12v Solar Panel
How to create a robot with batteries charged by Solar Panels?
I have a robot that normally runs off of approx 7v with nicad AAs, I have a Solar Panel (12v) that im hoping to integrate into the bot.
I would like the batteries to be trickle charged by the panels during the robots normal operations, and then fully charged while the robot is in a lower power idling mode.
Am I able to attach the panel through a regulator right to the batteries?
This depends largely on how much current your solar panel puts out. If it's 50 mA or less, just connect it straight to the batteries. Even 100 mA is probably ok. Try to determine the panel's output by setting it in the sun with the batteries connected, and measuring with a DVM. There may be a rating on a label, but for small panels, those ratings are notoriously inflated.
Once the batteries are fully charged, the extra energy will just go into heat, shortening the batteries' life, but so what?
It's good that you've chosen NiCd batteries, rather than NiMH, as NiCd will trickle charge reasonably.
A regulator will only be an advantage if the panel is large.