Solar Battery Chargers

Discussion in 'Other Automotive Tech & Talk' started by Andysutt, Dec 28, 2008.

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  1. Andysutt

    Andysutt '72 Comet GT

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    Has anyone ever used one of these?

    If so what brand, and how well did it work?

    I'm interested in getting one for my Sonoma.
    I don't drive it everyday, or even every week and it just sits alot of the time.

    With the radio holding presets and the clock, and a Streamlight flashlight always on charge, sometimes it drains the battery if I let it sit for a few weeks. It seems to do it less w/o the flashlight plugged in, but it's pointless to have a flashlight if it isn't fully charged in my opinion.

    So, I'm looking at getting a solar trickle charger that you lay on the dash and plug into the cig lighter. Before I buy one, I was interested in your input.
     
    Andysutt, Dec 28, 2008
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  2. Acornridgeman

    Acornridgeman MCCI Wisconsin State Rep Moderator Supporting Member

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    I had one on my camper that was kept out in the woods for hunting. I bought it from JC Whitney - don't recall a name brand. It did a good job of maintaining the battery at full charge if I was not there and not using it for weeks at a time. It would not charge a dead battery, just keep a good battery charged while sitting. I think the application you need for your truck would be fine - keeping the battery charged while not in use.

    :)
     
    Acornridgeman, Dec 28, 2008
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  3. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

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    Audi/VW use em.You cant park an audi for extended periods(too many computers sucking the battery dry)The only ones I have dealt with are for the above mentioned makes and the solar chargers are made by VW/Audi as well(made for em anywhoo)They seem to work well on a good battery for keeping it up.
     
    Mavman72, Dec 28, 2008
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  4. Andysutt

    Andysutt '72 Comet GT

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    Thanks for the input. Seems they actually do work and aren't just a "good idea, gone bad"

    I also seen the audi/vw ones on ebay so I may check one of those out.
     
    Andysutt, Dec 28, 2008
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  5. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    I'm sure it can be done. Some of the gate operators I install use a 12v battery. They are maintained by using a solar panel and a voltage regulator that shuts off charging when the battery is full.
     
    blugene, Dec 28, 2008
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  6. don graham

    don graham MCG State Rep

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    Let us know how it works. I had to jumpstart the Comet to move it earlier. Keeping the battery charged is hard when you've got 7 cars and an MC sitting around.
     
    don graham, Dec 28, 2008
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  7. dkstuck

    dkstuck Member

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    I got 5 vw solar chargers from ebay, you have to watch good bit an hit ebay right for the good deals. I like mine an they do maintain a battery.
     
    dkstuck, Dec 29, 2008
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  8. Andysutt

    Andysutt '72 Comet GT

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    I got tired of looking on ebay and thought I'd try harbor freight.

    I've found these 2 things:

    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96728

    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44768

    Now my questions are:

    1) Does the charger itself have a built in regulator? It doesn't say but wondered if any of you have used that particular one.
    2) If it doesn't and I buy the regulator... how do I connect it?
    It shows 2 plugs. One for the solar charger, and one for battery. So I'm assuming I just hook that inline w/ the solar charger. But what about the pigtails for the positive and negative?
     
    Andysutt, Dec 31, 2008
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  9. Andysutt

    Andysutt '72 Comet GT

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    Nevermind...


    As I look at that, I don't think I need that particular regulator as 7 amps would be 2 much anyways
     
    Andysutt, Dec 31, 2008
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  10. Andysutt

    Andysutt '72 Comet GT

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    I purchased the above mentioned charger today.

    It seems to work well and is very sensitive to the sun.

    It has a LED that flashes whenever it has enough juice to charge.

    Basically as soon as I opened the box, it started to blink slowly.
    I stuck the charger under the seat and it quit flashing.

    After I plugged it in and let it sit on the dash for a minute or two, it was a fairly rapid flash.

    I will update in a day or two on how well it works.
     
    Andysutt, Jan 2, 2009
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  11. blugene

    blugene Senior member Supporting Member

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    Does it have a quick disconnect? Not sure if you want it connected while the alt is charging...
     
    blugene, Jan 2, 2009
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  12. Andysutt

    Andysutt '72 Comet GT

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    It plugs into cig lighter

    And it does have a disconnect between the cig lighter and the solar panel itself.

    It says it can't backfeed.

    I had it running a min ago w/ it plugged up and it still works so thats good to know. lol
     
    Andysutt, Jan 2, 2009
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  13. PaulS

    PaulS Member extrordiare

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    Solar panel are made up of diodes. They can't back feed unless the voltage goes to 200V above/below the existing voltage level.
     
    PaulS, Jan 2, 2009
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  14. Andysutt

    Andysutt '72 Comet GT

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    Out of curiosity earlier I took my multimeter out and touched the positive/negative on the cig lighter. 18volts. I found that a bit odd...
     
    Andysutt, Jan 2, 2009
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  15. PaulS

    PaulS Member extrordiare

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    Bad meter? Check your battery volts - the cigarette lighter can't be more than that.
     
    PaulS, Jan 4, 2009
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