Solar trickle chargers? Anyone?
- CaptainScott
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Solar trickle chargers? Anyone?
I'm curious as to if anyone here uses a solar trickle charger to keep the boat battery charged when not in use? If you use or have used one, what was your experience and what charger, amperage, or watts was provided to the battery and what was the outcome?
West Marine has 3 offered up and I'm considering the 50 dollar one at 150 ma.
I'm thinking summertime it would work great but here in Seattle it may be a stretch in the wintertime.
Any input is appreciated!
Scott
West Marine has 3 offered up and I'm considering the 50 dollar one at 150 ma.
I'm thinking summertime it would work great but here in Seattle it may be a stretch in the wintertime.
Any input is appreciated!
Scott
- EmergencyExit
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- CaptainScott
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I have been using the harbor freight 5W charger for a few years. I would think pretty much all solar chargers have to be somewhat water proof. They are designed for the outside.
As far as the tools, Depending upon what you are getting it is hard to beat the low cost of alot of the tools. You get the lifetime warranty and just cycle through them as they fail.
just my two cents
As far as the tools, Depending upon what you are getting it is hard to beat the low cost of alot of the tools. You get the lifetime warranty and just cycle through them as they fail.
just my two cents
Last year I bought the Sunsei se-400 and the solar grip from West Marine. It keeps both of my batterys charged up all the time. Even when I have the stero, VHF radio and all the instruments on. I check the output on the solar panel in the bright sun and it was putting out 20 volts. It will charge as long as there is day light. West Marine now has the se-500 which putts out more amps the 400 dose and cost the same,
Bob
1979 C-26
Easy Street
~~~_/)~~~
1979 C-26
Easy Street
~~~_/)~~~
- CaptainScott
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- CaptainScott
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Hi Scott,
Yes, I've found a solar trickle charger at Fry's in Renton WA. It's called the Sunforce Solar 12V Battery Maintainer. Its about the size of a C-22 cabin window, length and width. It has to kinds of leads off of it. The positive and negative battery clips and a lighter plug in type lead. It was designed for RV, Cars, Boats. It has built in overcarge / discharge protection, maintenance free, says it works in all daylight conditions. Has a 5 year warranty.
It mounts to the inside of the window with a suction cup at ether end of the panel. You just stick it to the inside of the window in the cabin and run the 7.5 foot wire leads to the battery.
It says it puts out 1.8 watts/125mAmp under ideal conditions.
Here's the best part $24.99. My wife found it and bought it for me a couple weeks ago.
www.sunforceproducts.com
info@sunforceproducts.com
1-888-478-6435
Thanks
Alan
Item #50012
Yes, I've found a solar trickle charger at Fry's in Renton WA. It's called the Sunforce Solar 12V Battery Maintainer. Its about the size of a C-22 cabin window, length and width. It has to kinds of leads off of it. The positive and negative battery clips and a lighter plug in type lead. It was designed for RV, Cars, Boats. It has built in overcarge / discharge protection, maintenance free, says it works in all daylight conditions. Has a 5 year warranty.
It mounts to the inside of the window with a suction cup at ether end of the panel. You just stick it to the inside of the window in the cabin and run the 7.5 foot wire leads to the battery.
It says it puts out 1.8 watts/125mAmp under ideal conditions.
Here's the best part $24.99. My wife found it and bought it for me a couple weeks ago.
www.sunforceproducts.com
info@sunforceproducts.com
1-888-478-6435
Thanks
Alan
Item #50012
It's a good life on the
Honu, 1976 C-22
My Chrysler Sailing Photos: http://s1297.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... ry/Sailing
Honu, 1976 C-22
My Chrysler Sailing Photos: http://s1297.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... ry/Sailing
- CaptainScott
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