Thread: solar battery charger

hi ..this has been discussed a fair bit on this forum.. .try searching the posts.....

However in general I think you'll find the advice would be to get the highest rated output solar panels you can afford and easily transport/handle. You won't overcharge your batteries if you use them with a regulator.

Originally Posted by waynep

However in general I think you'll find the advice would be to get the highest rated output solar panels you can afford and easily transport/handle. You won't overcharge your batteries if you use them with a regulator.

yep that pretty much covers it, the biggest your can afford

i have one fitted '65w' as a wind break on my defender, you would need at least 65w as a minimum so you would be looking at $600 +

running one battery with a fridge is risky for extended stop overs, overnight you can get away with

i would first fit an aux battery cause the last thing you need when you want to leave first up in the morning is your battery is too low to start the car, you would than have to wait X amount of time for the solar panel to charge your battery and if you are in a real rush you will need to turn your fridge off to speed this process up

if you decide to only run one battery you might want to fit a low voltage cut out so that you alway have enough power to start your car

one solar panel covered in dust

Originally Posted by weeds

yep that pretty much covers it, the biggest your can afford

i have one fitted '65w' as a wind break on my defender, you would need at least 65w as a minimum so you would be looking at $600 +

running one battery with a fridge is risky for extended stop overs, overnight you can get away with

i would first fit an aux battery cause the last thing you need when you want to leave first up in the morning is your battery is too low to start the car, you would than have to wait X amount of time for the solar panel to charge your battery and if you are in a real rush you will need to turn your fridge off to speed this process up

if you decide to only run one battery you might want to fit a low voltage cut out so that you alway have enough power to start your car

one solar panel covered in dust

Hi Weeds,
Do you drop the panel while travelling?

Originally Posted by weeds

i have one fitted '65w' as a wind break on my defender, you would need at least 65w as a minimum so you would be looking at $600 +

Do solar panels stand up to being bounced around like that then?

Bushwander - the panel sits in that position all the time and its fixed to the top rail of the roof rack. I have two latches so if I need to pivot it up early or late in the day to catch that last bit of sun I can however I haven't really popped it up mainly cause I normally forget and drive off like I did at birdsville with a footy propping it up

Jik22 - my solar panel has been sitting up there for two years without a problem, its been to lawn hill NP and across the simpson. A mate of mine has a BP 80W on his cruise much the same as mine with no issues

Originally Posted by weeds

Jik22 - my solar panel has been sitting up there for two years without a problem, its been to lawn hill NP and across the simpson. A mate of mine has a BP 80W on his cruise much the same as mine with no issues

Good to know - I thought this would be an ideal mounting position, using a yet to be purchased light bar at the front running back to the roof tent at the rear - but was too scared to go buy a $700 panel and do that to it.

What a great idea especially if you are towing a van behind as well.

Originally Posted by weeds

Bushwander - the panel sits in that position all the time and its fixed to the top rail of the roof rack. I have two latches so if I need to pivot it up early or late in the day to catch that last bit of sun I can however I haven't really popped it up mainly cause I normally forget and drive off like I did at birdsville with a footy propping it up

Jik22 - my solar panel has been sitting up there for two years without a problem, its been to lawn hill NP and across the simpson. A mate of mine has a BP 80W on his cruise much the same as mine with no issues

Interesting!

I don't have solar panels myself, but a mate has some and when travelling, he drops the panels down and shields them with plywood.