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Old 01-18-2013, 12:36 PM   #1 (permalink)
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Default Making a solar powered trickle battery charger?

I was thinking about this as I have too many Mustangs to keep the batteries charged.

I do have a small 9"x9" solar cell that was on a small LED security light.

Is there a way to convert the solar cell to a 2v trickle battery charger?

Here is a 2 volt solar panel on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solar-Panel-...item5ade826863

What would you need to keep it from overcharging?

What about this for approx $8 ?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Solar-Co...item4170115832
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Old 01-18-2013, 01:04 PM   #2 (permalink)
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I was thinking about this as I have too many Mustangs to keep the batteries charged.

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Old 01-18-2013, 01:56 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Battery Tender makes solar panels specifically designed to keep batteries charged. They're not cheap. But buying one might be easier than trying to convert a generic solar panel to charge a battery.

Battery Tender also has charging units that will connect to multiple cars. What's nice about their stuff is it has built-in circuitry to keep the batteries charged without overcharging them.
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Old 01-18-2013, 02:44 PM   #4 (permalink)
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You'd need a 12 volt panel, not 2. Unless that was typo.
Some later model VW's had a option for a solar panel that had suction cups to stick to the windshield and plugged into the cigarette lighter. I don' know what cars they in, if they were a dealer parts counter option or what but a friend gave me one and it works great.
If I were after making one I'd buy one of those cheapo Harbor Freight float chargers and clip off the 110 volt transformer and wire it to the panel(s). I have one of those chargers and it works surprisingly well for $6. They go on sale pretty regularly. Normal price think is more like $10. Between the transformer and the alligator clips is plastic box with an LED that contains the "float" circuit board.
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Old 01-18-2013, 05:01 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Besides preventing over charging battery tenders actually discharge the battery periodically in addition to recharging them. This is what enables a battery tender to extend the life of batteries by several years.
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Old 01-18-2013, 07:30 PM   #6 (permalink)
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You'd need a 12 volt panel, not 2. Unless that was typo.
Some later model VW's had a option for a solar panel that had suction cups to stick to the windshield and plugged into the cigarette lighter. I don' know what cars they in, if they were a dealer parts counter option or what but a friend gave me one and it works great.
If I were after making one I'd buy one of those cheapo Harbor Freight float chargers and clip off the 110 volt transformer and wire it to the panel(s). I have one of those chargers and it works surprisingly well for $6. They go on sale pretty regularly. Normal price think is more like $10. Between the transformer and the alligator clips is plastic box with an LED that contains the "float" circuit board.
Not bad. For that kinda money it would be worth the try.

As for the 2v thing, I thought that would be what was needed to "trickle" charge the batt.
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Old 01-18-2013, 07:50 PM   #7 (permalink)
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Amps. Most trickle chargers charge with 12 volts and 1 ampere. My big charger's low charge mode is 2 amperes. Solar charger I have no clue but I expect it varies with the sunlight.
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Old 01-18-2013, 10:48 PM   #8 (permalink)
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Amps. Most trickle chargers charge with 12 volts and 1 ampere. My big charger's low charge mode is 2 amperes. Solar charger I have no clue but I expect it varies with the sunlight.
Crap, your right, I don't know what I was thinking.

Yep, 12 Volts, 2 amps trickle charge.
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Old 01-19-2013, 06:21 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Besides preventing over charging battery tenders actually discharge the battery periodically in addition to recharging them. This is what enables a battery tender to extend the life of batteries by several years.
I have a battery that's over 10 years old on a Tender.

25 years ago I bought a solar charger from JC Whitney. It worked, well enough to keep a car parked weeks at a time. Plugged into the lighter.
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Old 01-19-2013, 06:50 PM   #10 (permalink)
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I have a battery that's over 10 years old on a Tender.

25 years ago I bought a solar charger from JC Whitney. It worked, well enough to keep a car parked weeks at a time. Plugged into the lighter.
I use a cheapo solar charger on the roof of the trailer--keep it plugged in anytime it sits. Had a similar one for my Dad's airplane. I doubt I paid more than $20 for either one.
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