Help with voltage regulator

[thejunkmonger]

Hello everyone i'm new to the forum and am looking for help with building a low cost voltage regulator that will regulate an input up to a maximum of 37VDC the output needs to be a voltage compatible with charging a 12 v lead acid battery so i'd guess around 13VDC The components would need to handle 10 A. Basically I came across a broken solar panel that I repaired and would like to use it to charge a 12v battery and then use the battery to run an inverter. Any help on a cheap solution would be appreciated.

[Hero999]

What's the minimum input voltage?

The LM317 will do. It'll need additional components to work up to 10A. A siwtching regulator is probably the best solution for you. Refer to page 19 of the datasheet. You'll need to uprate the components in the examples to get it to work up to 10A.
http://www.ee.buffalo.edu/courses/elab/LM117.pdf

[thejunkmonger]

Thanks for the reply minimum voltage would be zero because it's a solar panel. I don't really need a boost circuit, it would be fine if it just has output over 10v or so.

I took a quick look at the data sheet and it says Vin up to 28v the panel I have has a 30.5v output with peaks up to 37v

[Hero999]

I took a quick look at the data sheet and it says Vin up to 28v the panel I have has a 30.5v output with peaks up to 37v

I suggest you take another look at the data sheet.

[thejunkmonger]

Thanks I'll see if I can understand it, I read it but seemed to understand that the amp rating is too low I'll read again.

[KevinIV]

No. The voltage regulator can be any high current 12v regulator. A very efficient DC ro DC converter has to be used to increase the power efficiency of a circuit powered by a solar panel, and that may not even be efficient enough.

[thejunkmonger]

guess i might be better off buying a mppt regulator off ebay was hoping for a cheaper solution.

[KevinIV]

Another thing to consider is the ability of solar panels to be used with reactive loads. If they can, the apparent power consumption will be an additional loss in power transfer. You must have a good size and expensive solar panel. I wouldn't risk in damaging it.