solar trickle charger?

look 171 · 12:58 PM

Anyone uyse them with sucess?

I go to move the Duramax today, and I get the dreaded Click. Dangit. My two Optims batteries are going dead but there's the ever slightly bit of juice left to get the dim head lights on. In a hurry, I dragged my cord and charger. Tired of that, so I am thinking about having a solar charger while it sits. My concern is which is good or bad. I don't want a 30 dollar charger damaging my batteries by over charging it. I am about to buy this lil' guy. It does have over charging protection according to them. I's a bit skeptical ?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082X5JGDK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

vash · vash's Garage

this is Red Beard territory.

a battery tender not an option?

flipper35 · flipper35's Garage

I had one on my Cobra replica when I lived in CA. I used it on an Optima Red Top I got at Costco and the battery lasted over 10 years. Always started good.

look 171 · 12-10-2020, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vash

this is Red Beard territory.

a battery tender not an option?

Its a pain in the ass to leave an extension cord and the tripping hazard can a potential tripping nightmare for the post man

look 171 · 12-10-2020, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper35

I had one on my Cobra replica when I lived in CA. I used it on an Optima Red Top I got at Costco and the battery lasted over 10 years. Always started good.

Good to know the solar chargers work, thanks

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

https://amazon.com/Sunway-Solar-Maintainer-Motorcycle-Powersports/dp/B01MYVUSRH/

Doesn't have to be this one. BUT BUT BUT

Make sure it has a diode built in to reduce/prevent overnight power loss. A 4 or 8 Watt panel is not going to overcharge the battery.

I use a 30 Watt solar panel with a real charge controller for my generator. This assures it has adequate battery for starting and prevents over-charging.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Anyone uyse them with sucess?

I go to move the Duramax today, and I get the dreaded Click. Dangit. My two Optims batteries are going dead but there's the ever slightly bit of juice left to get the dim head lights on. In a hurry, I dragged my cord and charger. Tired of that, so I am thinking about having a solar charger while it sits. My concern is which is good or bad. I don't want a 30 dollar charger damaging my batteries by over charging it. I am about to buy this lil' guy. It does have over charging protection according to them. I's a bit skeptical ?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082X5JGDK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

There is no-way there is an MPPT charge controller in there for that kind of money. If they are lying about that, they are lying about everything else....

Evans, Marv · 12-10-2020, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper35

I had one on my Cobra replica when I lived in CA. I used it on an Optima Red Top I got at Costco and the battery lasted over 10 years. Always started good.

I had a couple or three of the same ones. I think they were 3 or 4 watt and did a fine job on my tractors for years. One thing I found out to watch out for was the breeze/wind blowing the pig tails around. After a while they fatigue and break off at the base of the panel.

Tidybuoy · 12-10-2020, 01:52 PM

My driveway gate can use a solar charger but the 5 watt panel is not connected directly to the battery. It first connects to the opener and the opener connects to the battery. I believe there is some type of circuitry that stops the charge when the battery is full.

greglepore · 12-10-2020, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

https://amazon.com/Sunway-Solar-Maintainer-Motorcycle-Powersports/dp/B01MYVUSRH/

Doesn't have to be this one. BUT BUT BUT

Make sure it has a diode built in to reduce/prevent overnight power loss. A 4 or 8 Watt panel is not going to overcharge the battery.

I use a 30 Watt solar panel with a real charge controller for my generator. This assures it has adequate battery for starting and prevents over-charging.

Hmmm. I have a large water cooled generac and just got to thinking about this. Does the weekly test keep the battery topped off or should I have it on an intelligent trickle? I have an outlet available is a shed 10 ft away.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tidybuoy

My driveway gate can use a solar charger but the 5 watt panel is not connected directly to the battery. It first connects to the opener and the opener connects to the battery. I believe there is some type of circuitry that stops the charge when the battery is full.

That is called a charge controller.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by greglepore

Hmmm. I have a large water cooled generac and just got to thinking about this. Does the weekly test keep the battery topped off or should I have it on an intelligent trickle? I have an outlet available is a shed 10 ft away.

Most have a small circuit from the transfer switch and a small trickle charger in the generator. It also charges from the generator when running. BUT I'm a belt, suspenders and elastic waist kind of guy...

look 171 · 12-10-2020, 03:40 PM

Thanks, James. Will give it a try.

look 171 · 12-10-2020, 03:57 PM

Dang it. After charging at 10A for the pass 5 hours, I can't get the truck started. It reads 11.7 V. I think its time for new batteries? Interstate here I come. I was really hoping for Exide AGM (no leaks and clean). I have had pretty good luck with it in my 4 runner. Thoughts?

1990C4S · 12-11-2020, 04:14 AM

I buy AGM's but I buy seconds. Half price but they come with external 'blemishes'.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by look 171

Dang it. After charging at 10A for the pass 5 hours, I can't get the truck started. It reads 11.7 V. I think its time for new batteries? Interstate here I come. I was really hoping for Exide AGM (no leaks and clean). I have had pretty good luck with it in my 4 runner. Thoughts?

Keep charging. Most large car batteries are around 100AH-150AH. 11.7 is about 1/3 full.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1990C4S

I buy AGM's but I buy seconds. Half price but they come with external 'blemishes'.

Just make sure you don't find any cracks. Cracks are death to an AGM.

flatbutt · 12-11-2020, 05:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red-beard

https://amazon.com/Sunway-Solar-Maintainer-Motorcycle-Powersports/dp/B01MYVUSRH/

Doesn't have to be this one. BUT BUT BUT

Make sure it has a diode built in to reduce/prevent overnight power loss. A 4 or 8 Watt panel is not going to overcharge the battery.

I use a 30 Watt solar panel with a real charge controller for my generator. This assures it has adequate battery for starting and prevents over-charging.

Are you saying this may be a decent choice as far as they claim? Not looking for an actual endorsement of this particular one.

Arizona_928 · 12-11-2020, 05:40 AM

https://www.pulsetech.net

These are the cat's meow...

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

i have one of these https://no.co/products/charging the 26000 has a "repair" mode that brought back a couple deep cycle that would not charge above 11.7 volts. it took like a week in repair mode to restore them, but they would charge to 13v+ after the week or so. i understand this time frame may not suit your current situation, but these chargers are great with multiple charging modes and options.

regarding the solar charger, i was left one by the previous owner of my house on the generator and has worked flawlessly. the generator battery is a small motorcycle type and has not shown any sign of over charging or damaging the battery.