solar panel - anyone using these?

[jennis9]

I have a solar trickle charger (we bought it when we didn't know if we'd have access to electric in dry dock). The specks are for 1.5V - and it plugs into the cigarette lighter. any comments - yay or nay? we will have access to electric and will be using an 2 or 3 bank trickle while docked, but thought this would be good for something when we're not privy to the socket.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: solar panel - anyone using these?

If it's really 1.5 V (volts) you bought a useless piece of equipment. Your electrical system is 12 volts. But what you very likely have is a 1.5 WATT panel. That panel is not intended for "recharging" a depleted battery. It is simply to maintain it during extended periods of non-use. It would take forever to charge a deeply discharged battery. I do have one in my shed however and it does a good job of keeping my tractor battery topped off all winter.

 

[jennis9]

Re: solar panel - anyone using these?

Thanks for the reply - I was looking for a comment similar to your tractor comment. I am intending on using the solar panel as a trickle when we cannot get to a plugin - I never intended it to charge a battery - and you are correct it is 1.5W. Anyone using this for a boat?

 

[BillP]

Re: solar panel - anyone using these?

I've been using a 6 watt on a 90 amp deep cycle batt and like it a lot. The panel puts out more than enough (2+ amps a day) to run a low draw anchor light (1 amp nightly) every night while still keeping the batt topped off. Plug n play and WAY less hassle than elec chargers and cords.

One comment on the cig plug in. One of our cars won't charge though the cig lighter without the ign switch on. Some boats are probably wired this way too. If so, it's no big deal to clip directly to the battery.

bp

 

[jennis9]

Re: solar panel - anyone using these?

thanks BillP - that's the advice I was looking for! thanks - I hadn't thought of the ignition switch - since my jeep has a dedicated charging outlet.