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Thread: Solar battery charger

  1. 10th October 2012, 12:42 PM #1
    Gullible's Avatar
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    Solar battery charger

    Hi,
    Not sure if this is the right place to post this one but....

    Has anybody purchased a solar battery charger for trickle charging their battery when they are away for long periods?

    Are there any good ones out there?
    Do they work or are they a wast of money?

    Interested on thoughts before I get one.
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  2. 10th October 2012, 01:45 PM #2
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    My RR ute has a proper 20 watt panel with a regulator because the trickle charger I had before wasn't charging enough in the long overcast winter days we get here.
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  3. 10th October 2012, 01:50 PM #3
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    Does the regulator prevent over charging?

    How hard is it to set up a system like that?
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  4. 10th October 2012, 02:14 PM #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gullible View Post
    Does the regulator prevent over charging?

    How hard is it to set up a system like that?
    That is what a regulator is for, to regulate battery charge. As for ease of setting up, can you connect four wires? That is all it takes.

    Example:



    12V 6A 12 volt Automatic Battery Charging PWM Regulator for Solar Panels | eBay

    Visit a 12V shop if you are in doubt.
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  5. 10th October 2012, 05:06 PM #5
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    SuperCheap have 3Watt trickle charges at about $26 from memory. It's enough to keep the parasitic drain of the clock and any alarm on a good battery but on an old battery likely not enough.

    There are larger ones either 6 or 8 Watt at not much more money and they'll be the next ones I buy.

    I have four 3 Watt chargers on my FFR because it sits for months and since I have used them I haven't had to charge the car or radio batteries before a trip.

    You won't find me on: faceplant; Scipe; Infragam; LumpedIn; ShapCnat or Twitting. I'm just not that interesting.
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  6. 10th October 2012, 07:04 PM #6
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    Im using an old 12v500ma panel as a trickle charger with nothing more than a blocking diode
    Dave

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  7. 11th October 2012, 11:03 AM #7
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    Thanks for all the tips.

    Aldi has a 7.5 w solar panel with some lights and battery for $99 so I think I'll get that and a regulator.

    Hi Bee_Ute, I normally limit my wires to two as there is less room for error, however the markings on the regulator are clear enough for me to try playing around with four. Wish me luck.
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  8. 11th October 2012, 05:02 PM #8
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    I have a 20w solar panel setup on my trailer.

    I just had a 20w solar charge controller from china deliver. So far so good. Paid $ 55 on fleebay. It isnt to bad. Has a light controller on it as well with 10 different time settings.


    Its better than the baker wearing button up boots who invented slice bread
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