Solar Charger

redthunder · 15 January 2012, 18:44

I am looking to get a solar battery charger to keep power up while boat sits on the trailer. Any recommendations on which one to buy? And are they any good?

jambo · 15 January 2012, 18:52

Hi I bought a 10w one of Ebay for the boat while on swing mooring and it has work fine.

Leapy · 15 January 2012, 18:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by redthunder

I am looking to get a solar battery charger to keep power up while boat sits on the trailer. Any recommendations on which one to buy? And are they any good?

I think there's answer if you're a little clearer on what you want to achieve.

Will an auto bilge pump run? Is there any other electrical drain? If the answer to either of these is yes, then solar charging will be of very limited benefit unless you're happy spending a lot.

On a good day, budget chargers can just about overcome the natural drain of a lead acid battery assuming there's no other source of drain like the pump. What they won't do, unless you're into serious spend and large surface areas, is provide a strong positive charge to a depleted battery.

hadd · 15 January 2012, 19:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by redthunder

I am looking to get a solar battery charger to keep power up while boat sits on the trailer. Any recommendations on which one to buy? And are they any good?

://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powered-12v-1.5w-battery-trickle-charger-98358 Try this one

redthunder · 15 January 2012, 21:58

Its on a trailer and would be just to keep the batteries up to starting. No bilge pump or anything else running.

Nos4r2 · 15 January 2012, 22:13

I just bought one of these:-

10W SOLAR BATTERY SAVER + REGULATOR CABLE 12V PLUG & SOCKET 10 WATT | eBay

Not tried it yet,but it may be a bit OTT as the only drain is the tracker hence buying one with a regulator.

hadd · 15 January 2012, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

I just bought one of these:-

10W SOLAR BATTERY SAVER + REGULATOR CABLE 12V PLUG & SOCKET 10 WATT | eBay

Not tried it yet,but it may be a bit OTT as the only drain is the tracker hence buying one with a regulator.

I've got one of them in the shed my father gave it to me when he got rid of his caravan he said it kept a 110amp battery charged no problem, i've not tried it yet to see if it works ,i might give it a go

jambo · 15 January 2012, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

I just bought one of these:-

10W SOLAR BATTERY SAVER + REGULATOR CABLE 12V PLUG & SOCKET 10 WATT | eBay

Not tried it yet,but it may be a bit OTT as the only drain is the tracker hence buying one with a regulator.

Thats the one I have and it works fine keeps the battery up in relation to natural drain and helps if the is a demand from the pump. Better than nothing at all

Nos4r2 · 16 January 2012, 00:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambo

Thats the one I have and it works fine keeps the battery up in relation to natural drain and helps if the is a demand from the pump. Better than nothing at all

Have you got the regulator as well? This one is for 2x110ah.

Leapy · 16 January 2012, 05:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

I just bought one of these:-

10W SOLAR BATTERY SAVER + REGULATOR CABLE 12V PLUG & SOCKET 10 WATT | eBay

Not tried it yet,but it may be a bit OTT as the only drain is the tracker hence buying one with a regulator.

That'll do a job if there's only the milli-amp drain for the (Xenun?) tracker plus natural drainage.

Intersting claims in their eBay item description though...rated at 10W but produces up to 3 amps in the sales pitch later revised to 0.595amp (max) in the technical data...Hmmm.

There's others in eBay though that claim to work indoors too. Even better

jambo · 16 January 2012, 07:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

Have you got the regulator as well? This one is for 2x110ah.

O have a battery regulator to switch between my two 120's. The panel has the non discharge housed in a black panel on the back. Although I have two 120's I only use it on one when leaving on mooring.

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9D280 · 16 January 2012, 11:55

Or do you have an "S" socket or a Euro 13 pin on your car?

I built a lead which uses one of the Bulgin Buccaneer waterproof connectors at the rib end and the "S" type aux trailer plug at the other which means I can charge the boat batery using the split charger in the car as I tow it to the launch site.

Mains trickle charger at the house with the same Bulgin plug on for long periods of inactivity.