kculm,
Well, that depends.
How long each day do you plan on running the lights?
Is the ATTiny drawing current even when the lights are off?
What is your latitude.
What angle is the panel going to be mounted at ?
How many hours a day are you able to get full sun on the panel.
How far is the panel going to be from the charge controller and battery?
How many days do you want to be able to use the lights in case of constant cloudy weather?
How maintenance free do you want the system?
Do you forsee adding more light strings in the future?
What budget are you looking at?
Maybe some one could design a system with those answers, or you could research how to design one yourself.
Lots of books and online info available.
TomJ
Thanks for the replay and all the things I need to think about. I have been looking for information on what is need to make a solar charger but I am having no luck.
I am trying to find out things like. What are the best types of Batteries, do I need to make or buy something to keep the batteries from over charging.
For now I am just trying to make a simple Solar Charge. so I can learn and understand the Basic.
But for the record, I am not asking anyone to do the work for me. I was just asking for a starting point. I learn better by doing. The issue is I need a stepping stone to start from. I figured someone may have had a link or a good book to recommend. The web is full of wrong information or bed practices. And not knowing I may listen to the wrong person. I have always gotten good input from the forum and the one time I was given a BS answer a few other members let me know and showed me why it was wrong.
I am firm believer in Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach and man to fish and he eats for life.
I also know I don’t use the right terms and I have a lot of typos. For that I am sorry. Spelling is not my strong point.
I really wish the moderator would open a page just for Newbies. Where they could ask the basic questions and not fell like a dumb butt. ( I am sure that was not your Intent)
I know I have a lot to learn. I am trying to take it all in. The programming and the electronics.
One last Note. If anyone knows of a Club or class’s in West palm Fl. Please let me know.
I totally apologize, I did not take it as you were being hard on me, and if my reply came off that way I am VERY VERY sorry. To tell you the truth I took it totally opposite. I took it as a teacher getting a student to try to figure it out for himself rather than just giving the answer.
Like I said I truly believe in "give a man to fish he will eat for a day, teach an man to fish he will eat for life."
Like I said in my last post. I am not the best speller, so some times I cut my post short. Once I seen Tumbleweeds post, I knew I had a lot to think about and that why in my second post I told him thanks for his input but did not answer his question.
I figured I needed to learn the basics of making a solar charger before I could really answer his question. It may turn out a solar charger my not fit my needs once I figure out the answers .
As far as your post "Solar cells and SLA technology are a natural combination". I totally missed that, my bad. One Thing though what is SLA stand for?
Once more I am sorry if I came off like a Jerk, No hard feelings I hope.
kculm,
Sorry I made you feel put upon, just was trying to give you a bunch of things to research, and I'm pretty preoccupied right now.
As Werner VonBraun said "Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing."
You are where I was at when I started designing my solar system 2 years ago. Here is a controller kit you can buy that is quite good, I have had one running without a problem for 2 years, for the first year it and 3 - 85 watt panels supplied all the electric needs for our 5th wheel camper, now it just keeps my utility trailer winch AGM battery charged.
This is my next solar project when I get time. http://www.timnolan.com/index.php?page=arduino-ppt-solar-charger
In all actuality, for a non-critical application as small as you are needing, a cheap controller off of E-bay or
from Harbor freight would be cheaper and probably good enough. Of course that is not the reason you like to fiddle with electronics.
Here is a place with cheap panels http://www.sunelec.com/ .
For some fun, here are some easy to build trackers- scroll way down. Electronic Projects
Good luck.
TomJ
Thanks for all your help. I think the confusion was more on my end. I sometimes have a hard time expressing what I need help with.
Also for some reason I can no longer see Doc's posts. I did not mean to make anyone feel like they were being hard on me. I rather you guys be a little hard on me then do the work for me.
For me this is a Hobby and it is something I want to learn. I am very thankful for all the Help I get from this forum.
In the future I will try to better explain what I am trying to do.
kculm:
Also for some reason I can no longer see Doc's posts. I did not mean to make anyone feel like they were being hard on me. I rather you guys be a little hard on me then do the work for me.
I don't think that is the case, Yesterday server is moved to Wild West City, NJ and now it back. I found a lot of posts in or out.