solar chargers

[liam1986]

so once I get the new battery in the car am I wasting my mine buying one of these

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powered-12v-48w-ba...

It would be real pain to get mains power to the car, but if all these solar chargers are a waste of time I'll have to get it sorted.

[Mud_]

I've got this one, I don't know if it's doing me any favours though. FWIW the solar panels on my roof are only making 1/20th of what they were in the Summer.

[fastbikes76]

In short they are a waste,

I have several cars so any one can sit for 5-6 weeks between use. I have tried most solar chargers and although the muti meter shows they put out a decent voltage, it doesnt make the battery last any longer between use than when I use nothing at all.

A Ctek charger or the likes is the only way im afraid.

[smgee]

fastbikes76 said:

In short they are a waste,

I have several cars so any one can sit for 5-6 weeks between use. I have tried most solar chargers and although the muti meter shows they put out a decent voltage, it doesnt make the battery last any longer between use than when I use nothing at all.

A Ctek charger or the likes is the only way im afraid.

Totally agree. Using the car once or twice a week, I tried a solar charger (with a decent sized panel) to get me through the winter. It made no difference.

A Ctek was the way forward, I just plug it in when it needs a boost. You can get a short connector that is permanantly wired to the battery. Pop the bonnet and plug it in, no slower than messing with a solar charger.

[Yanayaya]

I was going to get one but I heard the charge raate was quite poor even though they state you can use them when the suns not out.
As I live in scotland I can't risk it so I bought one of these:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Temperature-C...

With the extension cable that you can buy too.

[S11MON]

The solar panels from maplins are not efficient enough to provide an adequate supply to the battery. Had mine running a fully charged 75amph battery on the roof of the garage and though the volt meter showed it was producing over 12v the battery was completely flat after 2 months. Trickle charger is the best solution.

[TonyTwoTribes]

Brought a CTEK and a 40m extension lead and then hid the cable.

[Mud_]

Just to confirm what I think everyone suspected...solar chargers are st. ~1 week without using the car in not the coldest of cold snaps has killed (~10V) a 1 year old Bosch S5 (027). I'll fit a 100-sized battery this time (means sorting out a new battery box, but I'm annoyed by the piddly 027 anyway). The nice ECP guy upgraded me to the 100 since that's what his computer says I should have...

Bought a CTEK.

[snowwolf]

Can always take the battery off and have indoors on a ctek ?

[Mud_]

Yup. I've actually got two charger/conditioners now, but I like the CTEK quick-release jobby that stays attached to the battery.

[rich24v]

Got the CTEK mxs10, nice quality kit. Also bought the optional quick release lead with led indicator which stays
on the battery. (you do get the std non indicator lead with it)

[throwyourbike]

I have a CTEK comfort connector on the battery all the time. Every time I park the car up I just connect it to the charger, takes 2 seconds.

[snowwolf]

throwyourbike said:

I have a CTEK comfort connector on the battery all the time. Every time I park the car up I just connect it to the charger, takes 2 seconds.

Me too makes life simple, mine is wired to come out the boot for winter months so you don't have to lift the boot up.