Solar Car Battery Charger

[fido]

I'm thinking of getting one (http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358) to keep the battery topped up over the winter i.e. permanently connected to the car battery. I only take the car once maybe twice a week and don't do another miles to keep it topped up. Has anyone had any problems with using a device such as this?

[Ninjaboy]

I had one few years back and it always kept my jump starter/compressor topped up. It's seems very sensitive to positioning, anything less that strong direct sunlight and it does next to nothing.

[JaaaagXF]

It depends on the car. If your car has lots of electronic gizmos that are constantly draining the battery then a solar charger may not be able to keep up (but will still be better than nothing). If your car is more basic then it should be just the job. I had one on an old LandRover that only got started every few weeks. It kept the battery topped up so that the old Landy would always go. The one that I have is not that sensitive to position - I currently have it near a window inside the garage, and it is still keeping the battery on an old 1950's car topped up.

[Willy Nilly]

Standard fitments on these http://www.masseyferguson.com/EMEA/GB/products/tra...

There is a huge amount of electronics on them.

[badlands1]

fido said:

I'm thinking of getting one (http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358) to keep the battery topped up over the winter i.e. permanently connected to the car battery. I only take the car once maybe twice a week and don't do another miles to keep it topped up. Has anyone had any problems with using a device such as this?

I might get one of those for my pressure washer.
OP, have you bought it yet, what it like?

[fido]

badlands1 said:

I might get one of those for my pressure washer.
OP, have you bought it yet, what it like?

Sorry for the late reply. I got it for Xmas and it has performed admirably. Not sure if it is charging the battery but it definitely keeps the voltage level over a week, even positioned behind a window on dull days.