solar battery maintainer

[crazy charlie]

Just bought a Solar battery "maintainer". 1.8 watts is the output.I wanted the 5 watt but the solar panel was too large and heavy for where I need to place it.The 5 watt is a charger.I only want to keep the battery on my Mako topped off.I usually have no problem with discharge.Anyone have any experience with a maintainer????Hope it has enough output.Charlie

 

[chuckz]

Re: solar battery maintainer

This maintainer will not charge your batteries, it will keep them from self discharging. It's a float charger.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: solar battery maintainer

Thats what i was figuring it to do and thats all I really need.I had dinner in your town last night.Charlie

 

[Silvertip]

Re: solar battery maintainer

I have one mounted in the window of my shed (no power out there) to keep my tractor battery topped off during the winter. It works well.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: solar battery maintainer

Did you extend the wires to reach the battery?.I am trying to attach it to my bimini with velcro so it would be within the wire length attached.An extension cord would let me place it anywhere I wanted.Charlie

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: solar battery maintainer

How big does it have to be to keep a battery topped off and to run an automatic bilge pump for when it rains and still keep the battery topped off. (I have a cover on the boat but it doesn't keep all the water out.)

 

[chuckz]

Re: solar battery maintainer

If it's raining and the bilge pump is on I doubt any solar panel will work since ........................................ the sun's not shining!

 

[Silvertip]

Re: solar battery maintainer

I have a 250 ma unit. It's about 14 inches long and about 6 inches wide. It's mounted inside, on the upper portion of a south facing window. Yes, I did extend the wires (about 10 feet total length). On a bright day its sending about 14 volts to the battery. You can buy waterproof units, or you can waterproof them with silicone. However, you could also mount it in a box with a plexiglass lid if it has to be out in the weather.

 

[chuckz]

Re: solar battery maintainer

250ma at 14 volts is 3.6 watts, about double what Crazy Charlie has. Still it takes 4 hours to charge one amp-hour. The 250ma set-up is more of a trickle charger as opposed to Crazy's float charger.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: solar battery maintainer

L.I. Chuck – depending on the technology used, solar panels can work in all but the dead of night.<br /><br />Cobra – to maintain a battery (float charge), the solar panel's min output should not be less than 1% of the battery’s capacity, nor more than 2%. I like the idea of regulating the solar cells.<br /><br />Stay tuned! A couple competing companies (one Canadian, one in Palo Alto, CA) have made huge advances in solar technology. The goal is a solar paint. So far, they have efficiency 5-times of what it used to be, and weight 1/100th of what is currently in use. Optimistic estimates have products to market within two years, the paint in 5-years.

 

[fireman57]

Re: solar battery maintainer

I mounted a 1 amp unit flush in my splash panel on the rear of my boat and it works well. you can't run anything off of it but it will charge my trolling motor battery in about 1/2 day. I don't use my trolling motor a whole lot but the battery is always ready when I do. I don't really need it on my starting battery as engine does a pretty good job on it. At night I run my lights off my trolling battery so I know I have enough juice to start my engine and get home. Nice investment for about 20.00.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: solar battery maintainer

Thanks for the input guys!!! I put the unit on the dashboard of a spare vehicle I keep .The battery is an old one so if I dont run the vehicle twice a week ,the battery is usually too weak to get it started.I will let you know how it works.My Mako is still under snow so I wont be using it on that for a while.LI Chuck,where in Patchogue are you????I love going down the Patchogue river on a Sunday afternoon.Ragae to the left of you.... and Steel drum band to the right of you....not too bad!!!! Charlie

 

[Silvertip]

Re: solar battery maintainer

As a test, I went out to my shed today (its still cold here in Minnesota). Sunny day, the voltmeter showed 14.5 volts. I turned on the fuel, gave the tractor a little choke, hit the key and she popped off like it was middle of the summer. Prior to adding the charger, one month after storage the battery would not have been able to spin that engine. Obviously this is not a replacement for a charger -- its strictly to keep the battery topped off. Works for me.

 

[cuzner]

Re: solar battery maintainer

Just a thought Charlie, The one I use is 4.5 amps.I keep it mounted on the inside of cabin hatch. I have a d/c outlet in my galley I plug it into. Can't be used for long term storage becuase it can over charge the batteries, but its somewhat safe from theives, and easy to stow before leaving.<br /><br /> Jim

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: solar battery maintainer

Cuz,you actually may be fine for long term storage since having inside the hatch would most likley not get the full effect of sunlight and cut your light source in half,thus cutting your amps in half.Charlie