ Category

 

Battery efficiencies for Solar LED lamp

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Hi Jeff,

I am building a solar LED lamp, and I am trying to find the overall efficiency of this system.

There are three options of rechargeable batteries that I am looking at and they are NiCd, NiMH and Li-ion.  These three batteries have different efficiencies due to their different charge and discharge methods.

Can you tell me how can I find the efficiency of this batteries?

I was wondering if for each one of them I have to build a protection circuit as well.

Which battery will you recommend if I want it to be cost efficient and also reliable?

Thanks a lot.

Marion

Marion,

Several years ago I wrote an article to test which type of flashlight and flashlight bulb gave the most bang for the buck.   This article describes how I tested them to see which battery-lamp combination provided the longest run time.

I suggest you try a similar test using the different batteries you are considering as this way you will not need expensive test equipment or calculations.  Here is the link to this past article:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago97.html

Good luck,

Jeff Yago

Have questions regarding this Blog? Please email us. Comments may appear online in "Feedback" or in the "Letters" section of Backwoods Home Magazine. We read every email you send us, but due to the sheer volume of mail we receive, we can't respond to each one.






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