solar chargers
Discussion
so once I get the new battery in the car am I wasting my mine buying one of these
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powered-12v-48w-ba...
It would be real pain to get mains power to the car, but if all these solar chargers are a waste of time I'll have to get it sorted.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powered-12v-48w-ba...
It would be real pain to get mains power to the car, but if all these solar chargers are a waste of time I'll have to get it sorted.
In short they are a waste,
I have several cars so any one can sit for 5-6 weeks between use. I have tried most solar chargers and although the muti meter shows they put out a decent voltage, it doesnt make the battery last any longer between use than when I use nothing at all.
A Ctek charger or the likes is the only way im afraid.
I have several cars so any one can sit for 5-6 weeks between use. I have tried most solar chargers and although the muti meter shows they put out a decent voltage, it doesnt make the battery last any longer between use than when I use nothing at all.
A Ctek charger or the likes is the only way im afraid.
fastbikes76 said:
In short they are a waste,
I have several cars so any one can sit for 5-6 weeks between use. I have tried most solar chargers and although the muti meter shows they put out a decent voltage, it doesnt make the battery last any longer between use than when I use nothing at all.
A Ctek charger or the likes is the only way im afraid.
Totally agree. Using the car once or twice a week, I tried a solar charger (with a decent sized panel) to get me through the winter. It made no difference.I have several cars so any one can sit for 5-6 weeks between use. I have tried most solar chargers and although the muti meter shows they put out a decent voltage, it doesnt make the battery last any longer between use than when I use nothing at all.
A Ctek charger or the likes is the only way im afraid.
A Ctek was the way forward, I just plug it in when it needs a boost. You can get a short connector that is permanantly wired to the battery. Pop the bonnet and plug it in, no slower than messing with a solar charger.
I was going to get one but I heard the charge raate was quite poor even though they state you can use them when the suns not out.
As I live in scotland I can't risk it so I bought one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Temperature-C...
With the extension cable that you can buy too.
As I live in scotland I can't risk it so I bought one of these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/CTEK-MXS-5-0-Temperature-C...
With the extension cable that you can buy too.
The solar panels from maplins are not efficient enough to provide an adequate supply to the battery. Had mine running a fully charged 75amph battery on the roof of the garage and though the volt meter showed it was producing over 12v the battery was completely flat after 2 months. Trickle charger is the best solution.
Just to confirm what I think everyone suspected...solar chargers are s
t. ~1 week without using the car in not the coldest of cold snaps has killed (~10V) a 1 year old Bosch S5 (027). I'll fit a 100-sized battery this time (means sorting out a new battery box, but I'm annoyed by the piddly 027 anyway). The nice ECP guy upgraded me to the 100 since that's what his computer says I should have...
Bought a CTEK.
t. ~1 week without using the car in not the coldest of cold snaps has killed (~10V) a 1 year old Bosch S5 (027). I'll fit a 100-sized battery this time (means sorting out a new battery box, but I'm annoyed by the piddly 027 anyway). The nice ECP guy upgraded me to the 100 since that's what his computer says I should have...Bought a CTEK.
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