Tiaan

I saw a video once (somewhere on youtube i suppose) of a guy who stripped the wires off a laptop charger and screwed them into a solar charge controller. Those "laptop bricks" (as they are called) puts out anywhere between 13/14 up to 19 volts depending from which laptop it comes from - typically what a 12volt solar panel would put out during peak sunshine. End result is he kept frying the laptop bricks. He had quite a few spare and kept replacing them, but they wouldnt last. I cant remember the video, but in the comments section someone explained why the solar charge controller would keep on frying the laptop bricks. For whatever reason the charge controller can distinguish between 12-19 volts coming from a solar panel and 12-19 volts coming from a laptop brick, and it didnt like the latter.

Mark, that is a very nice example of what i intend to do with this project. Your photos are an inspiration for me to get started!
Silvernodashi, The idea is to start small and cheap. hence the modified sine wave. I would like to build a unit, and use it before i throw more money into it. By using it, i would be able to determine how many times a month/year it has helped me, and also how much of a necessity/luxury it is. by using it, i would best be able to determine if it is worth spending extra money to "upgrade" it with more/better features.
I said in the beginning that this is going to be a "learning project" for me, to allow me to "ease into" solar. Im hoping that through using (and later expanding) this project, i would gain enough knowledge to maybe later have a more permanent off-grid system in my small house.... one has to start somewhere..
Thank you to everyone that has replied to this thread - it is most valuable, i feel that i have learned something from every post. All very positive tips and suggestion. Many threads that i have read in the past (on other forums relating to other topics) quickly turns into negative comments where each poster is trying to show (in his mind) his superior knowledge, and doing so through derogatory comment. My experience on this site has been very positive thus far

Mark, that is a very nice example of what i intend to do with this project. Your photos are an inspiration for me to get started!
Silvernodashi, The idea is to start small and cheap. hence the modified sine wave. I would like to build a unit, and use it before i throw more money into it. By using it, i would be able to determine how many times a month/year it has helped me, and also how much of a necessity/luxury it is. by using it, i would best be able to determine if it is worth spending extra money to "upgrade" it with more/better features.
I said in the beginning that this is going to be a "learning project" for me, to allow me to "ease into" solar. Im hoping that through using (and later expanding) this project, i would gain enough knowledge to maybe later have a more permanent off-grid system in my small house.... one has to start somewhere..
Thank you to everyone that has replied to this thread - it is most valuable, i feel that i have learned something from every post. All very positive tips and suggestion. Many threads that i have read in the past (on other forums relating to other topics) quickly turns into negative comments where each poster is trying to show (in his mind) his superior knowledge, and doing so through derogatory comment. My experience on this site has been very positive thus far