Solar Charger

[nwngunner]

While it is not a direct attachment, i figured this is as good as a place as any.
Where i store my tractor i am a ways away from power. I also do not use my tractor every day especially in the winter.

So what i am wondering is any one else here have a solar float charger.

I dont want just a maintainer. I use my tractor maybe 20 to 30 mins at a time. While my alternator charges, i dont think i let the tractor run long enough to recharge the battery.

Those who have worked with solar what would be your suggestions? I am wanting something i can just hook up directly to the battery and let it sit.

 

[newbury]

I've a Ford e350 7.3 which for years I used a small solar panel charger to keep the battery charged. The van was only used for very occasional trips.

It seemed to work fine.

 

[20 20]

I bought the cheapo from harbor freight early spring, used it all summer with no problems. I use mine for more then just a simple upkeep, it is used on my dump trailer. I had to plug in the dump trailer every night, now I just park it and it's ready to go. It also recommended sealing the outside edge{along the glass} so that water wouldn't seep down into it. For the price I payed I am happy.

 

[nwngunner]

This is the one that i am looking at. This panel is the more efficient style then the ones at HF. I am planning on mounting this on the corner post of my barn facing directly south. With our weather i wanted something that would take the abuse.


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ramsond-20W...ain_0&var=&hash=item92b033919c#ht_9502wt_1163

 

[Gordon Gould]

I am looking for the same thing for my woods dozer and I am just starting to learn about them. That looks like a good unit I had not seen that one. Does the controller come with it a that price? I think you need one of those to prevent over charging.

I read some where that placing the panel vertical was a good compromise for keeping the snow off and maintaining an acceptable angle for the low winter sun.

If you get one let us know what you think - thanks.

Edit: I just looked again and see the controller is $10.00 more.

 

[heitjer]

In order to power our water timing system in the back of our property we needed power. In another post I will discuss the water timer system setup.
Back to solar - it is not economical run a 110V line all the way back into our property so we decided to go with solar. We found the 45W system at Harbor Freight for $149.99. Its a complete set with panels and charge controller and some other helpful cables and two lamps. Unfortunately the mounting system is not worth the steel scrap cost. In addition to the system I purchased a deep cycle AGM (maintenance free) 12V scooter battery with 55 Ahr.

Next I went to home depot and got some screws and angle iron. I mounted the three panels on a rail and used small screws (pre-drilled) to fix the panels to the rail.

In between the panels I used larger screws to compress the corner of the panels. These are the main securing force.

I used a fence pole and its gate security attachment as the main way to attach the panel to the pole. Here is the completed panel.

Onto the property - after a week of curing the cement for the pole I attached the panel. Luckily I got a Truck box for free to store battery and controller.

The bottom rails allow me to tilt the panel in different angles to adjust for the solar position in winter, spring/autumn & summer.

I charged all day my Dewalt batteries for another project - worked perfect

I also have a trickle charger ($20) at the 20ft container which is my tractor garage. But so far the trickle charger has not been able to keep my tractor charged. A system as the one described above will ensure to keep your battery charged PLUS allow you to do other stuff via a inverter.