Re: high current voltage regulator


"Laurie" <no@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:425868dc$1_5@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> I have solar panels charging two deep-cycle 12 V PbA batteries.
When
> reasonably well charged the voltage goes up to ~16.5, but the inverter
I am
> using stupidly shuts down around 14+.
>
> I would like to know if there is a single package voltage
regulator that
> will handle 10-15 amps.
>
> If not, can someone recommend a circuit?
>
> Laurie

You can buy a 25A bridge reectifier for under $3.00. When you short the
+ and- leads, the ~ leads will drop at least 1.2V, more as the current
goes up. The polarity doesn't matter, of course. Or you could use 1 or
2 rectifiers in series, each dropping about .8V depending on current.
butthey're probably more expensive than the bridge. A 1N1188A 35 amp
stud mount is aboutthe same prices as the bridge, but you need two of
them.

For some odd reason the bridge rectifiers are priced oddly compared to
the rectifiers. 1A, 3A and 6A rectifiers are $.04, $.12 and $.22
apiece. Those prices hover around a nickel an amp. But the prices for
bridges hover around a quarter an amp, and don't drop as quickly at
higher currents.




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