lipo-rider, batteries and solar panels

Hi there,

I have a lipo-rider, a couple of solar panels, and a 3.7V 2000mAh lipo battery.
Those are the devices:
lipo-rider: http://garden.seeedstudio.com/index.php?title=Lipo_Rider_V1.2
solar panels: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/1w-solar-panel-75x100-p-633.html?cPath=155&zenid=3e224ebdd9752bbcf968633adf07e925
lipo-battery: http://www.seeedstudio.com/depot/lithium-ion-polymer-batteries-2a-p-603.html?cPath=178_183&zenid=3e224ebdd9752bbcf968633adf07e925

The problem is that the battery charge slowly because the solar panel provide a maximum of 170 mA... so i have on mind to connect 2 of those solar panels in parallel to have 340 mA. The lipo-ride is supposed to control this amperage without problems.

My question is if i could simply connect positive to positive and negative to negative of solar panels to the lipo-rider, or if i need also to wire a diode to prevent problems. It that case, what kind of diode?

Thanks!

Just connect solar panel in parallel, you don't need any diodes or other components.

Thanks Magician!

then, i will try to see if i could charge the battery faster (with more mA) to have my arduino and the sensors connected to it completely outdoor for a long time.

Thanks,

One more question about it.

What is better (less power losses by regulator or other things). 1) to connect the Li-po rider to the USB in Arduino, or 2) to connect to Vin,GND pins?

Thanks!

Vin power line goes to voltage regulator (vr), this is why 6 - 20 V limits, 1 V drop across vr chip.
USB bypass vr, so +5 V is just o'k.

Thanks, perfect!

Thank you for resolve my question.