Three cheers for Solar Charging!

[bmcecosse]

Nice sunny day - so decided to 'awaken' my cars from their hibernation. Checked the battery volts - one at 12.85 the other at 12.86. Both are on Maplins Solar Chargers - and both started up straight away! Since the Traveller is all legal - it was taken for a thrash around the Bypass - all systems working as they should, even the brakes pulled up straight - most unusual after a long lay-off. The TR7 is not taxed or insured - so it couldn't leave the driveway ( ) - but it too seems to be A ok - except the wretched hazards which are always 'sticky' - needs the switch taking apart and cleaning, a job I have managed to put off for 3 years now......

[Dryad]

Got mine in one of Maplin's sales a couple of years ago - £10. A bargain! It's certainly earned its keep by saving me from having a battery beyond charging.

[bmcecosse]

The second one I bought ~ Christmas - is twice the size, and was still only £12 in the sale, reduced from £24 I think. Not sure if they degrade in the hot sun (We wish!) - so I may take them down , or cover them in summer. I have set them so they capture the low winter sun directly (garage faces south) - but in summer will be hidden from the direct sun by the roof overhang.

[Dryad]

My garage window faces south too but has frosted glass, so I expect that UV rays are reduced through it. I read somewhere that the PV solar panels for houses generally last about 25 years in the full sun, although I should think they are superior quality. Even so, lasting just ten years would be good enough for the purpose of battery charging.

[xpress]

i would like a couple of these, head nod me if you see a deal anywhere! cheers.

[alanworland]

Saw them in Maplins yesterday - £9.99 12v 13W I think, excellent value!

[xpress]

damn they're almost essential esp if you have a car alarm immobiliser central locking etc, i am going to get a few of these, i can't stand charging up batteries lol. thanks for that.

[bmcecosse]

This is the one they have on 'offer' at the moment http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358 - and it's what charges up my Traveller battery over the winter. I wouldn't put more than 1 on the battery - if south facing, it will be fine. I did get the larger one (twice the size) in a sale at Christmas - and it's working well on my TR7 battery. But the smaller unit is plenty big enough for battery top up.

[alanworland]

I said I thought it was 13 Watts!!! Got that a bit wrong eh!

[bmcecosse]

Err no - 13watt ones are just slightly more expensive! We recently installed a solar panel at Bo'ness railway - to power signal lamps (LEDs!) in a remote location - it cost over £1000 for the panel.

[rayofleamington]

Have 4 of these (used to have 5 but one got dropped on concrete) and not had a flat battery for years
They were about £9 including postage. The wattage doesn't need to be high for maintaining a car battery.

[xpress]

bmcec .. could i rig up one of these on a garage roof and it would keep a battery topped up in the garage? are they waterproof or could i put some sort of piece of glass across it?

[MikeHA4]

Hello, I'm interested in this too. I have a plug-in trickle charger (350 mw) that cost £25 some years ago. But with multiple batteries to charge.... Your question is answered on the Maplin website. It is an indoor design, rubber suckered to the windscreen I suppose. They suggest it is 'splashproof' which is in case of accident I'd imagine. Mike.

[bmcecosse]

Mine are mounted outdoors - but under the overhang of the roof, so protected from all but horizontal rain - and shaded from the hot summer sun, yet directly in line for low winter sun which is when I NEED the charging.

[rayofleamington]

could i rig up one of these on a garage roof and it would keep a battery topped up in the garage? are they waterproof or could i put some sort of piece of glass across it?

most of mine are now mounted on the outside of the windscreen as the rubber suckers were not great. Longest one has been out for 18 months.

[MikeHA4]

I'm out and about today doing things for myself so I could well go round past a Maplins and get one! There's a sale apparently, it may end around 23rd March.

[bmcecosse]

There's nearly always a 'sale' of some sorts in Maplins!

[MikeHA4]

I dare say there often is, (a sale at Maplin that is). The dates are a bit odd though, their website says 26 05.... Anyway, I purchased the 1.5 W panel for the car and am already so impressed and having seen round the shop, I went back for a 13W panel for the camper which doesn't move very often and has a valuable few months old 110Ah Elecsol. I've extended the lead and hung the panel in the west facing garage window... Both are going great guns according to my multimeter..

[bmcecosse]

Blimey - the 1.5 watt solar should be more than enough for the camper, if facing south. In fact - I'm worried the 1.5 watt may be overcharging my TR7 battery which is sitting at 12.85 volts.

[MikeHA4]

Ah! Mr Ecosse, you must be there then, or thereabouts. I quote from a website 'windsun.com' to acknowledge:

"A fully charged battery will read 2.12 to 2.15 volts per cell" which I make 12.72v to 12.9v for a nominal 12v. battery. Note though, this voltage should be the static voltage after the charging device is disconnected and the battery has been resting for something like four hours or so - i.e., take the voltage the next day. As to my nice new 'big' panel, I did want it to manage the high capacity battery without re-positioning from west so I doubt I'll get the full output. A quarter to half an amp will be fine I thought.. Any excess I could sell to the grid!