Portable Solar Battery Charger...anybody use one?

[wild382]

Hi guys

I just want a small solar trickle charger to keep our 3 batteries topped off ...I was going to do this last year after moving to a mooring.

I don’t want a “GE power factory” on the boat. I just want something I can tuck away when we get there. Has anyone used anything like this? Any recommendations?

There are small ones that can be left on that connect to your 12 volt cigarette style connection in the cockpit and then unplugged when not in use. They don’t overcharge because they are very low amps...
https://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?path=-1|328|2290044|2290048&id=2363892

Any recommendations ...just want to plug it in ...maybe to the outside outlet that is suppose to let you charge from there. Just set battery switch to both...maybe

 

[jimcleary]

John
The info on that panel says there is discharge protection. On a normal solar panel set-up you would use a regulator to prevent the batteries from discharging to the panel when no amps are flowing from the cells. I would make sure the unit can't discharge. It's output says it's rated at .47 amps. That means you'll get 6 amps a day at best, more likely much less. Is that going to be enough?

Jim

 

[wild382]

John
The info on that panel says there is discharge protection. On a normal solar panel set-up you would use a regulator to prevent the batteries from discharging to the panel when no amps are flowing from the cells. I would make sure the unit can't discharge. It's output says it's rated at .47 amps. That means you'll get 6 amps a day at best, more likely much less. Is that going to be enough?

Jim

I think it’s enough. If it’s charging for a couple days and I run the engine for a one to a couple of hours each time we go out to sail. I’m not that good with figuring this part out. Ive heard of others using similar setups. I know I would need several or large solar panels for more regular use I guess. Just like the clean look and no fuss.

 

[wild382]

John
The info on that panel says there is discharge protection. On a normal solar panel set-up you would use a regulator to prevent the batteries from discharging to the panel when no amps are flowing from the cells. I would make sure the unit can't discharge. It's output says it's rated at .47 amps. That means you'll get 6 amps a day at best, more likely much less. Is that going to be enough?

Jim

I think I’m bailing on a solar charger for the batteries. I think I would need a larger panel and controller to monitor things. Not having an expert here is unfortunate. I

tried that 6 watt .47amp panel but fear hooking it up so it’s going back. I plugged it into the dc lighter socket. It puts out 20 volts with full sun.

I can’t see it being able to charge the batteries any faster or better than running the engine for an hour. When I checked the batteries they show 12.64-12.75 with the multimeter. I welcome any other opinions...

 

[Keefer Douglas]

I used a similar product for years on my previous boat, which always had a persistent 0.1 amp "phantom" load, even with everything turned off, that I was never able to trace. The solar panel more or less counteracted that load while the boat sat unused, and I never saw it get above about 13.5 volts even in full sun with a less-than-charged battery bank. So it worked pretty much as advertised for me.

 

[wild382]

I had it plugged into the cockpit dc cigarette lighter socket that isn’t on unless the cabin light switch is on. I packaged it all up. Will see about trying something more substantial with a controller so I can see what is going on. I want to be able to disconnect it without too much fuss, put the solar panel somewhere and go sailing!