eric mcnamara wrote:
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the solar panel recharges a series of ni mh batterys, which you have all figured out. and which tourns out could explode and render the whole thing useless and possibly disfigure me in the process!

is this true,? i am sure the solar shunt circuit stops charging when the battery level is reached, the pot is used to adjust the floating volatge.

i have charged up the batterys about 3 times and stil my face is intact

Check this document for charge curves of NiMH batteries:

http://www.panasonic.com/industria...ethods.pdf


Yo will notice that charging is done with a current source... The charging current is proportional to the battery capacity.

Overcharging your batteries will always result in deterioration of capacity, (over)heating of batteries and possibly even exploding batteries..

regards
Patrick