Solar Car Battery Charger

[graham]

Anyone ever used a Solar battery charger to keep the battery topped up ?

Something like one of these:

http://www.virtualvillage.ie/Items/0078 ... %20Charger


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Solar-Battery-C ... 818&sr=8-2


I've read that Gel Cell Batteries must be recharged correctly or the battery will suffer premature failure...

G

[Steve]

I bought the Amazon one about 2 weeks ago to keep mine topped up, working well so far.
My alarm beeps loudly when the battery is going flat, so I've to go out and disconnect the battery... which always seemed to happen at 3am.

[graham]

Thanks Steve,

Do you charge via the cig lighter socket or do you clamp onto the battery?

g

[Steve]

clamped onto the battery as the cig lighter is off with the key out.
I put the panel on the rear shelf and ran the wires under the carpet and back through the "tunnel" in behind the spare wheel to the battery.
Just remember to disconnect before starting the car.

[leamyj]

clamped onto the battery as the cig lighter is off with the key out.
I put the panel on the rear shelf and ran the wires under the carpet and back through the "tunnel" in behind the spare wheel to the battery.
Just remember to disconnect before starting the car.

Bit of a pain if you have to keep on connecting and disconnecting I'm sure someone somewhere will be able to come up with a relay type setup that automatically disconnects the panel on startup and re-connects on shut-down...then I'd be interested.

John

[Desperado]

Whats the advantge of one of these over an ordinary battery charger?

[Steve]

clamped onto the battery as the cig lighter is off with the key out.
I put the panel on the rear shelf and ran the wires under the carpet and back through the "tunnel" in behind the spare wheel to the battery.
Just remember to disconnect before starting the car.

Bit of a pain if you have to keep on connecting and disconnecting I'm sure someone somewhere will be able to come up with a relay type setup that automatically disconnects the panel on startup and re-connects on shut-down...then I'd be interested.

John

Yeah, that would be handy, I only put it on if leaving the car for a week or more so connecting/disconnecting isn't a prob, the battery is fine (so far) otherwise.

Whats the advantge of one of these over an ordinary battery charger?

I just use it to keep the battery topped up (or at least prolong the time before its flat ). I wouldn't see it as an alternative to a battery charger

[graham]

I was thinking of just wiring the cig lighter directly to the battery, that would save me having to disconnect it all the time..

I also installed one of these http://www.mx5parts.co.uk/product_info. ... ts_id/1657


g