SBE-1 solar battery charger

[xkaes]

I've been using the SBE-1 solar battery charger for many years, with GREAT results, and recently ran into a limitation -- one that is undoubtedly easy to overcome -- but I'd like to hear from others who have beat this beast, before I head into battle.

The SBE-1 solar battery charger works great for recharging old discontinued etc. batteries, but there are some batteries that are a little too large -- tall, wide, or both -- to fit.

What have you done to get the SBE-1 solar battery charger to charge these larger batteries?

 

[Chan Tran]

I actually doubt that it works. However what kind of larger battery do you want to charge? Just buy a battery holder for that size then solder the wires to where the clip and pad on the board is.

 

[xkaes]

I was thinking of the 640 1.3v, specifically, but there are many others.

It seems pretty easy to set up the contacts, and that it should work.

#1 place a NON conductor plate between the contact points of the SBE-1 "claw", and make contacts with the + and - points on the SBE-1.

Seems simple.

I just wanted to know what people have tried/used.

 

[4season]

Good to see that the old Solar World products are still being made! Rather than modify the button-cell charger (mine seems to have lost some output over the years, possibly due to aging of the thin-film PV used), I might be more inclined to DIY or buy new charger built around crystalline cells. This might be a good starting point if you take care not to overcharge. With reasonable care, crystalline cells ought to last pretty much indefinitely.

 

[btaylor]

Has anyone had luck charging the 625 mercury battery with this device?

 

[xkaes]

Has anyone had luck charging the 625 mercury battery with this device?

I've been re-charging 625 -- and other -- batteries for years. They work great. The only problem is leaving them in the charger too long. Then they over-charge and swell. They hand from a suction cup in a sunny window for a few hours and that's all it takes! Just do a search on the WEB for SBE-1. You'll find lots of them.

MY problem is trying to recharge larger 1.35 mercury cells.

Rather than go with crystalline cells, I'll work with what I've got and run wires from the SBE-1 to the 640 -- or whatever -- battery. Pretty simple, but I thought maybe someone had already come up with something. You know --why re-invent the wheel.