Hi All,
The car hasn't run since Xmas eve, it's a perfect day for a run, dry, windy, no salt so 4.5 miles to the garage, flat battery.
I have no electrickery at the garage.
Can anyone recommend a trickle charger/conditioner for the battery, must be solar powered? (and safe to leave on!!).
Thanks in advance.
Solar Car Battery Charger - Recommendations?
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triumphdolomiteuk
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Re: Solar Car Battery Charger - Recommendations?
I've got one of these, not sure how it ranks against other types, but it works for me.
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powere ... lsrc=aw.ds
https://www.maplin.co.uk/p/solar-powere ... lsrc=aw.ds
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xvivalve
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Re: Solar Car Battery Charger - Recommendations?
I bought one from Maplin too, a smaller version that was about £15 (but it was in double figures years ago!)
It sits on the garage roof and keeps the Lotus charged over winter; without it, the alarm can drain the battery in about 4-5 weeks.
It sits on the garage roof and keeps the Lotus charged over winter; without it, the alarm can drain the battery in about 4-5 weeks.
Re: Solar Car Battery Charger - Recommendations?
With a fully charged battery, disconnecting it after putting it away it should hold charge for at least 4 weeks (maybe more). I have a quick disconnect thingy for the positive and it keeps the level great. Never had to jump start it.
On the solar chargers make sure its fully charged before using it. They wont re-charge a battery much but will hold the charge. I have one I havent needed for ages and to see if it still works I connected up to a meter and just inside under strip lights it shows 2.2volts.
Tony
On the solar chargers make sure its fully charged before using it. They wont re-charge a battery much but will hold the charge. I have one I havent needed for ages and to see if it still works I connected up to a meter and just inside under strip lights it shows 2.2volts.
Tony
Membership 2014047
Re: Solar Car Battery Charger - Recommendations?
I was going to say don't buy the Maplins one but with all the positive mentions I'm wondering if mine is just faulty!
Current fleet: '75 Sprint, '73 1850, Daihatsu Fourtrak, Honda CG125, Yamaha Fazer 600, Shetland 570 (yes it's a boat!)
Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3
Past fleet: Triumph 2000, Lancia Beta Coupe, BL Mini Clubman, Austin Metro, Vauxhall Cavalier MK1 & MK2, Renault 18 D, Rover 216 GSI, Honda Accord (most expensive car purchase, hated, made out of magnetic metal as only car I've ever been crashed into...4 times), BMW 318, Golf GTi MK3 16v x 3
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Karlos
Re: Solar Car Battery Charger - Recommendations?
I bought one of these https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-BATTERY-ST ... SwLYBaHCWg
As it was the cheapest I could find at the time, I think I paid £32 for it, it did not last long and it got knocked off the workbench when it was in a discharged state which didn't help it either. So I took it apart and bought a new battery for it with a higher AH rating: 20 instead of 16 I think.
I now use a £12 solar charger to keep the booster topped up. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-RSP150- ... xyRhBSz7V5
The solar charger was a cheap job from ebay, it only really does anything when in direct sunlight and is only rated at 1.5w. I am sure there are better value ones around that produce more power, or maybe I could double them up for dark days like we have at this time of year.
Overall a bit of a waste of money buying a booster, a new booster battery and a solar charger. However this situation evolved over 18 -24 months and was not by design. The booster saved me quite a few times when the car I had would suffer from bad starting when hot. The battery on the car would eventually run down but the booster pack saved me (when I remembered to take it with me).
As it was the cheapest I could find at the time, I think I paid £32 for it, it did not last long and it got knocked off the workbench when it was in a discharged state which didn't help it either. So I took it apart and bought a new battery for it with a higher AH rating: 20 instead of 16 I think.
I now use a £12 solar charger to keep the booster topped up. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ring-RSP150- ... xyRhBSz7V5
The solar charger was a cheap job from ebay, it only really does anything when in direct sunlight and is only rated at 1.5w. I am sure there are better value ones around that produce more power, or maybe I could double them up for dark days like we have at this time of year.
Overall a bit of a waste of money buying a booster, a new booster battery and a solar charger. However this situation evolved over 18 -24 months and was not by design. The booster saved me quite a few times when the car I had would suffer from bad starting when hot. The battery on the car would eventually run down but the booster pack saved me (when I remembered to take it with me).