Sunforce? 12-Volt Battery Solar Charger

[FatOMalley]

Anyone have experience with solar chargers to maintain boat batteries? Are the reliable? Any recommendations?

 

[oops!]

Re: Sunforce? 12-Volt Battery Solar Charger

hi.....welcome to i boats!

i jointly have a boat shop with a mechanic....we have installed them on several of the bigger boats....the owners like them....but it is still just a trickel charger that will help keep the batt up to run the bilge pump....dont expect that if you run the batts dead it can start the boat for you.

cheers
oops

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Sunforce? 12-Volt Battery Solar Charger

There is a big difference between a battery charger and a battery maintainer. Those tinker toy solar panels are about 5 Watts output. That makes them a maintainer, not a charger. So it depends on what your intended use is. I use a small solar panel to keep my mower and tractor batteries topped off. That's all they are good for unless you spend some bucks for a big one.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Sunforce? 12-Volt Battery Solar Charger

If there's power available anyhwere nearby your best bet by far is an onboard charger.