Are solar trickle chargers any good?

[CliveM]

I have to leave the SL55 in a compound for two or three weeks at a time between drives. The batteries are not enjoying the experience.
Before eBay gets £50 of me, can someone advise if the solar trickle chargers actually work??
I'd obviously prefer to use mains power but that's not an option.

[51mes]

Used one for two winters now on my Boxster - keeps it ticking over nicely.

No need to spend £50 though...

http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-2.4w-bat... is only 24.99

Simes.

[CliveM]

There's a Maplin's opposite work, ta.
Is something that claims 2.4W enough?

[Hasbeen]

I used one on the large battery on my diesel tractor. Similar reason of occasional use.

Did the job beautifully for about 7 years before dying.

[sday12]

Today only! £10

http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-bat...

[R11ysf]

Sorry if this is a stupid question but do they work indoors - i.e. under fluorescent lighting? My car is on the 3rd flood basement level which has no accessible power points for running a trickle charger so would this do anything useful?

[E38Ross]

interesting. do you leave them on the dash board or something??

my only concern....my battery is in the boot of my car....may be an issue....

[R12HCO]

Can you not just disconnect the barttery when parked up? (or will it mess the complex electric system?)

[lescombes]

These come up on Campervan forums..... for Campervans these 2.4w jobs are poor and not recommended... But for just a starter battery, then it might be worth a punt....

Best option for cars that get laid up is the intelligent chargers....Lidl & Aldi do Ctek alike ones for £12.99 ish....top kit too....conditions but only good of course if you've access to power where your laid up

[heebeegeetee]

You can get a free Ctek Zafir.45 battery charger ifyou sign up for 12 months of Car Mechanics magazine.
www.greatmagazines.co.uk/store/displaybrand.asp?si...

(Not a solar charger, but thought it might be of interest).

[Daston]

I got one thats used for caravans, mounted it on the wall of my garage with the cables running to a socket I have wired up to the Tuscan's cigeret socket (its always live). Pulls around 20v on a sunny day.

[leef44]

OK, you got me. I just ordered one.

[51mes]

E38Ross said:

interesting. do you leave them on the dash board or something??

my only concern....my battery is in the boot of my car....may be an issue....

the cigarette lighter on the Boxster is live so I just plug it into that - hang mine off the garage door and run an extension lead into the car. But you can just leave it on the dash - pligged in if you're leaving your car outside.

The boxters electrical systems go into a deep sleep where they draw a few hundred milliamps after 2 weeks I dont have a tracker or the like wired into the battery - so it's plenty...