Larky

iTrader: (1)

Does anyone run one of these for keeping your battery charged up. I dont have a driveway and I cant park my cark next to my house.

I have such a short journey into work each day my battery never gets any juice back into it. Had to use jump leads 4 times in 2 days and its driving me insane.

I will probably get a new battery anyway as I think this one has drained once too often.

BlueBugEye

iTrader: (12)

Don't use one on mine but Mum has one on her Clio her's gets driven very rarely and only ever short runs, and since the solar panel has never died!

Best option is to fit a second 12V socket inside the car that is permanently connected to the battery then get one of the panels pre-wired with the 12V plug. The scooby 12V socket is ignition only so the car will not charge through it.

Rescue Dude

iTrader: (11)

I have the same problem as the op and would be interested in finding out if anyone uses one and what if any they would recommend.

Ray T

tried 1 of the small ones from http://cpc.farnell.com/unbranded/at-...12v/dp/CP02939 smilar to this via my rewired direct to battery cig lighter, no has'nt got enough to keep the scoob charged, maybe a bigger one would

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Jump starting multiple times in two days indicates to me you haven't actually put the battery on a proper charger and instead relying on running the engine to charge it...problem is the engine will never fully charge and equalise a lead acid battery when used in this manner (unless you go for a 24hour drive to fully equalise the cells in a battery).

However a few weeks of this abuse and you will have knackered the battery anyway.

But yes a solar charger will help maintain the battery, BUT you need to fully charge it first. However the rated output is often less that stated when left on the dashboard, becuase the windscreen has filters (UV etc) and this does impair the solar panel's performance.

Also it wont work via the cigarette lighter, as its disconnected when the ignition is turned off. Although the wiring could easily be modified to get round that (take the permanent live off the radio).

Rescue Dude

iTrader: (11)

I'm considering this one at the moment.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/solar-powere...charger-223251

Ray T

Looks like you get 1 amp in around 5 hours of good light, from that

bonesetter

iTrader: (9)

Is that good or not?

Thanks

Ray T

Well to put it in context my one is screwed on the outside of my garage door, it is the 1.8 watt one so 5 hours of good light should give 0.75 of an Amp, my car would still go flat in the space of 2 to 3 weeks, due to the tracker current draw etc, so weather 1 amp would work I don't know, bigger is always going to be better in these cases.
I now disconnect the battery if I know the car is going to not be used within a week.

Larky

iTrader: (1)

Cheers for your comments guys. I'am going to invest in a new battery anyway as the one on there is as old as the car. 7 years infact.

I can and may just pop the bonnet and and connect a solar panel straight to the battery for a little bit of extra juice in the day. IF i can get a suitably sized unit.

darms

iTrader: (5)

I've got one of these installed on my rear shelf



will try and take a pic or two tomorrow night

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Just be careful when shutting the bonnet on top of the crocodile clips.

I know someone who melted a hole in their bonnet as the positive croc clip shorted against the bonnet!

Killed his battery too.

Larky

iTrader: (1)

Yes thats just the sort of the thing I would do. Will just leave it open.

Cheers

Mark Pile

An interesting thread, if I was to do this I would firstly find out what charge rate the battery would need on a trickle, then fit a direct connection to the battery, but remember you have to take into account any systems in the car running like clock, and security/trackers, uv filters/tints in the glass then add there current draw to the charge rate, you may find a solar panel won't be able to give enough unless it's the size of your rear shelf, or in an ideal world have you roof panel as a solar panel lol, but the technology is out there and so r the ideas.

I'll be keeping an eye on this one

ekon

>RayT (or anyone)..seen your comment about disconnecting battery if not using car for over a week (rather than using your solar charger).
Do you disconnect both battery terminals or just the earth side? ..and does it have any effect on the Sigma alarm/radio (don't think I have the code for the radio) . Thanks ..hope not too o/t.