PV panels are usually operated as close to being current sources with the voltage clamped by the load - very often a lead acid battery. It's also wholly usual to have a rectifier diode but no regulation on panel - you want a regulator you buy one. The diode is solely to prevent back current flow into the panel when Vpanel falls below Vbattery. 22V is enthusiastic - you usally have 36 cells for not vastly over 18V. Load that byabout 20% to near MPP 9max ower point) and you have V >= Vlead_acid_max. > Speaking of which, and of manufacturers who are ignorant or just > don't, really just don't, care, I was given a couple of small panels > called Sun Maxx. Made by The Chaslyn Company of Springfield. > Possibly designed by Homer himself. These SC-6A (actually it's > printed 12A, but the 12 is crossed out and 6 is pencilled in. Classy) > Battery Chargers are intended, according to the label, for charging > lead batteries. They have no regulation whatsoever and put out 22V > on a sunny day. I would not be surprised if there is a Chaslyn Out- > Of-Court-Settlement-And-Replacement-Battery Company too -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist