Solar Panel Battery Chargers.....any experiances?

[y2blade]

As per title.


I'm looking at using one on the XC90 as it is kept outside, and until the warmer months it will be stood unused for up to 3 weeks at a time (It is only used to tow the Horse-box).
I'd prefer not to have to remove the battery to keep it on a Charger (Optimate/Ctek) but will do so if the Solar panel idea is a non-runner...

...Any thoughts/experiences with these please?

This is the one I'm looking at.
http://www.solarproductsonline.co.uk/15w-sunforce-...

[Superhoop]

if you are planning on using the cigar lighter for charging, make sure it's wired as permanent live (quite a few no longer are) or it won't charge

[bigdods]

Same thing at maplins nearly half the price of that one

http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-15w-batt...

Depends on the battery drain, but I have one of these maplins ones and it seems to be working as in the summer the TVR will always start even if left for 3 weeks.

Not sure if it will work well in the winter with shorter days and weaker sun.

[mike325112]

My father used to run one on a discovery a few years back as it was used infrequently. I recall it worked very well.

[Shadow R1]

Will work fine mate.

[BigS]

Superhoop said:

if you are planning on using the cigar lighter for charging, make sure it's wired as permanent live (quite a few no longer are) or it won't charge

If it is a switched live, you could get around that by using one of these I suppose

[callyman]

I've got one, used it several times and it does work.

As said though you must ensure the 'fag' lighter has a perm' feed or it wont work.

I had to run a perm' live to mine.

[911Ads]

Superhoop said:

if you are planning on using the cigar lighter for charging, make sure it's wired as permanent live (quite a few no longer are) or it won't charge

The only lighter in the xc90 that is permanently live is the one in the boot.

[jon-]

Is there not a slight risk of overcharging the battery with these? (I realise the actual charge will be very low, but going into a full battery for 3 weeks might be a bit much)

I have very little idea how batteries work.

[y2blade]

jon- said:

Is there not a slight risk of overcharging the battery with these? (I realise the actual charge will be very low, but going into a full battery for 3 weeks might be a bit much)

I have very little idea how batteries work.

This is exactly what I'm worried about, hence the thread asking for experiences/thoughts.

[Astra Dan]

For info, you don't need to remove the battery to charge it or keep a top up on it.
I just charge my GTE 2-3 weekly and the battery is 2 years old and it always starts.

I really elegant thing to do would be fit a small 2 pin connector in the grille or in the boot (to pick up on the boot ciggy lighter) and run DC cables into the house to the charger.

Ooh my mind is awash with solutions. Depends on how much you want to get involved I guess.

[y2blade]

Astra Dan said:

I really elegant thing to do would be fit a small 2 pin connector in the grille or in the boot (to pick up on the boot ciggy lighter) and run DC cables into the house to the charger.

Good suggestion BUT The car is kept about a mile from my house ,otherwise I'd do just that.

I have an Optimate on my S60 when not in use (and on my Fireblade too) via the supplied connectors

As such:


And in use on my S60 in the garage:

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

Ha - ignore this...just relised it comes with a charge controller - duh.
I'll leave this for info only.
..........................................................
The solar panel you have listed is too powerful to use without an inline charge regulator.
There are three stages to charging a lead acid battery...
Stage 1: Constant currant. This is when you shove 3+ amps into the battery to get it up to voltage
Stage 2: Topping charge. The charge currant decreases whilst maintaining optimum voltage.
Stage 3: Float charge (typically less than 500mA). This stage simply compensates for self discharge.

Basically - you want a Stage 3 charger.
The solar panel you have listed will charge at 1.25 Amps. If the battery is already fully carged - you will theoretically start to fry the battery in full sun under optimal conditions.
This is why you should invest in an in-line charge regulator if you want to buy that panel.

A panel like this one will be safe to leave connected permanently without a regulator, since it's maximum charge rate is only 125mA. http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-bat...

In summary - the panel you list would be better especially in winter (it'll provide more power in overcast conditions), but should only be used with a charge regulator.

Hope that helps.

[jon-]

Pistonheads delivers

[y2blade]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

The solar panel you have listed is too powerful to use without an inline charge regulator.
There are three stages to charging a lead acid battery...
Stage 1: Constant currant. This is when you shove 3+ amps into the battery to get it up to voltage
Stage 2: Topping charge. The charge currant decreases whilst maintaining optimum voltage.
Stage 3: Float charge (typically less than 500mA). This stage simply compensates for self discharge.

Basically - you want a Stage 3 charger.
The solar panel you have listed will charge at 1.25 Amps. If the battery is already fully carged - you will theoretically start to fry the battery in full sun under optimal conditions.
This is why you should invest in an in-line charge regulator if you want to buy that panel.

A panel like this one will be safe to leave connected permanently without a regulator, since it's maximum charge rate is only 125mA. http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-bat...

In summary - the panel you list would be better especially in winter (it'll provide more power in overcast conditions), but should only be used with a charge regulator.

Hope that helps.

Exactly the sort of info I was waiting for
Thank you VERY much.

I looked at lower rated ones, but didn't know if they'd be up to the job considering the size of the battery on the big old girl.

Cheers.


£9.99 bloodyhell you've saved me a packet milky-bars on me

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

See my edit above - the one you have listed comes with a charge controller which is great. Go for it.

[y2blade]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

See my edit above - the one you have listed comes with a charge controller which is great. Go for it.

ah...
If the £9.99 one (you listed) will be sufficient then I'd be silly to buy the £130 one.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

y2blade said:

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

See my edit above - the one you have listed comes with a charge controller which is great. Go for it.

ah...
If the £9.99 one (you listed) will be sufficient then I'd be silly to buy the £130 one.

Assuming the battery is 100% healthy to start with, it should provide sufficient currant to maintain the battery and stop it sulfating.
'Sulfating' is when sulphur builds up on the plates inside the battery - this usually happens when the battery is allowed to self discharge over an extended period.

If the battery is old and hasn't been properly maintained, no amount of charging will fix it. For that you need a battery 'desulfator'
A desulfator 'pulses' the battery with several thousand volts (at very low currant) to effectively blast the sulphur off the plates.

[redstu]

I've had 2 of the 9.99 ones from maplins. One has been in constant use for a number of years in the rear window of my passat. Essentially it maintains the battery by compensating for the drain imposed by the alarm.
The second one currently doesn't work due to a bad connection somewhere. They will fully charge a battery if you leave it long enough in the daylight.
I should get another for the motorbike which doesnt get much use currently.

[y2blade]

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

y2blade said:

Dr Doofenshmirtz said:

See my edit above - the one you have listed comes with a charge controller which is great. Go for it.

ah...
If the £9.99 one (you listed) will be sufficient then I'd be silly to buy the £130 one.

Assuming the battery is 100% healthy to start with, it should provide sufficient currant to maintain the battery and stop it sulfating.
'Sulfating' is when sulphur builds up on the plates inside the battery - this usually happens when the battery is allowed to self discharge over an extended period.

If the battery is old and hasn't been properly maintained, no amount of charging will fix it. For that you need a battery 'desulfator'
A desulfator 'pulses' the battery with several thousand volts (at very low currant) to effectively blast the sulphur off the plates.

The battery is recent and healthy..... so I'd say on that basis the £9.99 one will be perfect.

Thank you again for your help

redstu said:

I've had 2 of the 9.99 ones from maplins. One has been in constant use for a number of years in the rear window of my passat. Essentially it maintains the battery by compensating for the drain imposed by the alarm.
The second one currently doesn't work due to a bad connection somewhere. They will fully charge a battery if you leave it long enough in the daylight.
I should get another for the motorbike which doesnt get much use currently.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience of them Stu, There is a maplins in the town I work in...I'll drop in on the way home and see if I can pick one up.


cheers all