Anyone use a solar trickle charger for T350t?

[aaronc]

Hi all,

My T350 doesnt have access to power socket and its kept in car port so does get sun light, does anyone know use one of these?

If not, do you think there are any problems using one? The charger puts out nominal current 80mA at full sun.

[K4TRV]

To be honest, 80mA may not even address the discharge from Alarm, & clock etc, let alone put some charge back into the battery. You have to go large for Solar benefits in this country!!

If you have a flat roof why not fit something a little more realistic on it rather than on the dash!! Something like a 40 watts (make sure it's rated at 12v not 18/24v usually quoted!!) panel (£120 or so), fit a regulator (£20-40) and then feed it to the car. Will keep the battery in tip top condition.

You only get about 5 hours in mid-summer @ 40W and far, far less in real terms/autumn/winter/spring.

Small dash mounted solar arrays fall into "chocolate ash tray" territory!!!

HTH

Trev

[Targarama]

My Mum uses one on her 'sports car' which is not used very often. It solved her flat battery problem.

(She has a 1993 Celica and calls it the sports car - I took her out in the TVR and she just screams whenever I accelerated medium hard :-) ).

[aaronc]

K4TRV said:

To be honest, 80mA may not even address the discharge from Alarm, & clock etc, let alone put some charge back into the battery. You have to go large for Solar benefits in this country!!

If you have a flat roof why not fit something a little more realistic on it rather than on the dash!! Something like a 40 watts (make sure it's rated at 12v not 18/24v usually quoted!!) panel (£120 or so), fit a regulator (£20-40) and then feed it to the car. Will keep the battery in tip top condition.

You only get about 5 hours in mid-summer @ 40W and far, far less in real terms/autumn/winter/spring.

Small dash mounted solar arrays fall into "chocolate ash tray" territory!!!

HTH

Trev

How about this one which gives 12w?

Specifications:
Peak power output: 12W
Optimum working voltage: 17.5V
Optimum working current: 680mA

Would I need a regulator for this one?

Edited by aaronc on Tuesday 20th April 11:06

[K4TRV]

aaronc said:

K4TRV said:

To be honest, 80mA may not even address the discharge from Alarm, & clock etc, let alone put some charge back into the battery. You have to go large for Solar benefits in this country!!

If you have a flat roof why not fit something a little more realistic on it rather than on the dash!! Something like a 40 watts (make sure it's rated at 12v not 18/24v usually quoted!!) panel (£120 or so), fit a regulator (£20-40) and then feed it to the car. Will keep the battery in tip top condition.

You only get about 5 hours in mid-summer @ 40W and far, far less in real terms/autumn/winter/spring.

Small dash mounted solar arrays fall into "chocolate ash tray" territory!!!

HTH

Trev

How about this one which gives 12w?

Specifications:
Peak power output: 12W
Optimum working voltage: 17.5V
Optimum working current: 680mA

Would I need a regulator for this one?

Edited by aaronc on Tuesday 20th April 11:06

It looks just about capable of supporting (trickle charging) your battery. I would invest in a £26.99 regulator (L26BR) just to be safe. You should be ok without as it will supply only 4AH per day at most which should not over charge the battery. It's dificult to be exact, when a regulator is needed - panels of 10w and upwards are recommended, but you're strapping this to a 60AH + battery which should be ok. Don't expect it to "charge" a flat battery!! I'd also stick it on the roof of the car port rather than on the dash!!

Trev

[Skipe]

I had one over the winter - didn't work...

[K4TRV]

Skipe said:

I had one over the winter - didn't work...

One what...........how big...........what spec..........etc etc ???