small solar panel charging..

wombat

wombat

Forum Member
Joined
Nov 22, 2011
Messages
131
Location
Forster, NSW, Australia
Hi all just bought a very small projecta solar panel from a garage sale on facebook, it has a ciggy plug on it, it didn't come with instructions just wondering would it charge my battery plugged into the ciggy plug with the car off? Or would the key need to be on acc? I pick it up this arvo, alligator clips might be needed..i use my radio in car when camping and thought a little solar panel could help with keepin the battery topped up.
here it is:

https://ecopia.com.au/portable-solar-.../prod_263.html

Judging by the description on that page im gonna have to make one of my ciggy plugs constant, any ideas on the easiest way around this? I would prefer to use the plug in the luggage area if possible...
 
I take it you mean charge your car battery? Unfortunately the power output of that panel is veeery minimal even in the best of situations and wont make a dent. As a comparison your alternator will put out one thousand times the power of that panel. A good stereo system will take at least 300 of those panels to cover.
 
More of a trickle charger if you are leaving the car for a while, I bought one of those on eBay a few years ago and got as far as cutting the ciggy plug off but never got around to putting clips on it so it's still never been used though I put it on the voltmeter and from memory it worked quite well.
 
wombat said:
Judging by the description on that page im gonna have to make one of my ciggy plugs constant, any ideas on the easiest way around this? I would prefer to use the plug in the luggage area if possible...
Click to expand...

There's a thread either here or on subaruforester.org to make the supply constant - I had a look but cannot find it yet.
 
Davidov said:
I take it you mean charge your car battery? Unfortunately the power output of that panel is veeery minimal even in the best of situations and wont make a dent. As a comparison your alternator will put out one thousand times the power of that panel. A good stereo system will take at least 300 of those panels to cover.
Click to expand...

You sir just saved me $15:p sale aborted
 
The last time I was in Tractor Supply (aka the Redneck Mall) in America I saw these things, they give them a nice simple name, a Charge maintainer. Doesn't really charge your battery but keeps it at maximum CA. I looked at buying one too when I forgot to swap the 2 fridges over from 12v to 120v when parking the bus overnight and flattening the batteries. They just don't produce the amps ;)
 
IMO a solar panel of any decent size isnt a very cost effective solution compared to say a good dual battery system. Although my old work we did solar installs for houses and my boss took a full sized 240W panel and put it on his roof racks. Now THAT is a decent set up. However a panel like that will set you back about $600-1000 depending on where you get it.
 
wombat said:
I found a thread and ordered a part to do it, its simple as adding a piggyback to the fuses:)
Click to expand...

Great - can you post the link here as a reminder - thanks.

In full touring mode my Triton has 3 batteries, starter plus 2 x 100 AH and a 120W solar panel. This drives my 3000W inverter for the microwave, dishwasher and wall oven! :rotfl:
 
Kevin said:
Great - can you post the link here as a reminder - thanks.

In full touring mode my Triton has 3 batteries, starter plus 2 x 100 AH and a 120W solar panel. This drives my 3000W inverter for the microwave, dishwasher and wall oven! :rotfl:
Click to expand...

Heres the link:
https://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/make-all-12v-outlets-constantly-hot-78169.html?
Easy little mod, search the part "add-a-circuit" on ebay and theres an aus seller,
I'm really jealous of your setup your car should be renamed meals on wheels.
 
Davidov said:
IMO a solar panel of any decent size isnt a very cost effective solution compared to say a good dual battery system. Although my old work we did solar installs for houses and my boss took a full sized 240W panel and put it on his roof racks. Now THAT is a decent set up. However a panel like that will set you back about $600-1000 depending on where you get it.
Click to expand...

But in conjunction with a good dual battery system, even a 20W solar panel like mine is plenty to offset the battery drain of a waeco fridge.

I have even used mine to charge flat car batteries in just two hours in full sun. Remember, I = V/R
 
Oops! Should be 120W - corrected. It's 2 x 60W panels hinged together. I imagine it won't be long before we can have 1200W portable panels though.
 
Kevin said:
Oops! Should be 120W - corrected. It's 2 x 60W panels hinged together. I imagine it won't be long before we can have 1200W portable panels though.
Click to expand...

Thought that was the case but I really wanted to see a camp set up with 1200w of panels. That'd be impressive :lol:
 
For those with sunroofs, has anyone managed to find a solar panel that is thin enough to fit under the glass but be able to open and close the sunroof?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top