Type of charger?

[mrcaptainbob]

I recently stripped an old Craftsman garden tractor to the frame and axles. The flat frame surface is a super platform for the generator. Through drilled some holes from the bottom side and welded two (so far) bolts in place. It keeps the generator secure. Fashioned up a steering/tow bar between the front axle and tie rod. Mounted a 1 7/8 coupler to the tow end. It now can go anywhere. I converted it to electric start a few years ago and use one of those smallish garden tractor batteries. Problem is to keep it charged when not in use. I want to use a solar charger, but am ignorant as to what to get. I've seen the HF ones at 1.5 watts and seen others all the way up to 25 watts. What should I use to maintain the battery? I live in south central Michigan. Lots of sun. Sometimes. I'd don't want to over shoot and burn the battery up.

 

[texasranger556]

Does it have to be solar? A battery tender junior is about $25 and fool proof.

 

[/pine]

I recently stripped an old Craftsman garden tractor to the frame and axles. The flat frame surface is a super platform for the generator. Through drilled some holes from the bottom side and welded two (so far) bolts in place. It keeps the generator secure. Fashioned up a steering/tow bar between the front axle and tie rod. Mounted a 1 7/8 coupler to the tow end. It now can go anywhere. I converted it to electric start a few years ago and use one of those smallish garden tractor batteries. Problem is to keep it charged when not in use. I want to use a solar charger, but am ignorant as to what to get. I've seen the HF ones at 1.5 watts and seen others all the way up to 25 watts. What should I use to maintain the battery? I live in south central Michigan. Lots of sun. Sometimes. I'd don't want to over shoot and burn the battery up.

I would think a low amperage unit with "float" would be fine...Float only charges the battery when it needs it...
Also (not as simple)...if it has the original engine or something similar you can probably find a flywheel and a coil ring for it...

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Thanks for the quick response, /. It has a donor flywheel ring and starter from another B&S, but no charging system. The problem is more that it sits for extended periods. The power may fail once in three years, maybe three times in one year. At one point I had a float charger on it, but it had to always be near an outlet. And the UV ate up the wires, too. I'll look at a solar unit that has 'float'. Again, thank you for the quick response.

 

[AndyMA]

Thanks for the quick response, /. It has a donor flywheel ring and starter from another B&S, but no charging system. The problem is more that it sits for extended periods. The power may fail once in three years, maybe three times in one year. At one point I had a float charger on it, but it had to always be near an outlet. And the UV ate up the wires, too. I'll look at a solar unit that has 'float'. Again, thank you for the quick response.

As an engineer who designs both on and off grid solar systems for a living, ideally you would have a solar panel that is higher voltage than your battery and use a Charge Controller to maintain a proper charge on the battery.

That being said a panel like this form Amazon would work just clipped on the battery, The battery life might be shortened slightly due to overcharging but I would't worry about that with a 5 watt panel

Amazon.com : ECO-WORTHY 12 Volts 5 Watts Portable Power Solar Panel Battery Charger Backup for Car Boat Batteries : Garden & Outdoor

Andy

 

[RjCorazza]

Some small solar chargers have integrated controllers. I have a bunch of old Volkswagon panels that are 3.2w and no controller, which is about right to maintain a battery. The other panels I have are 5w with a simple on / off controller.
When I was reading up on the topic of solar chargers for MAINTAINING an unused battery, 10w was generally the recommended maximum for a panel without a controller.

 

[WranglerX]

I keep my 6500 W. generator battery charged with simple "battery tender"... It's mounted permanently to chassis and hard wired to battery, all I have to do is use extension cord from wall plug to energise tender....

Dale

 

[Aussiebushman]

I certainly agree that a solar panel and charge controller will keep it fully charged. However, just one more thing to consider - put an isolating switch between the positive terminal of the battery and the starter motor so you eliminate any drain when not in use. I have done this on my Ford 6000 and it starts even after sitting unused for many weeks, whereas previously the battery would go flat after just a few days.