The 15 Watt Solar Panel can ensure a long battery life

The 15 Watt Solar Panel maintains your 12-volt battery to ensure many operating hours. Use it for trouble-free operation and a well maintained battery. 

The Renogy 15 Watt solar panel comes with a 7 amp charge controller. 

The charge controller acts as voltage controller and provides for a constant output for battery charging.

Inclusions in the total kit;

• A Solar Module with connecting cable.

• Battery Clamps.

• Mounting hardware.

• Wire adaptor.

• The 7 amp charge controller.

Operation of the 15 Watt Solar Panel

The Renogy 15 Watt 24 Volt amorphous panel generates cheap energy. As soon as the sun shines upon it it delivers an output power.

An ultra-bright blue LED indicates while charging. It also indicates when full charge is attained.

If you want to do a permanent installation you have to use the 4 stainless steel mounting screws. The screws come with the kit. The rubber washers are to use for spacers between the panel and the surface. This is to allow for heat dissipation. 

Taking losses into account you can get about 80 watt during a 6 hour day of sunshine.

Not enough to charge a battery, but more than enough to maintain it.

15 Watt Solar Panel Specs

Possible size of a battery

To store the energy it will eventually be necessary to get a proper battery.

Sizing the battery requires certain steps;

Watts from panel times sun hours x.85 due to 15% for losses.

That will be 15 x  6( Depending on the area you live.) x .85.

You get 90 x .85 = 76.5 watt

Round to 75 watt.

The DOD (Depth of discharge.) must not be more than 50% to ensure a long battery life.

We have to multiply the 75 x 2 to get 150 watt.

15 Ah battery.

Divide watt by volt to get Ah.

This is 150/12 = 12.5 Ah.

A 15 Ah battery will be a good choice to store electricity for one day.

Advantages

• The amorphous solar panel operates well during cloudy conditions. The temperature range is from -40 to 176-degrees Fahrenheit.

• While manufactured from durable ABS plastic, that makes it waterproof and able to handle bad weather.

• The module will produce with minimum maintenance for many working years. You only have to regular clean the surface with a soft damp cloth.
  

• The 15-watt solar panel has a built-in blocking diode. This is to protect the battery from discharging at night.

• The holes that are already drilled in the frame ensure make installation quick and easy.
  

Disadvantages

• The charge controller is a very basic one. It could be better to upgrade.
  

To mention

• The 15 watt solar panel operates perfectly as a battery maintainer.

• An amorphous solar panel can provide power under overcast and low light conditions. This makes it possible to maintain batteries for a wide variety of applications.

• Remember to always connect the charge controller to the battery first. After that, you connect the 15 watt solar panel.
  

• When disconnecting you first disconnect the solar module. Then disconnect the charge controller. 

• It is important to read and follow the safety advise.

Maintenance 

See to it that cables are undamaged.

Regular clean the surface of the 15 watt solar panel to avoid drop in efficiency.

Allow a  professional to do all other maintenance on the module.

To conclude

This 15 watt solar panel and charger do what it says it will do. 

It is a good quality solar module that is well constructed and affordable.