I bought a solar trickle charger today...

[SmoothRB]

I bought a solar trickle charger today from Maplin.

Just to keep my battery topped up as I go several weeks without driving sometimes.

So I plugged it into the cig lighter, but when the bloody thing is plugged in I can't arm the alarm. If I arm the alarm first, then plug the charger in, it sets off the alarm.

[miniman]

The alarm is of the type that detects voltage changes (i.e. the interior light going on) and sees them as an intruder. So the solar panel is adding voltage to the system and the alarm sees it as enough of a change to set it off.

If it's any consolation, those solar panels are ste and won't top up your battery anyway.

[Willy Nilly]

One of our tractors has one in the roof as standard from the factor. It's only little, but must be enough to keep the battery topped up. It's a big battery too...

[redstu]

I've used 2 of them (from maplins) they don't provide a huge current but they do work. Best used in a car that has Low
use where it either ofsets or partially ofsets the constant draw of the alarm. They will also charge a battery but that takes months!