Solar trickle chargers

[Harry Flashman]

Chaps, a question. Have acquired a Volvo estate semi-banger that will be living on a street in London; needed something for winter/lugging stuff/having trollies pushed into it in the supermarket. In summer especially it will get very occasional use - sometimes once a month if that.

With a healthy, fully charged battery, will one of those cigarette lighter 1.5W solar panel trickle chargers keep the battery topped up so that it will start? Thought it might be a cheap solution to the problem...

The Morgan is garaged, and I hit the battery kill switch when it isn't used, so not a problem. Volvo doesn't have one, and as it's on the street would prefer alarm to be armed etc, and don't want to risk scrambling 11 year old electronics by disconnecting/reconnecting battery; apart from anything else means constant re-inputting of radio code.

Any anecdotes/advice appreciated.

[tamore]

only problem with these is that they have to be on show. on show + london = (usualy) break in.

someone went through the plastic window of my convertible to get one of these out of it.

[flagellant]

I've got a 13 year old BMW with an £8 battery from the scrapyard, and regulary did 4 short trips (2 miles) a day. Car was parked outdoors and with a solar trickle charger permanently attached to the battey (against manufacturers advice) the car started on the first key turn every time even in winter. I think they are a good investment.

[DaveL86]

I know you said you don't fancy the idea of disconnecting the battery but what about a Richbrook Discarnet device?


Works like this:

You just un-screw the tap like thing and take it with you to disconnect.

Costs under a tenner.

[Sixpackpert]

We have this in our camper.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34806...

Works a treat but you will have to wire it to the battery direct unless the cigarette lighter socket works without the ignition being on.

[kelk]

Sixpackpert said:

We have this in our camper.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34806...

Works a treat but you will have to wire it to the battery direct unless the cigarette lighter socket works without the ignition being on.

Have as similar, if smaller, Maplin one in the Elise - works a treat assumng I remember to plug it in.

[ExPat2B]

The solar chargers work very well actually. They won't recharge a drained battery, and if there is a serious drain ( like a shorting out rear window defogger ) they won't work, but they are adequate for preventing the alarm running the battery down.

They work so well I have 2 of them charging a car battery in my outhouse, that then runs LED lighting for me to work by. Never run the battery down yet.

[jamieboy]

I've been thinking about something like this for a while, just not sure if it would attract attention.

If you saw a closed garage door with one of these lying in front of it and the cable running in, what would you think? In a cul-de-sac, in a quiet residential area.

[Sixpackpert]

jamieboy said:

I've been thinking about something like this for a while, just not sure if it would attract attention.

If you saw a closed garage door with one of these lying in front of it and the cable running in, what would you think? In a cul-de-sac, in a quiet residential area.

If the roof is flat then stick it on the roof and hide the cable going into the garage?

[jamieboy]

Sixpackpert said:

If the roof is flat then stick it on the roof and hide the cable going into the garage?

Roof isn't flat, but it's a thought.... I'd need to bodge seamlessly patch in some more length to the cable, it'd be long enough if it just sat outside.

[Sixpackpert]

jamieboy said:

I'd need to bodge seamlessly patch in some more length to the cable,

http://www.rapidonline.com/Cables-Connectors/Connectors-Single-Pole/Insulated-Crimp-Conn./Crimp-connector-kits-Rapid/63953/kw/33-0360?source=googleps&utm_source=googleps

[HiRich]

Harry,
I have an identical situation, though with more drain. They work well in the summer, provided you park well (facing South, long exposure). 1.5W sounds a little light. Given that you want to power an alarm, I'd suggest more like 5W? That would also give it more of a chance through the Winter as well.

As for security - I haven't had a problem is ten years.

[redstu]

Another +. I use one in each of my cars. A good investment for a tenner. They will actually recharge a flat battery if given enough time , we are talking months though as I tried it as a test!

[Harry Flashman]

Thanks chaps.

Road is a quiet residential one in Dulwich, and I have never had a problem with a Porsche and a Morgan parked on that street (Morgan now garaged) - so hoping scrotes won't break in for a cheap looking bit of plastic.

5w ones are quite large; the 1.5W one will sit happily on the dash and stow in the glove box when on the move. Looks like I'll give this a go...

[Fort Jefferson]

Sixpackpert said:

We have this in our camper.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=34806...

Works a treat but you will have to wire it to the battery direct unless the cigarette lighter socket works without the ignition being on.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What he said.

[die fahrt]

Great thread, just bought two for my Campervan based on the replies.