Battery drain... is it the BCU or LSM?

[COLVERT]

Vinnie. I use a solar charger all the time. The output is much higher than the losses you've been seeing with your car.

It's almost a case of--Fit and Forget---

Fit the charger and forget your battery woes.----

[Supervinnie40]

Thanks, I think I've seen photo's of that. But to be honest (personal taste) I dislike the look enough to not do this on my car. I rather put the charger on it every few weeks.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by Supervinnie40

Thanks, I think I've seen photo's of that. But to be honest (personal taste) I dislike the look enough to not do this on my car. I rather put the charger on it every few weeks.

You just lay the solar charger on the dash and plug the lead into the cigarette lighter. Takes all of 5 seconds.---

[Yorkshire GOC]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

You just lay the solar charger on the dash and plug the lead into the cigarette lighter. Takes all of 5 seconds.---

Hello

What is a good make to look for?

Cheers

[MarkS]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

You just lay the solar charger on the dash and plug the lead into the cigarette lighter. Takes all of 5 seconds.---

Assuming your cigarette lighter socket will work with the ignition off : Earlier cars the socket would not. I had to modify the fusebox with a diode to allow a solar charger to work. Mind you, it WAS worth the effort.
But once the summer sun goes, solar chargers are useless during winter, which perversely, is when they are really needed.

Remember that to work properly, solar chargers require SUNlight to work, not just daylight.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by MarkS

Assuming your cigarette lighter socket will work with the ignition off : Earlier cars the socket would not. I had to modify the fusebox with a diode to allow a solar charger to work. Mind you, it WAS worth the effort.
But once the summer sun goes, solar chargers are useless during winter, which perversely, is when they are really needed.

Remember that to work properly, solar chargers require SUNlight to work, not just daylight.

I've seen a few that are advertised to work in strong daylight. They don't need to produce much charge to offset the small losses produced by the cars electronics.

Daylight units work OK. As per all those traffic signs I'm sure you've seen dotted all about the county side that work both in summer and winter.---

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by Yorkshire GOC

Hello

What is a good make to look for?

Cheers

The unit I have is French. However there's a huge selection on Amazon to choose from.

There might be other folk on the forum that can give you a reputable makers name.---

[Supervinnie40]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

You just lay the solar charger on the dash and plug the lead into the cigarette lighter. Takes all of 5 seconds.---

I'm not really worried about the time it takes. I spent a lot of effort om making my car look good, both in and out. A solar charger on the dashboard doesn't match that look . No judging or anything, just a personal choice that I favor the cars looks.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by Supervinnie40

I'm not really worried about the time it takes. I spent a lot of effort om making my car look good, both in and out. A solar charger on the dashboard doesn't match that look . No judging or anything, just a personal choice that I favor the cars looks.

The charger is only there when you PARK with you nowhere near the car so it won't spoil the looks.---

I only mentioned the time to show a super easy way to solve your battery discharge problems.

[MarkS]

Originally Posted by COLVERT

The unit I have is French. However there's a huge selection on Amazon to choose from.

There might be other folk on the forum that can give you a reputable makers name.---

FWIW, Aldi are selling a 7.5W solar panel, with cigarette lighter plug and crocodile clips, tomorrow 2nd July, or online now.
It has a 3 year warranty.

7.5 watt is a higher output, than average, equivalent to ~420mA maximum, which seems a lot, initially.

A rule of thumb is that solar panels give out only 15-20% of their rated output at best (taking into account hours of darkness, overcast days, summer & winter, electrical losses, etc).

15% of 420mA is 63mA, averaged, so should compensate reasonably well for normal discharges of 35mA.

£24.99.