Solar battery "charger"

neilll · 14th January 2019, 18:41

Hi Peeps,
Having two ZT/TT`S (greedy) and only using one at a time I have just bought a solar charger from Halfords (6.0 W) to keep the redundant car ready for action. I have put it under the sunroof and would like to know how to check that it is keeping the the battery sufficiently charged, tips please folks.
Neil

MSS · 14th January 2019, 18:54

Check the battery voltage every week and see if there is any droop over a month, two months etc.

Jim Jamieson · 14th January 2019, 19:49

I purchased a Lucas solar charger which plugs into the OBD port
I’ve been using it for my Wedgewood which is sitting idle at the moment but it still needs a proper charge using the Cetek after a few weeks.
To be fair it’s winter time do not much sunshine. Solar panel sits of rear shelf and facing to the south.

gadget1960 · 14th January 2019, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilll

Hi Peeps,
Having two ZT/TT`S (greedy) and only using one at a time I have just bought a solar charger from Halfords (6.0 W) to keep the redundant car ready for action. I have put it under the sunroof and would like to know how to check that it is keeping the the battery sufficiently charged, tips please folks.
Neil

I was researching this myself a week ago as I only use my 75 a couple of times per week at most and that's only for a couple of miles per trip so ... not ideal really. I believe in order for the charger to be effective it has to be capable of producing a certain amperage or so I've been told.
What the amps have to be to successfully trickle charge a 12v car battery is a mystery to me so far so research continues.

COLVERT · 14th January 2019, 20:07

I've been using one for years. What it does is supply just enough power to offset the losses through the ECU and also the slight natural losses of the battery itself.

It won't charge up a partially discharged battery.

It will however hold a fully charged battery in a fully charged state.

I have monitored my battery over several seasons now and it does work.-

gadget1960 · 14th January 2019, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT

I've been using one for years. What it does is supply just enough power to offset the losses through the ECU and also the slight natural losses of the battery itself.

It won't charge up a partially discharged battery.

It will however hold a fully charged battery in a fully charged state.

I have monitored my battery over several seasons now and it does work.-

Could you supply a link to the unit you bought or a make 'n' model.
Cheers.

COLVERT · 14th January 2019, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadget1960

Could you supply a link to the unit you bought or a make 'n' model.
Cheers.

I've had the unit for quite a while now so I'll have a look tomorrow to see if the makers sticker is still on it.--

If not, I know there are quite a few for sale on the market. You need one with a reasonable output that will give some kind of a charge even on dull days.

gadget1960 · 14th January 2019, 21:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT

I've had the unit for quite a while now so I'll have a look tomorrow to see if the makers sticker is still on it.--

If not, I know there are quite a few for sale on the market. You need one with a reasonable output that will give some kind of a charge even on dull days.

I see your point, just need to know what the 'reasonable output' needs to be.
There's literally squillions out there it's a job to know which one to go for, if you could post up the specs of the unit you have (when ready) I may be able to find something similar if not the same.
Cheers.

Dallas · 14th January 2019, 21:29

A lot of these solar panel chargers can become faulty very quickly, they in fact drain the battery instead of charging it.

My large one I bought from Maplin killed my battery, the built in reverse blocking diode failed which then reversed the energy flow back through to the solar panel, its quite common.

gadget1960 · 14th January 2019, 21:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallas

A lot of these solar panel chargers can become faulty very quickly, they in fact drain the battery instead of charging it.

My large one I bought from Maplin killed my battery, the built in reverse blocking diode failed which then reversed the energy flow back through to the solar panel, its quite common.

Hmmm ...Not good ! was hoping it was going to be a decent idea tbh.
Surely there must be a decent item out there that does what it says on the tin?

14th January 2019, 18:41	#1
neilll Gets stuck in MG ZT,MG ZT-T Join Date: May 2008 Location: St. Helens Posts: 961 Thanks: 211 Thanked 235 Times in 158 Posts	Solar battery "charger" Hi Peeps, Having two ZT/TT`S (greedy) and only using one at a time I have just bought a solar charger from Halfords (6.0 W) to keep the redundant car ready for action. I have put it under the sunroof and would like to know how to check that it is keeping the the battery sufficiently charged, tips please folks. Neil

14th January 2019, 18:54	#2
MSS This is my second home Rover 75CDT, Jaguar XF-S 3.0V6, V'xhall Omega V6 Estate, Twintop 1.8VVT, Astra Estate and Corsa 1.2 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7,083 Thanks: 283 Thanked 624 Times in 440 Posts	Check the battery voltage every week and see if there is any droop over a month, two months etc.

14th January 2019, 19:49	#3
Jim Jamieson This is my second home Rover less ! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Tarbolton Posts: 3,442 Thanks: 393 Thanked 888 Times in 542 Posts	I purchased a Lucas solar charger which plugs into the OBD port I’ve been using it for my Wedgewood which is sitting idle at the moment but it still needs a proper charge using the Cetek after a few weeks. To be fair it’s winter time do not much sunshine. Solar panel sits of rear shelf and facing to the south.

14th January 2019, 20:07	#5
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	I've been using one for years. What it does is supply just enough power to offset the losses through the ECU and also the slight natural losses of the battery itself. It won't charge up a partially discharged battery. It will however hold a fully charged battery in a fully charged state. I have monitored my battery over several seasons now and it does work.-

14th January 2019, 21:29	#9
Dallas This is my second home 1979 Capri 1.6L, 1982 Capri 1.6L, 2016 Dacia Stepway Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dorset Posts: 8,595 Thanks: 3,496 Thanked 3,397 Times in 2,218 Posts	A lot of these solar panel chargers can become faulty very quickly, they in fact drain the battery instead of charging it. My large one I bought from Maplin killed my battery, the built in reverse blocking diode failed which then reversed the energy flow back through to the solar panel, its quite common.