Posted by Karl on
URL: https://www.es-forum.com/Linear-power-supplies-Bio-safe-voltage-tp4031625p4031879.html

Plop Plop wrote

Have you got any ideas about building a linear solar charge controller?

If you mean something based on an LM317 or similar, why not use a rheostat instead? The only difference between the two is that the LM317 actively stabilizes its output voltage, but that shouldn't matter for a battery charger unless you're sitting right next to the battery or you have a long DC extension cord between the regulator and the battery. They're both just variable resistors.

If you want something more efficient, your main options are various types of transformers, all of which make electromagnetic noise.